Advice please! - What to do with tired legs after a day out- Hunting :)

[Happy Hunter]

Morning Lovlies!

So i was wondering what to do with my girls legs after Cubbing tomorrow - She will be out, with a big pile of hay and a cosy rug on. - The walking around will be good for her I think - On a field next to company, and she doesnt (touch wood!) have anything wrong at the moment.

Thing is she is young and I want to do right by her- I was very interested in Lucindas 'No Boots for anything' comment in Horse this month,,

Thing is, some people leave it, some people use ice tight clay stuff, some people use bandages and clay - some hose down for 30mins when they get home?!?!


What do you lot do.?!
p.s. Cant wait to go out!
Hot Choccies and a blanket to those who help! brbrrrrr!

 

[woodlandswow]

i have a very good product, easier and a lot less messier than clay, called (carr day and martin) ice blue leg cooler. it comes in a see through squeese bottle and is quick and simple ..gel!!
it has arnica and cooling properties and you just put some on your hand and rub it on, turning the legs cold.... with out the use of boots or bandages... however it does need to be hosed off after about 4-5hours!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

To be honest, I wouldn't do anything. The best thing for them is to walk about so mooching around the field is absolutely fine.

Slightly different if you have hunted all day in deep plough. You shouldn't need to do anything for cubbing.

Have a great morning!!

 

[BigRed]

I would not have expected cubbing to be strenuous enough to warrant any drastic action for your horses legs. I hope you have a lovely time.

 

[Happy Hunter]

ah you see - but im fishing for advice for hunting days too
When it does get deep and boggy - what then??

Thanks for the ice gel - but it would mean on a saturday me washing legs off at 10pm - YO might object!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

Always a difficult one with boots. I put them on, then worry if they are overheating but then on Wed we had a girl get her horse caught in a hidden wire on the ground- the wire shredded the boots but the horse got away with only a couple of scratches..
Mine always go out after hunting. We rarely go in plough so unable to help there.

 

[Allover]

You need to be carefull about applying anything to the legs as some horses can have nasty reactions if the legs are not completely free of scratches (even tiny ones), if she is going back in the field after cubbing and hunting then i would personally just wash them off and let her walk around, if she is to be stabled after then i would probably just pop some stable bandages on overnight.

 

[Maesfen]

If you're turning out after cubbing - or hunting come to that - I would just check for injuries as normal then do nothing else; the movement she will do will be better than any icing IMO.
If she's stabled in winter, slightly different; I'd clean her off and check her over then put stable bandages (wraps if you're not good with bandages) on which will keep her warm and the circulation flowing but nothing actually applied to the legs, it shouldn't be necessary if horse has had all the fittening roadwork it should have had. Stable bandages will also help dry and warm a wet or muddy horse off that you can't bathe quicker than anything else.

Enjoy your days.

 

[Happy Hunter]

Thanks all - I hope she is fit enough, and the walking about will be easily achieved for nice evenings anyways.
When the fields get wet and its time to sleep inside for the night, ill stick to some comfy leg pj's

 

[Starbucks]

I don’t do anything!!! I’m sure she’ll be fine after a mornings cubbing. It’s not exactly the grand national is it!

What was Lucindas no boots for anything comment?? (I’m liking the sounds of it!!)

 

[JenHunt]

ah you see - but im fishing for advice for hunting days too
When it does get deep and boggy - what then??

I hose off while i'm washing him off when I get home, dry them off thoroughly and then put stable bandages on.

simple enough, and as you're likely to be washing off anyway, it's not adding too much to the time you're delaying his dinner!

If the ground's been really really hard, or we've done hours on the roads at trot or more then I'll use ice-tight, but it's not that often that's necessary in this giant bog.

 

[Happy Hunter]

Ah thank you Jen Hunt - I see you have heard of My Girl's mighty hunger reputation! I swear nothing would get done if she was ever hungry!!! Typical CB!!!

Lucinda's comments are in the Oct edition of Horse Magazine - Basically she commented that its like flexing your wrists with someone holding them tight, and good irish legs dont need them - and over heating - and overreach boots flying off mid gallop and tripping you up - Very wise words I think!!!
(mind you - Ill keep some WW Club boots on the fronts till my baby learns to pick her feet up!!)

Very interesting stuff actually - I have always been interested in peoples 'testing' of XC boots - air cooled technology ect...

 

[JenHunt]

I've always thought what Lucinda said, but if I ever mentioned it I was shot down... so I'm glad someone who counts has said it!! But I agree they have a place on a baby who still needs to work out what leg's doing what!

Ron's the same... he's so grumpy when he's hungry that it's all I can do to get him washed off and get two buckets of electrolytes into him before he just tips them over, unties himself and puts himself away! He can demolish 3 slices of haylage in an hour after hunting, followed by his tea, folloed by a further 5 slices of haylage and an entire bucket of speedibeet over night.... no wonder our muck heap is so huge!!