Bandage or boot for flatwork schooling?

[goodtimes]

Or neither?

 

[Undecided]

Does your horse knock/brush their legs when ridden? What level of work are you doing? Has your horse ever worn boots previously? My boy brushed as a baby so wore boots all round for everything, he now wears them to hack, jump and lunge but rarely for schooling, I don't feel that we are at a high enough level for him to be at risk of seriously hurting himself as we are only schooling at novice. If we do get at a high enough level to need leg protection when schooling then I will be bandaging as I prefer the close fit of them compared to boots.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Unless the horse brushes, I don't see the point of booting/bandaging for flatwork schooling. I always worry about overheating the legs....

 

[eggs]

I use Stretch and Flex wraps if I am planning on doing a lot of lateral work otherwise bare legs

 

[Mongoose11]

I am desperate to bandage my mare so that she looks matchy matchy during her schooling but since she is a heavyweight cob and since she needs neither bandages or boots and since I would be laughed off the yard if I did....... She goes without

 

[GinaGeo]

Niether. My horse's all move straight enough not to knock themselves and I'd rather spend the time faffing with boots and bandages actually riding them...

I also think that overheating tendons is more of a problem.

 

[DosyMare]

Does your horse knock/brush their legs when ridden? What level of work are you doing? Has your horse ever worn boots previously? My boy brushed as a baby so wore boots all round for everything, he now wears them to hack, jump and lunge but rarely for schooling, I don't feel that we are at a high enough level for him to be at risk of seriously hurting himself as we are only schooling at novice. If we do get at a high enough level to need leg protection when schooling then I will be bandaging as I prefer the close fit of them compared to boots.

This.

If he is knocking or brushing then I'd say boots.

Without sounding rude (which this will) and purely on the fact there is no info in your post, I think if you have to ask then your not at the level of schooling which requires bandages. Therefore unaware of the problems that can be caused by bad bandaging. Please don't take offense it's just my opionion.

However if your asking which I prefer for schooling then boots for novice and bandages for advanced. Stretch and Flex wraps I'm also a fan off.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I am desperate to bandage my mare so that she looks matchy matchy during her schooling but since she is a heavyweight cob and since she needs neither bandages or boots and since I would be laughed off the yard if I did....... She goes without

I have to admit, I do like white boots on a dark horse - but I sold some lovely New Equine Wear ones on ebay recently because I knew I neither needed them or would use them!

 

[showpony]

Sorry to hijack threat but what are the Exercise bandages called that you dont need to use gamge with ( know not right spelling)

 

[Zargon_91]

I use equilibrium stretch and flex wraps. My boy is big moving and can be clumsy as he is young. Id like to protect him from knocks if i can and they are not really thick like many sport boots are.
The boot vs not boot is age old, although tendons have to get to 47 degrees before they fail- which is greater than the heats used in radiotherapy.
Current thoughts are if you boot, boot for everything, or not at all. They will feel it more when you dont boot otherwise. Studies also suggest as far as support goes legs which have had injuries will benefit from booting, legs which havent been injured wont. Having said that this study only applied to support of the suspensory apparatus, and didnt take over-reaches, knocks and bruises into consideration. Boots are quicker than bandages, and tension is more even, less bulk overall so less chance of overheat although not likely unless you are galloping.

 

[Sol]

Bandages, as my boy brushes (he's very close - everywhere!). Seeing as we mostly school, if he does catch himself it's likely to be low impact/not a strike injury, so I feel bandages are better as they're more padded. I certainly don't use them for support as I don't think any exercise bandage can provide that much support I don't like boots as they're a pain to clean, take up more space to store, and more likely to rub. I've been using bandages for a few years now though with no issues, they get thrown in the washing machine with no ill effects, come up lovely & clean AND if I feel down I can use some pretty colour