Bandagfing after work

[Ample Prosecco]

I cold hose or use cooling boots straight after work, but yesterday I was advised to leave 4 bandages on Dolly overnight. I'm not sure why though? What is the thinking behind bandaging after intense exercise? I cab see the benfits of compression but not of heating the tendons up!

Thoughts welcome x

 

[ihatework]

This always seems to be a for & against situation.

Im completely against, as are a couple of decent FEI vets I’ve spoken to about it and a couple of top class stables.

Swelling happens for a biological reason. So partly if the legs are a bit inflamed it probably needs to happen. You also need to be able to see it. That way you can monitor what is normal or abnormal for a horse.

Under normal circumstances I’d never bandage overnight after work

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Ok good. I never have, but felt last night that perhaps I should! The person was much more experienced than me and said 'it's important to look after her legs!' which made me feel like I hadn't been and this was some awful gap in my knowledge!! Her fetlocks were a little bit puffy this morning - symmetrical on both sides and she is fully sound. In future I think I'll turn out overnight after events to keep the circulation moving better.

 

[milliepops]

Millie has always been prone to a bit of filling after work on hard ground and I would always throw her out overnight if remotely possible after a day out. it seemed to walk off quite quickly.

 

[ycbm]

I used to exercise a friend's hunter and it was always bandaged after work. I asked why and was told that her legs filled otherwise. I tried to point out that one was very slightly more puffy than the other when I removed the bandages and was ignored. The tendon blew within days, and she was out of action for a year. It was a lesson to me never to bandage just to prevent filling, but to listen to what the filling is trying to tell you. I can, for instance, tell immediately if Deza has had too much grass by the slight filling if she stands in for a while. It's a very handy early warning before any raised pulses.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I worked for someone years ago who had several high level dressage horses and had a few select full liveries who all did dressage, all the horses were bandaged every night I know because I did them all and took them off in the morning, I don't know why they did it I never asked but none of them came to any harm can't remember any having lameness issues.

I do know after working there I never wanted to see a bandage ever again but I am still a dab hand at it.

 

[Squeak]

I'm another who's not a fan of bandaging. I usually use put some cool boots on at the event and then turn them out for the night with some of the cooling clay on their legs.

 

[milliepops]

ooh controversial
i wouldn't use clay either tbh.

 

[Squeak]

ooh controversial
i wouldn't use clay either tbh.

Oooh I'm intrigued - do you not use it for the same reason that you don't use bandages where it could hide/ prevent swelling? Mine have always seemed to swell as normal with it on as it only stays cool for a few hours.

 

[GinaGeo]

I’m an ice on at the event for 20mins to get the damaging heat out ASAP. Then with naked legs and turnout when we get back kind of person. Cold hosing is better than ice - but not practical at an event.

We spend all of our time trying to keep legs cool it doesn’t make sense to bandage. And as others have said it can hide what is truly going on.

The biggest benefit to clay is the time it takes to wash off with the hose ?

It doesn’t stay cold enough for long enough to actually do anything and actually ends up having an insulating effect. ?

 

[paddi22]

I've been studying bandaging and cooling stuff from various physio and courses over the last few months and my head is wrecked with it! there is so much conflicting advice.

even as regards cold hosing the most up to date science says there's no benefit for doing it for more that 6 mins? as regards clay for tendon injuries it's 50/50 on whether cooling clay has a benefit. and for booting for exercise it seems to be swinging towards not using boots and bandages as supports as it weakens the leg when they are off? it's the one area that I can't seem to be confident in any decision I make because nothing seems conclusive.

 

[milliepops]

Oooh I'm intrigued - do you not use it for the same reason that you don't use bandages where it could hide/ prevent swelling? Mine have always seemed to swell as normal with it on as it only stays cool for a few hours.

As GG, it gets hot and then insulates the legs.
I use frozen ice boots for 20 mins.

 

[Squeak]

As GG, it gets hot and then insulates the legs.
I use frozen ice boots for 20 mins.

Interesting - I do see where you're both coming from, I'd always thought as it wasn't on thick that it wouldn't heat it up too much but on the other hand it's one less thing to worry about and buy and it really is a pain to get off when it's dried so maybe I'll finish this tub and see how I get on.

 

[milliepops]

I'm sure David Marlin included clay on his study on leg cooling boots etc. Might be worth checking out.