bandaging after xc....

scrumpyjackles

scrumpyjackles

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after doing xc i usually put a cooling clay on my horses legs, are you supposed to bandage over the top of it or leave leg naked ? if you do bandage over the top what bandage would you use ? would you put a bamndage pad then bandage or how else would you do it ? thanks in advance !
 
I use clay too. I put clay then put brown paper (the stuff you get on the inside of feed bags), then bandage over the top with stable bandages.

I normally wash it off the next morning or if i went xc late then lunch time ish because if you leave it on too long, it burns.
 
Think there was an article in H&H looking at cooling clays (and their effectiveness).

Generally I wouldn't unless there was a very good reason for doing so. If you are wanting to cool the horse's legs I would use ice wraps for 20mins and then put on a cooling gel and leave the horse's legs naked.

The problem with the clays is that after a period of time they will start to heat (especially if under bandages) plus if there is a tiny nick or similar it will be less easy to notice (as hidden by clay -possibly trapping in infection).

They had their place and many still use them, but often out of habit and tradition than for vetinary reasons.

The clays also vary and if you do use a clay then follow the manufactorers instructions (some want to be wrapped in clingfilm to keep the clay moist, more traditional is to wrap in brown paper and then bandage over the top, others are just left leg with no wrap).
 
I'm with S_J here, I always used to clay legs (wear disposable gloves, apply clay, cover with your used BE paper number, gamgee, bandage) but haven't done for the last few years due to concerns about heating.

I now cool legs as aggressively as I can (cool boots/ice) and bandage last thing before I travel home. I'm aware that there is a contradiction in cooling and bandaging as bandages are always going to warm legs up, but I often have a long drive and prefer the protection and support on tired legs.
 
I go against the grain and do use clay, but I cool as much as possible at the event, and then clay when I get home just because it has arnica in and the clays can help with puffiness. however, I don't bandage at all!
 
fair enough, but it hasnt done my mare any damage, and it's without a doubt helped me in the past so I'll probably carry on!
 
I always ice after XC :) You want to stop any potential bruising either due to impact or concussion and ice is the way to do it! 20minutes on front legs, then 20 minutes back legs then back to 20 minutes on the fronts. A good walk and a stretch then the standing wraps go on. At this point, I used to add a clay poultice (complete with paper and cling wrap) under the wrap and bandage. To be honest, the only real benefit I found was the hosing the next day to get the clay off made their legs feel good! Other than that it was a PITA. :o

As a side note, I was always under the impression for clays to work (ie reduce swelling) they had to be kept moist, so that meant wrapping with moist paper and cling film. There seems to be no point slapping it on and letting it dry!
 
i think im going to stick with my clay and put brown paper on then bandage - would you leave on overnight or just for a few hours ? thanks for all your help !
 
scrumpyjackles said:
i think im going to stick with my clay and put brown paper on then bandage - would you leave on overnight or just for a few hours ? thanks for all your help !
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Make sure the paper is wet too.

I leave overnight then hose it off the next morning.

Oh and i've only ever done this to the front legs, just hose the back ones.
 
I just use cold boots on for 15-20 mins then slap a load of cooling gel on for fronts. Hinds just get the cool gel - I only have one set of cool boots, and by the time they have been on the front they have defrosted!
 
Kal said:
The trouble is there are studies everywhere contradicting each other. I say if something seems to work and you haven't had any problems with it then why change.
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Very true, so long as you know why you do something and what the side effects could be. Over heating tendon fibres isn't damage you are going to see straight away, you aren't going to slap on clay and find a damaged tendon the next day (well not due to the clay anyway) - the damage happens over time.

Its also best to read the manufactorers instructions for your clay, some are designed to dry out (thus the cooling is partly from the evapouration), others are meant to stay wet (as above, cover in wet brown paper) some say cling film. They should also state how long to leave on for and whether to cover or not.
 
I also have stopped bothering with clay and just ice now. However when I did use it I applied the clay and then soaked jay cloths or cheap pound land tea towels and used them on top instead of brown paper. It kept the clay wet better and was easier to apply and bandage over if need be. I used stable wraps to secure them.
 
Kal said:
The trouble is there are studies everywhere contradicting each other. I say if something seems to work and you haven't had any problems with it then why change.
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There are no scientifically accepted studies which show efficacy of arnica. The FDA have recently reclassified it as an 'unsafe herb' due to the high numbers of adverse effects recorded. (Obviously this does not include homeopathic arnica, as it doesn't actually contain any arnica :rolleyes:)

Why change? Well surely as we learn more we alter the way we do things with horses?
 
I used to use clay but now I have two pairs of cool boots. I chuck them in a bucket of cold water before I go xc and pop them on after.. mice and simply and a lot less mess!
 
why change? because new research is always going on and it's a bit silly to stick your head in the sand about it when current research is showing clay has absolutely no benefit and may indeed cause harm. Aggressive cooling with ice is far more likely to do good and if in doubt probably better to do nothing than use something that is going to heat up the legs more than it helps them.

I always used to use clay but I change my practices in my day job all the time as a result of assessing the new evidence (it's called evidence based medicine) so I take the same approach to my horses. Hence now using ice for 20mins then remove and bandage for the journey home.
 
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