Bandaging for dressage training

[Wan2bEventer]

Just wondering why dressage riders use bandages rather than boots or any sort when training? Are they more supportive?

 

[Bossanova]

I think it's an appearance thing/vanity.

I suppose you could argue they are documented to be more supportive than boots....

 

[ChocoCornflake]

Id say appearance, and because its the 'norm'! And due to the misapprehension that bandages provide more support than boots. Clinical trials are showing they do not: after all, how is a couple of metres of fabric going to support half a ton of horse, plus additional strain from movement? Bandages also heat up the core temperature of the tendons, leading to weakening.

Unfortunately most people do not realise this, and continue to wrap their steeds legs in metres of fleece, commonly not bandaging at a correct tension either...

I have worked on an several dressage yards, (including for an olympic rider whos horses wore eskadron bandage pads, polo bandages and sports medicine boots on top...

)and yes the majority of the horses i worked with wore bandages, but interestingly there was still a fairly high rate of tendon/ligament strain and puffy, hot legs after work.

I found this article is really interesting (may be a bit sciencey for some

!) http://www.rvc.ac.uk/SML/People/documents/SmithEVJ2002Equinemetacarpophalangeal.pdf

 

[Grumbledor]

Here is a good dissertation project for an equine student..........!

I only use boots but there again we're hardly Grand Prix!

 

[lucym]

wow that is a very interesting article, just about understood it

thanks for posting it

 

[Petrie]

Perhaps they do it because they are more flexible and the horse can move better in them.

 

[ChocoCornflake]

Indeed, I wish I could do it but unfortunately have to concentrate on humans for the next couple of years for my degree!
I use the breathable stretch and flex boots for my horse, and no we're not Grand Prix either!! Yet...

 

[Seahorse]

I used to work for a top dressage rider, and she had the cheapest brushing boots you could get to use every day, and some slightly smarter one's for comps, even on her GP horse too!
In the 2 years I worked for her none of her horses were lame.

 

[wench]

why bother using them. you cant use them in a test so why do it when training.

 

[Nari]

I bandage rather than boot for schooling - we're hardly a high flying dressage pair! - because the sarface doesn't get inside bandages & rub like it does in boots. As he's sensitive skinned this is a big issue & since using bandages I haven't had any where near as many problems with mud fever as usual.