Bandaging horses legs for exercise?

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Farma

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Could I ask what type of bandages people use and whether they put anything underneath (gamgee) when they are schooling?
 
You should never use bandages without a liner layer - gamgee, fybagee or purpose made ones, because you can never get the pressure even enough without. (Except wool bandages for stable use for warmth, and even then you need to be sure they won't get loose and end up around the feet- I have some leg warmers in case I need them for that (shock, injury, illness etc))
 
For horseball we have to play in bandages, some use sports boots underneath and bandage over.
I personally use the gamgee type underneath.

You can use polo banadages without pads but there is a way to put them on with a strip down the back of the leg over the tendons.
 
JillA said:
You should never use bandages without a liner layer - gamgee, fybagee or purpose made ones, because you can never get the pressure even enough without. (Except wool bandages for stable use for warmth, and even then you need to be sure they won't get loose and end up around the feet- I have some leg warmers in case I need them for that (shock, injury, illness etc))
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thats not correct.
fleece polo bandages are designed for use without pads.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
thats not correct.
fleece polo bandages are designed for use without pads.
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Polo bandages are standard issue in North America for schooling and I had never in my life seen anyone put anything under them until I moved here. In fact, we were always told not to because of the increased risk of slipping/wrinkles and over heating.
 
I use polo bandages without pads and do the strip down back of the leg to cover tendon though I only tend to do this with the front ones. With pads under the bandages I'd worry about over heating during work, I tend to alternate between boots and bandages to avoid rubs with my sensitive boy though.
 
Keenjean said:
What is the strip down the back method please?
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The way I do the strip down the back is you unravel the bandage a bit, place the end if it at the base of the fetlock and run the bandage up the back of the leg vertically to just below the knee. Then bring the bandage round front to back and bandage as normal, making sure the strip at the back sits flat. I hope that makes sense!!

Much prefer this to using pads underneath. Less chance of over heating and slipping bandages.
 
Or you leave enough bandage to go down the back of the tendon, bandage down the leg then put the flap of bandage down the back of the tendon and bandage back up the leg as normal.

The flap down the tendon sits inbetween the two layers of bandage. (Hope that makes sense)! That's the way the argies taught me for polo, then tendon or sports boots over the top!

Personally I use bandage pads that are designed with materials to keep the leg cool, (Anky, eskadron etc which have wicking properties). my horse has large splints so I would rather the extra padding. Depends what suits your horse.
 
noname said:
Or you leave enough bandage to go down the back of the tendon, bandage down the leg then put the flap of bandage down the back of the tendon and bandage back up the leg as normal.

The flap down the tendon sits inbetween the two layers of bandage. (Hope that makes sense)! That's the way the argies taught me for polo, then tendon or sports boots over the top!
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I haven't heard of this way before. I've tried the strip down the back of the tendon but could never get the damn thing to stay in place/flat whilst bandaging. Your way sounds much easier, thanks for posting!

I rarely out any pads/wraps on underneath. Too much bulk for my liking.
 
I can see the reasoning for the strip, although no bandage is going to give much meaningful protection if a horse strikes into itself. But I've rarely been able to do it without creating a crease/fold where the bandage turns over and makes a triangle which, given the large number of delicate structures under the knee (or at the top of the fetlock if you do it the other way around) makes me more nervous. I also wouldn't use bandages in a situation where I thought there was a high risk of a strike injury, when there are so many good modern boots. It was different back in the days of porter boots or leather!
 
I'm always a bit confused by bandages especially when boots offer far more protection and are easier to put on and keep clean. I can't see that a couple of layers of fabric is going to provide any real strike protection (unless there is padding underneath) and as I understand it, its been proven that they can't provide any real support. But they do look lovely!
 
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