Best leg coolers

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What does everyone else use or recommend????????? If shy very welcome to pm. I'm running out of leg cooler and want to know which is most effective??????

As now getting concern about ground being very hard ...........
 
Either the aerborn cool sport boots or if you can get them the puffa heatbeater wraps. Similar idea, both work better than any gel/clay etc I've used which is comp legal (ice blue gel is super but not comp legal), and they are reuseable. Puffa don;t make the heatbeaters anymore but I managed to pick up a set on ebay for £20 new which is better than the £60 odd for the aerborn version! Most effective thing I've used and no mess, just stick in a bucket of water before your SJ.
 
I have some from HR medics that go into the freezer and are filled with gel that work very well I used to use the ones that you immerse in water but whilst good for compression do not stay cold for very long.

We dont leave ours on for very long as they soon start getting warm
 
Like Ice by Equine America - the lady who represents them slarred it on my mare when she did her check ligament, and vet said made a huge difference. Find it washed off easily, and [bearing in mind she tore her whole ligament] the swelling stayed down well.
However, saying that, I did get a tub of ice jelly stuff from Lidl ( :O ) last season, and just used to massage it in down the sides and backs of tendons, and boys were perfectly sound and happy. Washes out with warm water!
Also, not really a cooler, but swear by it, Lincoln do an Arnica and Witch Hazel gel. Boys get it on forelegs usually, but sometimes hind legs. Just slar it on and it works [I know, I've used it on my shin!!]
 
i have just bought some equi ice leg coolers. i think they are great also have a rug it work by putting liquid on them before you use them and that evaporating off (i think!) drawing the heat away from the leg and best of all reusable and no mess! and just leave them on for 3 hours so put them on after XC have a walk around and as long as they have been on for 15mins min you can take them off an off you go!

http://www.equiplus.co.uk/index.htm

Some interesting stuff about them!
 
When speaking to my vet he said that the best products for leg cooling were the bandages, I have Neo Ice ones, but that the most important thing is to get them on asap and not leave them on for too long - about 20 - 30 mins - as like in humans if too cold for too long blood rushes back there and heats them back up - i use these then also the Aerborn cool boots, and I have a product by Forest Farmacy called Clean Limbs which soothes and eases any swellings or knocks - its a spray which is really easy to use! My horse has sensitive skin and I find that the clays don't allow the legs to breathe. I have also heard that Cold Tite Gel - I think it is Vital Equine - is really good.
 
I loathe clay there is too much research to tell you about what poor management of clay will do to horses legs. Effectively after 20 minutes it actually heats the legs back up and a lot of research believes that its the actual washing off of it that cools the legs.

I tried Equ N Ice I thought it was rubbish might as well take a crepe bandage and dunk it in water.

I tried cooling gels but the good ones are comp illegal.

I have Aerborn gaiters think they are great. Soak them in water after dressage put them on at end of xc and 20 minutes later lovely cool legs. No danger of upsetting cuts and grazes. I got mine off ebay cheap. I have used them on my horses knee as the straps are so flexible.
 
thx you all for info.............. toddles off to read and order
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Another one who is in love with the aerborn cool boots. I put mine in the airing cupboard for 1 day and when i took them out they still slightly cold. I'm wary of using gels and clays incase there are hidden cuts on the legs and then get all infected because of the gel or clay.
 
These are easily the best I've used:
http://www.horsehealth.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_89&products_id=544

Stick them in the freezer then transport them to competitions in a cool bag and they'll stay very cold for a whole day.

I've also tried the Aeroborn Cool boots but not that impressed, they don't retain the cold well and if you don't thoroughly dry them out after each use the gel crystals inside them breakdown and stop working altogether.

NeoIce and Equi n Ice are much better and the science is behind them re cooling affect. I've just got an Equi n Ice rug - not tried it yet but heard excellent reports on the circuit about how quickly it cools horses and gets heart rates down very quickly.
 
Following this with interest! I use the Aerborn wraps but I freeze them - they say never do this but I was taught this method by Matt Ryan (a great ice lover!!) and I've never had any problems in terms of ice "burns" etc. One pair is now degrading a bit and I'm thinking of replacing it but as I've had it nearly 10 years it's not bad going. I've also got a pair of the HR Medics ones which are easier to put on (Aerborn ones go very stiff if yu freeze them and you have to give them a quick soak in a bucket to get them soft enough to wrap around) but don't stay cold nearly as long. I tried the bandages but found them fiddly and they didn't seem to work very well for me.

Up to now I have used clay products after the initial icing/cooling but have heard enough of the modern research to be in the process of changing my mind - looks like we may have been being duped all these years by the manufacturers?

BTW G_Girl, is that price on Horse Health for one boot or a pair do you happen to know?
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Love the aerborn boots. I dry mine out thoroughly after every use and they do cool legs off well. They are expensive though. The bandages such as Neo Ice etc I just find fiddly, and in the long run are more expensive.
 
Have the puffa heatbeaters and firm them ok but I'd say that Bonner Bandages are best. Really interested in trying to freeze my puffa ones now though. Any special instructions Tabledancer?
 
EEk - don't do it on my account, wouldn't want to be held responsible if they explode, burn your horse etc etc
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Mine are the Aerborn so don't know the Puffa ones - mine need to be wet but watch out for them then freezing onto the freezer so you can't take them out
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All I know is once they are on the legs they stay properly cold for about 45 mins which is how long it takes to get home from the gallops
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And if it's good enough for Matt its good enough for me
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I tried cooling gels but the good ones are comp illegal.


[/ QUOTE ]
This is interesting - I'm aware that the gels containing camphor (I think it is) aren't comp legal, but can anyone tell me why? And also, isn't it just that you can't compete within 2 weeks (or whatever) of using the gel? So if you put it on after you've run, and aren't intending on running again within 2 weeks, then they're ok?
 
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