Blast from the past -- strapping

blitznbobs

blitznbobs

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Does anyone do this any more? I was reading the thread about muscling a horse up and I just wondered. When I originally learnt to groom I was told that it was part of a full groom but has never been a part of my routine and I never see anyone doing it these days but just wondered.

Blitz
 
Used to have to strap the hunt horses when I worked with them back in the 80s and used to strap my own horse at that time. However I don't strap now and haven't done so for years.
 
I don't know anyone personally who does it but I do remember than when the Once Show 'adopted' a horse for the Grand National they had a webcam that they went to during the show and the lass was in there strapping the horse. They were very quick to point out that she was not just hitting him but it was part of muscling him up for his preparation!!
 
I do it! Or did, before I broke. Love it :D. Great for the horse and great for one's arms :D :D

To me a grooming session isn't a grooming session without a good bit of strapping :D

Admittedly I don't do for as long as I used to. Dizz lives out as much as possible and I don't want to rid her coat of all oils etc. :cool:
 
Lol my dad said to me once you dont know nowt about horses and hard work unless you have done a morning strapping nags, he mentioned something about rolled up chunks of straw ??? But we are talking around the 1950,s !!!
 
i always did it on the hunters- usually with a good cloth and "bumping"on the muscley parts at the end of grooming,(for want of a better word!)nothing to do with hitting i hasten to add!!! those days it seems are rare now in grooming circles-
 
You plait a pad of straw or can buy pads for doing it and hit horses necks and bums basically -- anywhere with muscle and the tension of the horse builds muscle...(Both on the horse and on you!)

Blitz
 
Stand at your horse's side, facing towards its bum.

Hold a body brush in hand closest to the horse, metal curry comb in other hand. Note: hold the curry comb at the base of the handle, where it joins the metal part.

Sweep hand with body brush down the horse's body, continue the swing to bring the body brush across the curry comb, then up and back round again. Keep it up (builds up a good sweat!). Note: when the brush goes onto the horse it has to be done with a fair amount of force (not to the point of horse's eyes bulging and scaring the bejeezubs out of it though!).

Band the edge of the curry comb against the bottom of your boot to get the grease out. Do this every few strokes.

Only strap the neck, shoulder, sides and bum, but not the soft area at the back end of the ribs (where body joins bum).
 
Early 70s we used to make strapping pads with straw at Pony Club camp. I know of a competition yard where it is still done but it is time consuming and time is money.
 
We do! Strap all the racehorses at work. Never knew what it was until I started working there, brilliant for toning up the racers muscles. We use a balled up rag with water and baby oil then wring it out so it's just a bit damp then strap the neck, shoulders and bum.
 
MrsMozart said:
Stand at your horse's side, facing towards its bum.

Hold a body brush in hand closest to the horse, metal curry comb in other hand. Note: hold the curry comb at the base of the handle, where it joins the metal part.

Sweep hand with body brush down the horse's body, continue the swing to bring the body brush across the curry comb, then up and back round again. Keep it up (builds up a good sweat!). Note: when the brush goes onto the horse it has to be done with a fair amount of force (not to the point of horse's eyes bulging and scaring the bejeezubs out of it though!).

Band the edge of the curry comb against the bottom of your boot to get the grease out. Do this every few strokes.

Only strap the neck, shoulder, sides and bum, but not the soft area at the back end of the ribs (where body joins bum).
Click to expand...


Sorry Mrs M, but that's only basic grooming. Strapping or what's known as strapping is to follow what you've described with banging the muscles in the same timing but with a pad of some sort, not just a brush. It used to be leather pads which were filled with horse hair but many used to make their own from straw (similar to a wisp) or a bunched up cloth. The idea was to get the horse to flex his muscles (and yours as you said!) which helps a lot with fittening. A horse that had been properly strapped and banged would have a finish and skin like silk no matter what breed it was, you can't replicate that finish with only a brush, believe me, I've tried many times but it's just not the same.
 
Maesfen said:
Sorry Mrs M, but that's only basic grooming. Strapping or what's known as strapping is to follow what you've described with banging the muscles in the same timing but with a pad of some sort, not just a brush. It used to be leather pads which were filled with horse hair but many used to make their own from straw (similar to a wisp) or a bunched up cloth. The idea was to get the horse to flex his muscles (and yours as you said!) which helps a lot with fittening. A horse that had been properly strapped and banged would have a finish and skin like silk no matter what breed it was, you can't replicate that finish with only a brush, believe me, I've tried many times but it's just not the same.
Click to expand...

what she said...I still strap mine with a straw plait or a bran filled chamois..its bloody hard work, but very rewarding.
The "banging" is important. Strapping alone doesn't have the same effect.
 
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