Boots/Bandages/Wraps???

[Hattikins]

My horse is coming back into walking work at the beginning of december (hopefully all being well!!)

after having been totally off work for approx. 3months with slight suspensory ligament damage, and i was wondering that when i begin to walk him out what type of support and protection should i be giving his legs?

He is usually in simple cheapy brushing boots and he does brush quite badly, i was wondering whether he would be fine just being put back in these for walking and later gentle trotting work or should he be given more protection and if so would wraps or bandages be better??

I would be grateful for any opinions on types of protection and which make of boot/bandage/wrap people prefer

Thankyou very much in advance

 

[1928sky]

The proffesional choice sports medicine boots II are good as they give lots of support- expensive but well worth the money I feel. My horse slightly damaged a DDFT tendon and they were recommended by the vet. They are much cheaper in America though- we buy them online through an american tackshop and get them shipped. Bandages are hard to get right unless you are a total expert you can do more damage with uneven pressure.

 

[Tia]

None. Wraps/boots can sometimes do more damage than good in instances like this.

 

[Malibu]

In your case i am not 100% sure, with mine, including a horse with a severe blown tendon, i have polos on fronts and sometimes hinds too with cheap woof brushing boots on top to give extra protection (this , i do when horses are turned out, hand grazing or schooling) If you are gently exercising the i would suggest the same BUT if you are not experianced with bandages then i would suggest just boots, as bandaging badly can do SO much harn its unreal just how much harm it can do. i have no experiance with wraps but i am buying some for dressage warm at comps as bandages take too long to take off when alone!
i hope that has helped!

 

[Hattikins]

Yes that helped a lot thankyou

im quite happy to bandage, have bandaged a lot as have had to do displays and have played polo a bit and so used them too. am thinking of wraps though as he has to be walked either in a field or kind of as a hack not in the school and i dont really want endless muddy and wet bandages everyday to take off him and wash, possibly wraps are the way to go but im not 100% sure

 

[Salcey]

Used to use soprts boots on mine, then I read so much about the damage you can do by booting up, we now only boot if jumping.

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I would prefer just brushing boots to preotect from striking into himself. At the stage of building him up i.e. walk and light trot work I prefer not to support the legs as they need to build up there own strength and not rely on external support. Save bandages or wraps until you are doing more strenuous work.

 

[Hattikins]

brilliant!!!!!! thankyou for that!!!!!!

thats what my mum thought so i think we'll be doing that

 

[icestationzebra]

Interesting question A. I was talking to KatB about this earlier today.... I used to boot up for everything and used bandages on a lot of liveries. However, having read some research about use of boots and bandages warming up tendons and therefore weakening the structures I have stopped using anything apart from overeach boots or for jumping/XC. Not sure what to think anymore to be honest

 

[fizz-tally]

jay is just back in work due to the same thing as yours,he has had a year off.

vet told me to ride him with strech & flex training boots on his hinds[ he did a hind]

 

[Hattikins]

hmmm interesting

i havent got a clue now and feel like a know very little (the more you think you know the more you realise you know nothing

)

we were thinking either nothing at all or stretch and flex training wraps on his front legs - but to be honest i dont know now what to do, hes always worn brushing boots because he brushes so badly but other than tendon boots in front for sjing and boot all round for xc we dont tend to give his legs any more support.

The only real reason other than support i would be tempted to put boots on him when he came back into work is, because i just know he will want to dance and be a prat through excitement and i really dont want him to catch or kick himself or something - after over 3 months off it would be too hard to bare to have him off with something else - i just have no idea where to start boot wise

 

[Janette]

My mare is just coming back into work after tendon sheath inflammation and an inflamed suspensory ligament. I worry about bandaging, so have just bought some sports boots.