Boots v bandages

whitemischief

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What do you use on your horses legs when schooling? Do you find boots or bandages best and why? I'm comtemplating getting some training wraps but wonder whether bandages would be a cheaper and just as effective? Any advice / personal experience welcome!

Thanks
 
Bandages would be cheaper and as/more effective IMO
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The wraps are easier and quicker to use but from the ones i've seen they don't offer the same support.

Some of the wraps are so thin that they don't really add much protection against knocks which is why I use bandages. I will use trizone brushing boots if i'm very short of time as they are quite a bit thicker than the wraps as far as I can see. You can different sorts of 'training wraps' and 'flatwork wraps' I think too
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Interesting that you ask this; I had a discussion with my mum about it last night! We have always used boots, and when I mentioned yesterday using my bandages for a lesson as I hadnt had a chance to clean my boots, mum was very negative. Bandages will slip easily if they are even just slightly loose, and really you should have a pad on underneath them, as bandage sores are horrid to deal with (and one led to the death of one of my horses, but I wont go into that now
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It also depends on what you are using them for. A good tendon boot is as supportive as a correctly fitted exercise bandage, but a brushing boot offers protection only of chafing - there is no support. If you are jumping, I would say always use tendon and fetlock boots. If flatwork, I think the decision is up to you - but boots are easier to manage and put on!
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I use boots on Ralph since he had a tendon scare, however, I've been informed that bandaging/boots dont actually help prevent tendon damage, they help to avoid knocks and will keep the area warm, but will not prevent tendon injury.

They do look smart though, I have white wraps for dressage warm ups and black ones for general schooling and hacking and feel naked if we've not got them on
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No boots will offer support to tendons and heat is the worst enemy with neoprene brushing boots . Dalmar make air cooled boots that protect tendons from strike injuries or brushing injuries.

Bandaging ( if done correctly ) offers more support but will still increase leg temperature
 
I prefer boots since I had a bandaging scare - my mare spooked and put her leg in the hedge and all the brambles got caught in the bandage. Luckily she was a good girl and stood while I got off and undid the bandage.
 
It entirely depends on what you want from your horse's legwear as to what you use. I could write loads (and previously have done) on boots and bandages, but suffice to say here that nothing so far available (apart from the special Dalmar boot but even that is not yet commercially available) can support the internal structures of the leg. Bandages look smart and protect the legs from brushes and knocks, but heat the legs up which is bad for the tendons. Wraps do basically the same as bandages, but you can buy breathable ones that will heat the legs a little less. Brushing boots are better at protecting from brushing as they are more sturdy, but don't do anything else other than heat the legs (again, breathable ones are better). Contrary to some people's beliefs, tendon boots do not support the tendons but they do help to minimise the risk of injury if the horse strikes the tendons of the forelimbs with the hind toes. They also protect from brushing to an extent. Fetlock boots only protect from brushing.
If your horse brushes, get some breathable or aircooled brushing boots. If you intend to do XC, the Dalmar boots would serve both purposes (or the new TriZone ones). If he doesn't brush, don't bother with boots - and you get cheap, fuss-free aircooled legs
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