Competition horses

[racebuddy]

My older boy has always had his legs clayed / bandages since being a baby he’s no 20 and has the magnetic bands on all the time

my new boy is 6 , so do I continue what I’ve always done clay / bandage ect when worked hard or do people use the magnetic bands in young horses too ? Thanks ?

 

[ycbm]

What do you feel that clay does? I've always been puzzled by using clay.
.

 

[TheMule]

Clay is an insulator, its use is well outdated.
Magnetic bands have zero science behind them.

 

[ihatework]

I’ve observed management at a number of top event yards. None use clay.

Im not completely anti-clay, but not wrapped and bandaged. Applied and left to evaporate and then washed off, isn’t going to do any harm and will have some minor benefit. BUT why bother? Messy and expensive with limited benefit. Much better options out there.

As for what to do after heavy exercise, 20-30 mins of ice/cold boots then nothing else. I don’t subscribe to routine bandaging, I want to see swelling if there is going to be any.

 

[Winters100]

What are you doing with the horses that they need more than just cooling the legs with water after work?

 

[MuddyMonster]

After a long ride or fast work I hose legs & use cold/ice boots

I have used LikeIce in the past on recommendation of ex-YO. Does that fall into the clay category? I won't bother re-buying any if it does!

 

[Melody Grey]

Genuine question- what’s hard enough work to warrant bandaging/ claying?

In racing and eventing, and hunting come to think of it we’ve only ever cold hosed routinely and used ice for those with a history of issues/ when hosing hasn’t cooled enough. Just curious?

 

[LEC]

Whoa, did I just time warp back to the 80s? Do you dry them off with straw and a jute rug? Porter boots for xc? Bran mash on a Sunday?

the only thing clay is good for is modelling… though I am always slightly bemused as the Irish racing trainers still love it.

 

[racebuddy]

I’ve used clay for years post jumping and bought him as 5 year old and now 20 and still
In full work with medication at all looking and feeling great , so can’t be all that bad , I was just curious as to what other people do not to critise how I look after my own horses

 

[bouncing_ball]

I’ve used clay for years post jumping and bought him as 5 year old and now 20 and still
In full work with medication at all looking and feeling great , so can’t be all that bad , I was just curious as to what other people do not to critise how I look after my own horses

sounds like you’ve done well with him but clay is no longer popular as research shown no benefit and may insulate. It’s shown to be of no benefit and can be of marginal harm so enough evidence not to use it any more.

with young horse based on current research I’d use well ventilated boots when need boots. Not travel home in warm boots /bandages.

focus on effective cooling after significant exertion - ice boots / crushed ice and tubigrips / cold hosing etc. For 20 minutes maximum then remove. Can repeat later if want.

not use anything that heats leg such as stable bandages. (Unless there’s another medical reason to bandage).

No studies show magnets help with anything but if seem to help with a 20 year old horse’s mobility I’d keep using them but not bother for young horse.

 

[Sossigpoker]

Clay will do next to nothing for cooling and if anything will nicely insulate those legs and make them warm.
Cold hosing is the best followed by ice packs.

 

[SEL]

There's a lot more research around now about how boots and bandages heat up vital structures in the leg which can cause harm. One of the cheapest post exercise hacks I've seen is wine coolers straight from fridge onto legs - equine versions at a %%%% mark up are available! Personally I'd just hose.

Never seen a benefit from magnets myself but have friends who swear by them.

 

[Orangehorse]

Clay was the thing years ago, but things have moved on. I used it in the past, in 1970s, it took the filling out!
But now the thing is to keep the legs as cool as possible.