Do you always bandage filled legs?

RachelB

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 December 2004
Messages
6,881
Location
back of beyond
Visit site
As most of you probably know by now, my horse has been on box rest for two months. No end in sight as yet... She is walking down to her pen in the field and having about 1-2 hours a day out, but last night I noticed her hind legs had filled a bit (mostly around the fetlock area, not much up round the tendons). I asked my YO for her opinion (she is very experienced) and she said it isn't anything significant so not to worry about it, but now I am paranoid about her legs I am wondering whether I should be bandaging her? I can't walk her about to get the swelling down as she's meant to be doing minimal moving about apart from turnout, and when she's in her pen she doesn't move much as there's not much room!
Do you think I should be bandaging her hind legs overnight to help? And do you personally always bandage filled legs, or just leave them to it?
By the way I am a perfectly competent bandager so no worries there
smile.gif
 

Tierra

Well-Known Member
Joined
27 September 2006
Messages
3,041
Location
Denmark
dressage.wordpress.com
Bandaging is one of those things that addresses the symptom rather than the cause (so can take away the swelling but wont deal with why its occuring).

Given your mare is on box rest... I dont think some slight filling of the legs is anything to worry about. How old is she? Its most likely nothing more than a circulation issue because she's not getting the chance to wander around much.

I used magnetic wraps on my mare when she was on lengthy box rest and that took away all the puffyness in her legs and were also much faster and more convenient to use than bandages.

As the weather is warming up, I personally wouldnt want to be bandaging and I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about.
 

RachelB

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 December 2004
Messages
6,881
Location
back of beyond
Visit site
Thanks for that. I wouldn't bandage her if she were in work, but seeing as she isn't and can't walk the swelling off that is why I am thinking I should be bandaging her - I know what the cause is, but I can't do anything to change it! She is 11 years old, so definately not ancient and fragile! YO said she is surprised she has only started filling now after two months of rest, as she has been stood still for so long. I did wonder whether she may get too hot though as you say. I am hoping to buy some magnetic stable boots at Badminton so I may just wait until then and stick those on her instead, and just keep an eye on her in the meanwhile. And chase the vets up!
Thanks Tierra.
 

star

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 August 2001
Messages
6,781
Location
Woking, Surrey
Visit site
my horse is 21 and if stabled overnight his legs fill slightly, but walk off in the morning so i dont worry about it. however, when he was on box rest last year he had no chance to walk the swelling off and his legs looked liked tree trunks so i did keep them bandaged pretty much constantly for 3 months. this was last august, so not absolute hottest time of year, but pretty warm still - no probs with overheating.
 
Top