Exercise bandages...yay or nay?

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Erehwemos

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When my mare finally gets herself out of the wars (!) I need to have a serious think about what to put on her legs when riding. I was already pondering this before she injured her hock, so it isnt necessarily something brought about by her 'accidents'
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In the past, I have had several kinds of tendon and fetlock boot sets. I had a leather set with neoprene inserts for everyday use, and a smart leather set with sheepskin for jumping. I found both sets very hard to clean, and the stitiching on the everyday boots rotted due to the fact that they often got wet and dirty out on a hack - even though I always cleaned them after a ride. After that, I bought some plastic shelled John Whitaker tendon boots, but again, they are a bugger to clean and although I can at least soak them more than I could a leather boot, they still have never come completely clean on the inside - which is the most important bit as it is the part which obviously is in direct contact with her leg. And then, when she threw both splints back in the spring, I bought a pair of Stretch N Flex boots for her front legs, but I've not been at all impressed with them. They dont look like they offer any support, and you cant even put them through the washing machine without them fading and losing their shape
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So now, I am wondering whether bandages may be my best option? I need to find a way of giving her light support and a bit of protection (although she doesnt really brush so that shouldnt be an issue). I also want to use something on all four legs, given her recent hock injury. Obviously I am aware of the need to bandage evenly and to use a pad underneath - tha goes without saying
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Just wondered what people's thoughts on bandages are? Worth also saying that Elz and I are pure happy hackers. I dont make a habit of riding on very muddy or wet ground, but obviously sometimes it is inevitable that we get a bit soggy, so that must be taken into consideration. I may do a bit of schooling with her now we have a decent school, but I have no competitive aspirations!

Opinions please!
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How about none?

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Because having nothing on will not give her any support or protection, and I have just explained that that is what I am looking for...
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Expensive, but great for support and long lasting - professionals choice Elite boots.
I use them every day on my horse and as long as you get the right size (their size chart goes on length and circumference of the cannon bone) they fit really well.
OK, they're not great for eventing or anything where the horse gets very hot or wet, but they do offer a combination of support and protection.
They dry out quickly and I tend to just brush mine and wash them say once every couple of months.
If you need a set of four I would take a punt on the USA Ebay site - they're always on sale and often at low starting prices so worth it even with the extra postage. Otherwise Robinsons are probably the cheapest in the UK.
I do use fleece bandages occasionally if I have to ride her when she's got wet legs, but would be concerned that they might slip out hacking...
 
Yes but only the equilibrium ones that you don't have to use a pad under, they are expensive as far as bandages go but are an all in one and I've done endurance rides in mine without having any problems with them slipping!!
 
I use the stephens bandages in the school, they are 1/2 fleece which is the layer that wraps first around the leg, then the 1/2 half is elastic to give support. So no gamgees etc are required, they are fab, easy to use, and easy to clean. John whitaker also do them.
 
Ironhorse - I had a look at some Professionals Choice ones the other day when I visted Frogpool - I really wasnt that impressed by them, especially considering they are so expensive! I was surprised as a couple of people here had recommended them
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I just thought they seemed quite big and cumbersome, and I really didnt like the material they were made from!

Pudzy and Competition Diva - part fleece bandages sound an option, I will go off and google the Equilibrium and John Whitaker ones now! Thank you
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Maxine - I've got a pair of wraps, and again, for the money, I really am not that pleased with them. I was advised by the saddlery not to wash them in a washing machine but did so anyway on a cool wash - they are now a nasty shade of grey and look about 8 years old
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What exactly do polo wraps do, and what is the difference between them and exercise bandages?
 
Polo wraps are nice fleecey bandages, which don't require any padding underneath - just put them straight on the leg. They're not elasticated, but are slightly stretchy, so you can tension them to the exact pressure you want. I love them, always use them now if I have something which needs support as well as just protection.
 
We just used bog standard excersize bandages on our Ellie's fronts, with normal little gamgees underneath and then electrical tape at the top and bottom. Sghe went round some very meaty courses, and they offered her protection from knocks and bumps very well. Never put anything on her back legs, but would assume you would do just the same. Only thing I'd have changed is to use water resitant gamgees as they picked up a lot of water and took forever to dry.
 
Maxine and Rana - thank you! Am busy googling now
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NoSurrender - that sounds like what I would be looking for! So did you ever have a problem with mud/water etc getting under the bandages and making her sore, or not? That's my main worry I think - exactly the same as what I am trying to avoid with boots!
 
I use bandages for schooling, mainly because the school surface gets down inside axels brushing boots and have caused him a very nasty boot rub which ended up in me getting the vet out!
I'd never use bandages for hacking I'd be far too worried about them slipping, especially round here where it's so muddy. I use normal woof wear brushing boots for that. I take them home and wash them every now and then, and I've had the same ones for over 10 years and they are still good as new!
 
I don't think any boot or bandage will give the legs support tbh.

The only exception being neoprene boots that also go below the fetlock as I have found these are good for arthritic horses as it warms the joint.

IMO the dangers of overheating the leg with anything far outweighs the the negligible amount of support a boot or bandage may offer.

If the horse brushes or overreaches then fine, offer protection, but don't expect it to support the leg at all.

Unless you are SJ or going XC I would leave the legs bare if possible.
 
mizelz - the old style pro choice boots (SMBII) are quite heavy, the Elite ones are lighter and more supple.
Actually the bandages with fleece and elastic are quite good - borrowed a pair from my trainer's wife last winter to use on wet legs and really liked them. She did comment that it can be quite hard to wrap the bandage so that the join between fleece and elastic doesn't sit on the tendon
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Always used bandages. Before I came to Germany I used to buy the half fleece, half elasticated ones, then I came here and got told off by virtually everybody, on the grounds that they can easily do a lot of damage to the tendons. Everybody here uses polos; I started switching to polos and discovered in the process that they are also longer-lasting (IME the elastic in the half elasticated / half fleece ones gets ruined very easily, after a dozen washes or so!). So now I only have polos, they seem to last eternally even when subjected to daily washing!
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I'm with Persephone on this one, if the horse knocks itself fair enough it needs protection but not sure how much support most boots offer, surely the leg structures are designed to cope with a reasonable amount of work and it doesn't sound like you'd be putting much undue strain on them. If I were you I would be really interested to get a veterinary opinion or one from someone who knows about the mechanics of a horses movement to figure out whether you really need to be using boots and whether the inevitable warming of the tendons when using extra protection would in fact be detrimental.
 
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