feeling like a bad owner

[moodymare123]

Feeling bad as i did my first ever metre class on my awesome pony which he did really well yesterday! But i brought him in today to spoil him and give him cuddles for yesterdays achievements but his tendons are slightly filled which i feel sooo bad about he isnt lame or anything but i just worry as he is 14 now so dont want to hurt him, i had some know it lls questioning me why i had him putting his legs in buckets full of cool water but aah well! Any ideas how to help if it occurs again?!

 

[Casey76]

After your competition or training, cold hose legs for 10 mins, then clay legs, wrap in cellophane and stable bandages for 12 hours.

 

[moodymare123]

After your competition or training, cold hose legs for 10 mins, then clay legs, wrap in cellophane and stable bandages for 12 hours.

Thankyou!

 

[Auslander]

Cooling needed, but with apologies to Casey, clay (and cellophane) isn't recommended these days, as it stops the legs losing heat, and actually increases the temperature if left on. I recently wrote an article on the subject, with contributions from Andy Bathe and Kathryn Nankervis, the equine therapy centre manager at Hartpury. The general consensus was that the legs should be cooled for a min of 25 mins, as that is the length of time indicated to have an effect on the temperature of the tendons. once the legs have been cooled (cold hosing/ice boots) then they should be dried and left unbandaged, and the horse allowed to move around to keep air flowing round the outside of the legs, and blood moving round the inside (which removes residual heat, and keeps selling down)