FMBS Ice boots

Birker2020

Birker2020

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Hi my horse is on walk only exercise for another fortnight following a slight sprain of the inside of his suspensory branch and I am ice booting and ice cupping him under the direction of my vet along with short hacks or 20 min sessions of walk in straight lines in the school.

I'm looking for some new ice boots for my horse. The current ones I have are very long and do not have very good velcro closures and I have to bandage over the top. I like to put them on whilst he's loose in the stable but with my current ones I am worried that if he moves about they will just come undone unless they are bandaged. My physio friend has some much better ones but she is not looking at selling them at the moment.

Does anyone know where I can get some cheap second hand ones from or can anyone recommend me some ice boots that fit like brushing boots with the velcro straps (which are like the ones my friend has).

As its the suspensory branch and therefore on on the inside of the fetlock I don't think that the normal blue 'tendon wraps' that fit like the shape of tendon boots are really suitable. I will continue to ice for probably the next fortnight or so, but they are really handy to have in the freezer anyway, as are the ice cups.

Thanks in advance
 
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Premier Equine have 20% off their cold water boots today on website, you can soak these in iced water before putting on. They also do ice boots but they aren't discounted today but they discount different products on different days.
 
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Try "Coldones" -on Horse Health website. I use them post xc and they are really good at cooling and adding a little compression too - they really wrap around the leg and the area you want to focus on.. Soak them, then leave them in freezer. "Defrost" slightly beforehand by putting in bucket of cold water just so they are malleable and then leave them on for 20 ins. Expensive but I have tried all sorts with eventers over the years and these are the best in my opinion. Good luck!
 
almostthere said:
Try "Coldones" -on Horse Health website. I use them post xc and they are really good at cooling and adding a little compression too - they really wrap around the leg and the area you want to focus on.. Soak them, then leave them in freezer. "Defrost" slightly beforehand by putting in bucket of cold water just so they are malleable and then leave them on for 20 ins. Expensive but I have tried all sorts with eventers over the years and these are the best in my opinion. Good luck!
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thank you almosthere, have been on the website and looked, yes they are expensive.
In your opinion how long do you think it is beneficial to administer ice therapy? I have always thought at least the first month, but now not really sure.
 
I asked this very question at the Equine Hospital I was at last week . My horse was diagnosed with inflammation in his suspensories but no heat or swelling that could be seen/felt externally. For that injury they said that usually the first 1/2 weeks is where cold treatment is beneficial as they would expect initial inflammation to have calmed down by then. So for me when the injury was sustained 2 weeks previously, they said that whilst it wouldn't necessarily do any harm it equally would not be of any benefit to apply cold treatment. Obviously only their view and specific to his injury.
 
almostthere said:
I asked this very question at the Equine Hospital I was at last week . My horse was diagnosed with inflammation in his suspensories but no heat or swelling that could be seen/felt externally. For that injury they said that usually the first 1/2 weeks is where cold treatment is beneficial as they would expect initial inflammation to have calmed down by then. So for me when the injury was sustained 2 weeks previously, they said that whilst it wouldn't necessarily do any harm it equally would not be of any benefit to apply cold treatment. Obviously only their view and specific to his injury.
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Thanks Almostthere that's interesting what your Equine Hospital said. I did wonder if it would still make any difference - another livery seemed to think it was pointless, I can remember my physio friend saying it was very beneficial at the time of the injury as it encourages the fibres to re-align correctly, but couldn't remember for how long to keep doing it. I am going to still put on his ice boot I think as its zero hassle but I will stop ice cupping now I think, I've been devoting 20 mins every night almost without fail to it, and its a pointless and extremely boring thing to do if its not going to make any difference!

Interesting what you said about the heat and swelling or lack of it, my horse also had very similar symptoms but was off after resting between jumping classes despite having jumped and warmed up sound an hour before. Mine has the branch of the suspensory where it goes over the fetlock affected, and its a very slight sprain a bit like going over on your ankle - so walk and then walk/trot for a few weeks, fortunately recovery is fairly quick although I'm prepared to spend time getting him right.

Did they recommend stable bandaging for your horse? My vet suggested it would be beneficial for my horse when I asked him?

Speedy recovery for your horse xx
 
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