How often would you do strapping?

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Natalie_Student

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Hello, I'm a student working on a report about brining a horse back into fittness and my instructor mentioned about strapping, I do know what strapping is and what it does for the horse but my question is how often would you strap a horse? would you do it everyday? or is it like a once a week type of deal?
 
When I was previously on a livery yard the old style traditional owner expected her own horses to be strapped vigorously by the staff for 45 mins daily.

She would then check the horses over to ensure that no corners were cut or grease left.

The horses, though sparkling clean, hated being strapped 🙄.
 
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Help an ignorant zoomer out here but surely for conditioning and injury prevention strapping would be less preferable and not more efficient than a graduated fitness program? Or am I wrong on its function and effects? I've only ever come across it mentioned in a thelwell book, think it was Pony calvalcade 😅
 
Tiddlypom said:
It was proper hard whacking of the horse with brushes, too.

Awful practice.
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I think we know now that muscles don't really appreciate it! We were taught a pummel type method in my massage diploma and I never had a single horse who enjoyed it and it was nowhere as robust as strapping.

Elbow grease with a rubber curry comb is about as much I do now.
 
Tiddlypom said:
It was proper hard whacking of the horse with brushes, too.

Awful practice.
Click to expand...
I've never 'whacked with a brush' and if I had when training, I'd have been bawled out! 😳
Always used a soft pad, either of a stable rubber or in later years, a soft leather pad.

I much preferred a decent grooming session with body brush and curry, used properly.
 
Many years ago when my sister was a hunter groom it was carried out about twice a week per horse. If done correctly it is hard work for the groom and not much fun for the horse. It was never carried out with a brush, traditionally a wisp was used (pad type thing made from plated hay) then a grooming pad was used, usually with sheepskin on one side.I haven't heard of or seen anyone strapping for years.
I am sure a lot of horses and grooms are very relieved!
 
I still do- would say weekly is ideal. I'd never use a brush, either a pad or wisp.
Perhaps I don't put enough effort in (compared to other reminiscences on this thread), although it's enough to get me sweating, but mine love it- they'll stand to have it done without a headcollar/untied. While the old boy was on pen rest I was strapping regularly to keep blood flowing properly and he would follow me round the pen after I'd finished.
ETA I was always taught only to strap over the large muscles, so hindquarters, shoulders, neck- never over any bony areas/ribs etc.
 
Burnttoast said:
I was expected to demonstrate strapping during my Stage II exam on the scrawniest little pony. Apparently I needed to put more effort into it :confused: 🤔 How is it that people have dreamt up so many acceptable ways to whack horses? "Well done, boy, have a wallop" Need a bit more muscle? Whack 'em.
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I so much agree with you.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
I've never 'whacked with a brush' and if I had when training, I'd have been bawled out! 😳
Always used a soft pad, either of a stable rubber or in later years, a soft leather pad.

I much preferred a decent grooming session with body brush and curry, used properly.
Click to expand...
The yard owner who had her horses strapped with excess force was a BHSI who regularly instructed working pupils up to BHSAI level - she trained her pupils to strap in a similar way 🙁.

It’s a good while ago now, but it went on for a long time. Hopefully it has since died out as a practice, not least because of the time and labour involved.

Thoroughly agree that a good grooming session with a body brush is much better for the horse.
 
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