Leg Care!

strides-eventing

strides-eventing

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I'm just interested as to what you guys use for leg cooling after XC or whatever you do. There are sooo many different types of leg care, gels, ice boots, etc etc.. I bought some of those NEW equine "GelCels" at badminton and they were AWFUL!

So please, tell me what your favourite and BEST most EFFECTIVE leg cooling and leg care methods and products are! :D
 
I have to be careful with my TB has he has super fine fur on his legs which scad easily. The only time I used 'ice tight' it burnt him and made him sore.

Therefore after XC I wash his legs throughly and carefully with cold water. Then I put on gold label witchhazel andarnica gel as it's soothing and cooling but not scalding.
Then he travels home.
Then I hose his legs well, rub in more witchhazel and arnica and put on loose stable bandages just to give a bit of support.Then the next evening I hose and loose stable bandages.
Then that's it!
He always has really tight, cool legs but tbh I wouldn't run him if I wasn't happy with the ground.
 
I use these pads http://www.synergyonlinestore.com/disposable-continence-care/classic-bed-pad.html
:D
Seriously. I wet thoroughly & put in the freezer overnight, I take them in a cool box to an event. By the time it comes to use they are defrosted enough to be malleable but still slightly icy & cold.
I then wrap around & secure with 3 strips of duct tape. I leave on for 20 mins before taking off.
I then thoroughly spray with Mark Todd competition spray.

I like using the bed pads because they are big enough to cover from knee right down to hoof :)
 
Wash down with cool water... let it start to dry/evaporate whilst walking around, once warm to the touch, wash again and walk round etc for 15-20mins/until cooler to touch.
Never bandage, worries me putting travel boots on after as they warm the legs. Don't do ointments/potions.
If there is a hose pipe going I stand his legs under that for 10mins! Not that he appreciates all my hard work at keeping him sound, usually splits the hose pipe whilst pathering around and covers me in as much water :rolleyes:
 
glamourpuss said:
I use these pads http://www.synergyonlinestore.com/disposable-continence-care/classic-bed-pad.html
:D
Seriously. I wet thoroughly & put in the freezer overnight, I take them in a cool box to an event. By the time it comes to use they are defrosted enough to be malleable but still slightly icy & cold.
I then wrap around & secure with 3 strips of duct tape. I leave on for 20 mins before taking off.
I then thoroughly spray with Mark Todd competition spray.

I like using the bed pads because they are big enough to cover from knee right down to hoof :)
Click to expand...

Bed pads? How big are they do you have to cut them down? What is the supposed benefit of the competition spray?
 
After XC, gallop work and jumping on grass I use ice boots. I have large neoprene boots that cover the knee/hock down to the hoof. They have pockets inside that I fill with ice. After XC, legs are washed down and the ice boots are put on for 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off then 20 minutes on again.

I firmly believe that 'water boots' are useless. Even water that is cold will heat up and act like an insulator due to the heat of the legs. Ice will melt away taking the heat away :)

I will then bandage them up for the trip home. When I get home, I will put a clay poultice on and leave them in the paddock to relax.
 
Firewell said:
Therefore after XC I wash his legs throughly and carefully with cold water. Then I put on gold label witchhazel and arnica gel as it's soothing and cooling but not scalding.
Then he travels home.
Click to expand...

I do exactly the same without the bandages as mine live out.
 
Last edited:
I dont apply sprays, clays or other ointments, they are never absorbed to the level you actually want to cool and only serve the purpose of cooling the skin so basically no point imho.

I cold hose my boy off after xc (Mobi Washer) and then walk him round with nothing on his legs. Once dry he then has travel boots on for the journey home. the next day I assess his legs - no heat, swelling, lameness so i'm pretty happy with my cooling techniques so far.

I use eskadron SJ boots and Dalmar XC boots - they are only on for the period of warm up and competition - I never leave a horse standing with boots on - I think there was an article a while ago that showed horses that wore boots for too long ended up with boney changes to their canon bones over a period of time (eek!)

I do own a pair of Bonner Bandages which are soaked in water and live in my lorry fridge. As the fridge isn't on during one day events, I put two ice blocks in the fridge to keep it cool. If I really feel like using something cooling (say if I know he's hit a fence xc) then I'll put them on for 15mins following washing down.
 
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