Magnetic boots and grass kept horses

[Kezza]

For those of you who keep their arthritic horse out with access to a stable, do you put magnetic boots on at night? If so which ones? I have the veredus ones for my very slightly arthritic horse and he’s worn these every night in his stable for the past 3 years or so. I’m keeping him out this summer and perhaps even through winter with access to his stable and I’m not sure whether to keep putting his boots on at night. I’m worried that if it rains they will get sodden although I would use them without the padded lining and the groom would remove them in the morning. Plus would he actually need them if he’s out? I suppose he would if he stands in his stable for much of the night.

Also do people use boots to keep their horses legs warm at night/day when they're turned out?? If so what type??

 

[RachelB]

I know it's not strictly related, but I use Bioflow boots on my horse to reduce filling in her legs. She's out 24/7 but the brushing boots type are fine even when wet. I've even once braved stable bandaging her in the field (sounds odd I know, my reasoning is long and complicated!) but only because I knew it was going to be dry weather. I certainly wouldn't want to risk those Veredus boots in the wet with the padding. What is the outer like? If it's just bog standard neoprene I don't think it would matter if you took the padding off.
However, I wouldn't bother with the boots at all if he's out 24/7. This should theoretically ease his stiffness anyway. I prefer saving my magnetic boots for when my horse's legs are already swollen, as the best preventative measure is leaving her out all day and night IMO.

 

[Kezza]

I use mine to help with swelling above his fetlock as well as his slight arthritis of his hock which is obviously far better treated with the padding on anyway. He's not lame with either and sees the vet every 6 months for check up and is on cortaflex and devils relief.

The outer of the veredus boots is neoprene. I have the bioflow brush boots for exercising him so is it better to leave those on overnight or nothing at all do you think?

 

[RachelB]

Personally I would be leaving them off and seeing how it went. Obviously I don't know your horse though so it's a decision you have to make

Of course, this should be the bit where I remind both of us that static magnets have no proven effect on the horse (yada yada...)

 

[YorksG]

No proven effect and I was once very rudely shot down in flames on here for using annecdotal evidence about magnet use! Interestingly there are other products on here that have not been double blind tested etc. which are praised highly. That said I used bioflow boots on my old Appy, whether she was in or out, to supplement the effect of the Bute. She appeared to find them beneficial, particularly as she had problems when the ground was hard.

 

[Kezza]

just to clarify, I used the veredus magnetic stable boots with padding when he was in his stable overnight to reduce the swelling he gets and has most of the time and to help with his slight arthritis of the hock. The swelling visably reduces by morning but I cannot prove that they are helping with the slight arthritis as I started using them before he got diagnosed anyway as he suffered from windgalls and he has cortaflex and devils relief so would struggle to prove which was giving greater benefit.

What I am wondering is if he may suffer without any magnetic therapy or boots from the point of view of warmth and support whilst living out so was wondering what others did/do?

 

[Theresa_F]

Cairo lives out most of the time in summer and he wears magnetic straps - these stay on 24 x 7 and he has worn them for several years. For him they do help - take them off and he goes lame.

Being a clydesdale, he has natural leg warmers, which is why the straps are so suitable as they don't create any heat and are designed to be left on like the human wrist straps.