Recurrent Brushing Injuries - what shall I do - advice please

[siant2]

My mare is a nightmare for brushing and knocking her own legs about - she is naturally quite close together with her feet and likes to throw her legs about very athletically! She brushes fairly regularly when jumping/hacking or out in field, but doesnt tend to brush when schooling. And this has improved since I got a new farrier who is setting her shoes differently.

However she has chronic scarring and thickened raised areas on the inside of her hind fetlocks and she keeps knocking them and it then creates another wound.

Last year I just managed them by putting brushing boots on when jumping or hacking - but i didnt put them on when out in field, and when she did get another brush injury (from messing around in field) I would bring her in for a few days to let it heal and maybe put her out for a few days with boots on.

This year Ive been turning her out with brushing boots in the hope that the scars wont reopen or get more brushing injures - now Im wondering if this is not a good idea - for the theory that boots heat up the tendons and weaken them - so do I-

a) not put any boots when turned out
b) continue putting brushing boots on for the day and take them off at night (which i do)
c) invest in some fetlock boots or those sausage rings
d) something else?

 

[trafford]

Hi prettybay
I would ask your vet's advice and whether said boots do actually weaken the tendon - sounds like an old wives tale to me. You can always use breathable boots like the stretch and flex ones as these will help to keep the legs cool. I'd think preventing brushing injuries and thus any subsequent infections would be more beneficial than the possible but improbable weakened tendons. It sounds like you don't so a huge amount of hard work on your horse eg jumping, eventing etc so the tendons aren't likely to be under a huge strain. I'd think tendon boots would be advanageous for jumping as there is obviously some incorrect conformation there to cause the brushing which itself will put some weakening and straining of the tendons. Hope this helps and I don't mean to cause any offence with my comments about your horse's conformation or chosen activities with him.

 

[K27]

You could ask your Farrier to feather the inside edges of the hind shoes so they aren't sharp, so she can't hurt herself and fit a Sausage boot when in the field and being ridden. I don't think being turned out in Brushing Boots would harm her and make her legs overheat, unless she gallops about literally all of the time and it would save her from cutting herself!

Gd luck.

 

[Silverspring]

I would boot in the field, I don't believe any of the spraff about boots over heating tendons and making them more likely to injury. My friends PSG dressage horse has worn boots or bandages his entire life. Bandaged in the stable, booted in the field he's never had a single issue with any of his tendons.

This is worth a read

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/tack/other_equipment.php#bandages

 

[ldlp111]

this sounds exactly like my mare brushes her back feet so close theres no hair at top of coronet band and sometimes knocks herself jumping, id invest in a sausage need to get one for mine actually lost the last one in field somewhere!!!

 

[teddyt]

Research has shown that some boots do heat the legs to a level that can cause damage to the tendons. Also, particularly in the summer you may solve the brushing injury but sweaty legs may cause skin problems. In the field i would use a sausage boot/anti brushing ring or if this isnt enough you can get really fat fetlock rings that go around the pastern.
I would have another chat to your farrier about it too. For example there are 3/4 shoes that leave the inside of the hoof near the heel free from metal. An extension can prevent the leg from going too far underneath the horse. I.e. various options that you would need to discuss with your farrier (and maybe vet too) to see what would be appropriate for your horse. As with most things, some have their disadvantages

 

[muddy_grey]

I used to have the same problem with my old horse. He had a scar on the inside of his hide and would knock it in the field. I tried a sausage boot, but his scar was too high for this to help (hock to fetlock) so it might help your lower scars. I just turned him out in one breathable brushing boot he rarely came in with a sweaty leg. I think it is the neoprene sports boots that really heat the legs up and those lined with fleece.