Should I boot up horse after ligament injury?

[Starbucks]

I don't usually use any boots at all on Badger, but I'm wondering if I should after his check ligament injury (hunting in heavy ground jumping big hedges)?

Not sure I'd be happy about giving him any "padding" show jumping, but should I be putting some sort of boots on for support XC and/or SJ, if so what kind?

I'm only interested in support rather than protection for knocks etc. Also, what products can I use on his legs to prevent/reduce future tendon/ligament injury?

 

[Navalgem]

I'm using those stretch and flex wraps for bob, his injury is slightly diff (suspensory branch) but i find they give support without the bulk.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

My spotty pony is just coming back into work after injuring her check ligament out hunting and at the moment she is wearing the Professional Choice Sports Boots, she literally is just coming back into work tho, ie now on 20mins walk work, which is actually having to be ridden as she winds herself up too much inhand. (should know better at 23 really) and at the moment is also being ridden my my brother as I'm off broken but he does say that she seems to be ok at moment!

Polo bandages would also help, I would prop apply so they help support the fetlock a bit more, would say that most sport boots or wraps should help more than normal ones, alltho off course there is then the danger off legs getting too hot so I suppose it will partly depend with what you will feel happiest doing?

Sorry post ended up being rather long!

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

And just saw about products etc, I would cold hose after hard exercise and perhaps if this isn't possible you could ice with clay after just to help it cool down and contract etc, maybe best to ask your vets opnion really.

 

[Mbronze]

I don't think any boots actually can 'support' a ligament. The best thing you can do is strengthen and condition the surrounding muscles (lots of roadwork) and put boots on to avoid striking that area.

 

[oldvic]

I wouldn't use any boots as they aren't going to be in a place to support a check ligament and it is better for the leg to strengthen anyway, rather than hide a problem. No product will prevent injury but to help keep the legs tight, hosing, witchazel, seawater or anything similar that takes your fancy.

 

[Addicted to Hunting]

I personally think it a personal choice anyway, the boots aren't going to hide the injury I just personally would rather wear them to help protect from knocks as well, and just over a bit off support to the legs, to be honest and brutual if the ligament goes again the boots aren't going to stop it or anything really, we can just try and help!

Strenghing work should def be done to help strengthen, slow work is best! And yes cold hosing etc will help everything tighten up and cool down after exercise, but if it's goin to go again it properly well, I've accepted that anyway, remember to also treat the other leg the same as that ligament is also likely to go.

 

[TarrSteps]

As above, I think it's been pretty conclusively proven that no bandage or even really a boot can "support" tendons or ligaments. The amount of pressure those structures are under is immense and in order to actually do any good you have to apply tight enough to limit movement, which would be tight enough to cause a disaster. Which isn't to say good boots don't protect the leg and have their uses, just that they really won't prevent an injury.

Be careful about over heating, though! It has been proven that excessive heat weakens the soft tissue structures, which might be MORE likely to cause a problem, especially with a reinjury.

End of the day, it's up to you. There are some very good boots but they also tend to be expensive. And clearly the horse coped just fine up until his injury, which is sounds like no boot would have prevented.

There are probably more management related things you could do that would work better than boots - cooling, as mentioned above; special attention to weight and fitness, and keeping a close eye so you can see any trouble early on.

 

[Starbucks]

Thanks people. I'm a bit of a non boot person so from what you've said, I won't bother. Just wanted to check really.

As to why he did the injury in the first place - TBH I think it was down to a combination of management and just hunting in tough country/ground. He's never had any problems before when he's been kept with my mother (much more knowledgeable with hunters/horses than me!) she's always had him a bit on the lean side (hunting pics in my other thread), but when I got him in a livery yard down near me I've fed him up a bit more, he wasn't fat but more "looking well" but he probably just does not need all that body weight on his not that chunky legs. Also the hunting country is tough! BIG hedges which he insists on jumping every twig of and quite deep ground.

He's done loads of roadwork in his rehab which I plan to continue, but think he needs to be leaner for hunting.