Strapping?

S

SparklerStar

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Hello,
I recently heard about (I think) an old massage method called strapping and I wondered what it was and how do you do it and what with?
Thanks!
 
very few people do his this these days. it is a method of slapping and stroking -sort of- with a pad that helps tone muscles and improve teh skin. hopefully someone can describe it for you!!

i was hoping to read comments etc about it from here!
 
Pretty much as happyclappy describes. Our old groom used to do it. Done especially ater strenuous exercise - in our case hunting - with a 'wisp' of hay or straw twisted into a sort of pad. It is hard work to do (very) if done properly, and was used to relax horses' muscles etc. Worth trying.
 
I am familiar with it as described by happyclappy but I also know it as a term used to describe a full groom after exercise: hoofs picked out, a rubber curry comb to loosen dead hair, a body brush and metal curry comb in combination (the latter cleans the former every few strokes) to remove grease and dust, mane brushed out to the roots a lock at a time using a body brush, tail detangled with either body brush or fingers, eyes muzzle and dock sponged clean, wisp (made by yourself of straw for the session) or massage pad used for the banging (also called strapping), then a final polish with a stable rubber (cotton cloth) to remove the last of the dust. Strapping (full groom) was only for stabled or part stabled horses due to removing the waterproofing grease from the horses coat.

The body brush was not a modern flick brush with long synthetic bristles but had short closely packed fairly firm natural bristles made of various animals hair and was used all over the horse, especially on the muscles where you'd "put your back into it" and use "elbow grease". Brushing the horse properly required more than a casual flick with your arm and gave you a bit of a work out. It massaged the muscles got rid of excess grease and almost all dust, bringing a shine to the coat with the horses natural oils. Now we cheat and use coat shine to short cut to the final look, but without the other health benefits.

Quatering is what was done before exercise. It is about the level of grooming the average horse gets today. So mainly a quick brush, hoof pick and spot wash off stable stains.
 
We used to use a padded leather strapping pad. Basically you bang the muscle fairly hard and then slide the pad along in the direction of the hair. Only strap the large muscles of the neck, shoulders and quarters. Don't strap any bony parts.
 
Rose Folly said:
Pretty much as happyclappy describes. Our old groom used to do it. Done especially ater strenuous exercise - in our case hunting - with a 'wisp' of hay or straw twisted into a sort of pad. It is hard work to do (very) if done properly, and was used to relax horses' muscles etc. Worth trying.
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I have never actually used a wisp or massage pad so I don't know if this is true, but I was taught it helped to build the muscles as well as relax them due to the horse tensing the muscle that was about to be banged each time.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
I am familiar with it as described by happyclappy but I also know it as a term used to describe a full groom after exercise: hoofs picked out, a rubber curry comb to loosen dead hair, a body brush and metal curry comb in combination (the latter cleans the former every few strokes) to remove grease and dust, mane brushed out to the roots a lock at a time using a body brush, tail detangled with either body brush or fingers, eyes muzzle and dock sponged clean, wisp (made by yourself of straw for the session) or massage pad used for the banging (also called strapping), then a final polish with a stable rubber (cotton cloth) to remove the last of the dust. Strapping (full groom) was only for stabled or part stabled horses due to removing the waterproofing grease from the horses coat.

The body brush was not a modern flick brush with long synthetic bristles but had short closely packed fairly firm natural bristles made of various animals hair and was used all over the horse, especially on the muscles where you'd "put your back into it" and use "elbow grease". Brushing the horse properly required more than a casual flick with your arm and gave you a bit of a work out. It massaged the muscles got rid of excess grease and almost all dust, bringing a shine to the coat with the horses natural oils. Now we cheat and use coat shine to short cut to the final look, but without the other health benefits.

Quatering is what was done before exercise. It is about the level of grooming the average horse gets today. So mainly a quick brush, hoof pick and spot wash off stable stains.
Click to expand...

This is how to groom properly, I do this almost every day with the p2p horse that is in full work, it means he is thoroughly cleaned with no need to bath, the coat gleams and he gets a massage each day, great for keeping them toned on top of the work they get daily, no coat shine used as the saddle would slip, just a little in the tail to detangle and help it shine, it is a shame most people do not have time to groom like this anymore and bathing has taken it's place.
 
We still do a proper old-fashioned full groom at least once a week, takes a good hour, and, done properly, is knackering, but the boys love it, they look the business and it improves the bond. Though other owners stll ask us if we are going to a show, or thinking of selling them!!
 
I think I will definitely try this, I heard some horses love it and look completely in heaven when its done apparently! JUst wondering how you would go about making the wisp with straw?
 
SparklerStar said:
I think I will definitely try this, I heard some horses love it and look completely in heaven when its done apparently! JUst wondering how you would go about making the wisp with straw?
Click to expand...
Its easier to show, than describe. You get a good length of about a fistful wide. Then twist hard on opposite ends. Then (depending on what part of the country you are in) roll hard into a pad shape, or carry on twisting so it folds in on itself and tuck the ends in.
We used to make straw wisps when in pc, only a few years ago ;)
it's not easy to find straw that is long enough these days.

It also goes with the same vintage of plaiting the front of your straw bed in, in your stable :)
 
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
....It also goes with the same vintage of plaiting the front of your straw bed in, in your stable :)
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Errr...say what?

I love strapping - can't beat it to tone those bingo wings, and it really does work. Some horses aren't keen on it though. You know you are doing it right when you go to do it, stop short and you will see the horse tense the muscle, especially on the hindquarters. Start with 5 on each muscle you want to do (I start at neck on left, then work round - swapping arms when swapping sides) and build up. I would personally make sure the horse is not tied up, just loop rope through ring in case the horse is not too impressed and pulls back!
 
We called a full groom 'strapping', which included using the dense short bristled body brush in an arc, sweeping it firmly down and over the muscles and then over the metal curry comb on each stroke. Build up a rhythm and the horse braces himself. It's an excellent workout! Remember to be much lighter on the non-muscled areas.
 
I strap Alf once a week, as he is only in light work, but I want to keep his muscle tone. it definitely works, as my physic swears blind that I'm surreptitiously working his butt off!

If i can figure out where to balance the camera, I'll get a video for you. I use an old hand towel tied in a knot.
 
Sorry was on phone earlier.
Meant to put that I much prefer to make a wisp from hay, works much better for me :)
Straw is much to coarse for horses skin.

I dont strap these days - and so my 'swimmers' shoulders are now normal ones :)
 
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The Fuzzy Furry said:
Its easier to show, than describe. You get a good length of about a fistful wide. Then twist hard on opposite ends. Then (depending on what part of the country you are in) roll hard into a pad shape, or carry on twisting so it folds in on itself and tuck the ends in.
We used to make straw wisps when in pc, only a few years ago ;)
it's not easy to find straw that is long enough these days.

It also goes with the same vintage of plaiting the front of your straw bed in, in your stable :)
Click to expand...

I used to have a leather pad (looked a bit like a large bun) with a handle on the back for strapping. Wonder if you can still get them? Re the straw plaiting - I can remember doing this in a racing yard; at evening stables the trainer used to come round and check all the horses before the evening feed (and they had all been stapped too!). It was a matter of pride to have your horse(s) looking as clean and shiny as poss, with the stable immaculate, and the final show off was to have the straw plaited along the front, same width and parallel with the door. I was never very good at it though.
 
I strap my girl twice a week. 20 hits on neck, shoulder and hind on each side. My arms ache after! ! She isn't too keen on the hind being strapped though. But she knows after we do stretches with treats, which she likes much better.

I have noticed a big difference since doing it.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
I am familiar with it as described by happyclappy but I also know it as a term used to describe a full groom after exercise: hoofs picked out, a rubber curry comb to loosen dead hair, a body brush and metal curry comb in combination (the latter cleans the former every few strokes) to remove grease and dust, mane brushed out to the roots a lock at a time using a body brush, tail detangled with either body brush or fingers, eyes muzzle and dock sponged clean, wisp (made by yourself of straw for the session) or massage pad used for the banging (also called strapping), then a final polish with a stable rubber (cotton cloth) to remove the last of the dust. Strapping (full groom) was only for stabled or part stabled horses due to removing the waterproofing grease from the horses coat.

The body brush was not a modern flick brush with long synthetic bristles but had short closely packed fairly firm natural bristles made of various animals hair and was used all over the horse, especially on the muscles where you'd "put your back into it" and use "elbow grease". Brushing the horse properly required more than a casual flick with your arm and gave you a bit of a work out. It massaged the muscles got rid of excess grease and almost all dust, bringing a shine to the coat with the horses natural oils. Now we cheat and use coat shine to short cut to the final look, but without the other health benefits.

Quatering is what was done before exercise. It is about the level of grooming the average horse gets today. So mainly a quick brush, hoof pick and spot wash off stable stains.
Click to expand...

This is what I think of when someone says strapping.
:-)
 
Sugar and spice, I do remember being able to get body brushes that really worked, That really gripped into the coat and brought out the scurf. I was a dab hand as a kid ,in making a wisp,hay not straw . The idea is that the "bang|" on the muscle group ,triggers the stretch receptors and fires the muscle, the muscle is put into work . It is a valuable form of "non load"| work. NEVER EVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES DO THIS OVER THE LOIN /KIDNEY AREA!you can do considerable damage, pretty well any other area of muscle is safe. It also does wonders for rider fitness.
 
If you have an old pony club manual lying around, I think it shows you how to make a wisp in it.
I've strapped before, would normally just use a folded up stable rubber. When I did my PC B test we had to strap, most people hadn't a clue what it was though!

The PC manual might also have a brief how-to or step by step, not 100% sure though!
 
Sugar and spice describes strapping well. The banging part specifically can be very useful after exercise and if done carefully and properly alongside extensive massage can help to keep condition and muscle tone on box rest horses.

If you are going to do it, please get someone who really knows hoe to do it to show you. It can cause a lot of damage if not done properly and it's something that has to be built up over time. You also needs to have a system that you do it to to ensure each muscle gets the same number of bangs and that you are allowing the muscle time torelax fully between each bang.
 
Strapping - brilliant - used to do it all the time on my old git. Really, really makes a difference. (A bit like the manual version of those posh massaging rugs but better!)
 
Can someone explain plaiting the bed in? I have not heard of this before, though know about strapping. I think i remember someone telling me they made one out of an old leadrope with the clip cut off.
 
Templebar said:
Can someone explain plaiting the bed in? I have not heard of this before, though know about strapping. I think i remember someone telling me they made one out of an old leadrope with the clip cut off.
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I wouldn't make one like that, needs to be a flat pad or either stuffed leather or a wisp, made from hay or I guess straw. I make them from hay, pulling a small handfuls out of the bale, staggering it and twisting, always pulling more into the twist, keep twisting and plait into a pad. I always make them thick and not too tightly twisted or plaited as you can cause a fair bit of bruising if you don't do it correctly.
 
The term has now morphed over to endurance riding, and involves lots of water. When we strap a horse we are cooling it out quite agressively (lots of water on and off), to get the heart rate down as fast as possible.
 
Templebar said:
Can someone explain plaiting the bed in? I have not heard of this before, though know about strapping. I think i remember someone telling me they made one out of an old leadrope with the clip cut off.
Click to expand...

Plaiting the front of the bed was a way of stopping straw being dragged out the stable door and makes the beds look neat at the front. You'd basically find a good handful of straw, plait it and add pieces from the front of the bed as you go-bit like doing a french plait. The straw these days isn't good enough to do it with mind but it can be done, just very fiddly!
 
I strap infrequently with a purpose made leather pad. I always do it after exercise; so on warm muscles and just the large muscle groups. It's great exercise for the human arm - you need to be ambidextrous though to rid bingo wings from both arms!
 
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