Swollen legs, bandaging, and hard work

Ladybird L

Ladybird L

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 July 2023
Messages
219
Visit site
I’ve noticed my cob’s legs tend to swell up a bit after a days hunting.
Normally, she gets a cooler on the way back, she’s usually dry by the time we get home. Then she’s changed into her normal rug and put in the stable with some haylage. Then I’ll go inside get changed etc. (I’ve only noticed legs at this point, I’ll check when I’m loading and unloading next time) Later, her legs get hosed down, and she gets a feed. She gets turned out all day the next day. By the time I’m bringing her in, there’s no sign of any swelling and she was never lame or stiff and there wasn’t heat. Should I be worried? Should I change my after-care routine? Bandage the legs overnight? What do you think?
 
I wouldn't be too worried, it makes sense if she's worked hard then stands still overnight that the legs might fill. But I'd still be trying to prevent it.

Is she usually stabled overnight or is it just after hunting?

I'd be tempted to turn her out when you get home instead of stabling.
We like to tuck them up cosy and snug when they've worked hard, but being out and moving around gently makes more sense from a recovery perspective. As long as they're warm and have plenty to eat they're happy 😊
 
She is usually stabled overnight.

It’s odd though, the swelling appears say 1/2 an hour after we get back, it’s reduced a lot by morning then after turnout it’s gone…
 
That is a wee bit odd.
But most horses are sent to confuse us!
It might even be as simple as being still traveling home, the legs start to fill, she moves a bit when she gets home and in the stable and its the turnout that finally clears them up.

Does she travel home in boots?
Maybe popping some stable wraps or lightly supportive boots on might help prevent it on the way home?

Let us know how you get on 😊
 
Is she accustomed to the speed and terrain and length of work hunting involves? It could be interpreted that the filling legs is her way of showing she is finding the work to intense? And early warning before injury occurs.

Do you need to do more fittening and conditioning work?
 
P.forpony said:
That is a wee bit odd.
But most horses are sent to confuse us!
It might even be as simple as being still traveling home, the legs start to fill, she moves a bit when she gets home and in the stable and its the turnout that finally clears them up.

Does she travel home in boots?
Maybe popping some stable wraps or lightly supportive boots on might help prevent it on the way home?

Let us know how you get on 😊
Click to expand...
Could be? She doesn’t wear boots at all atm. Will have to try and pick some up from somewhere.

I will!
 
Fieldlife said:
Is she accustomed to the speed and terrain and length of work hunting involves? It could be interpreted that the filling legs is her way of showing she is finding the work to intense? And early warning before injury occurs.

Do you need to do more fittening and conditioning work?
Click to expand...
She’s very fit. We do loads of roadwork, but maybe not enough in fields/muddy ground?
 
Ladybird L said:
She’s very fit. We do loads of roadwork, but maybe not enough in fields/muddy ground?
Click to expand...
Maybe try and figure out what is different hunting? Faster? Jumping? Heavy going? Mud?

Might be interesting to try finishing hunting earlier - shorter day, and see if legs still fill?
 
Not unusual, but something to be noted. It depends on how old, more worrying in a younger horse.

Some would put on stable wrap or use a cooler gel, but the filling goes down after a day in the field.
 
Fieldlife said:
Maybe try and figure out what is different hunting? Faster? Jumping? Heavy going? Mud?

Might be interesting to try finishing hunting earlier - shorter day, and see if legs still fill?
Click to expand...
I’d say maybe heavier going/mud? We do lots of fast work but not usually in muddy ground, unless hunting…

I would do that only I would have absolutely no idea how to find my way back 🙈

Orangehorse said:
Not unusual, but something to be noted. It depends on how old, more worrying in a younger horse.

Some would put on stable wrap or use a cooler gel, but the filling goes down after a day in the field.
Click to expand...
She’s 11? So not ancient but not a baby either.
 
I used to stable bandage my horses once at home after hunting. And once dry I didn’t rewet (not that’s associated with swelling). They never travelled in boots.
 
Ladybird L said:
I’ve always not been keen on boots/wraps etc after reading that it was worse for tendon health? Is that a myth?
Click to expand...
No i think it is proven. Wraps and boots when working cannot provide tendon support, and cause to get hotter which increases damage.

The main reason might use boots is to prevent strike injury with other foot or on fences etc.
 
Ladybird L said:
I’ve always not been keen on boots/wraps etc after reading that it was worse for tendon health? Is that a myth?
Click to expand...

During work definitely yes.
It's temperature that does the damage and booting or bandaging can cause overheating.

If using for compression on cool legs after they've worked then it's less of a worry.
My lad won't tolerate travel boots so I use a set of the soft leg drying wraps. They give a little bit of compression and protection but aren't too bulky or rigid. I don't leave on overnight though.
 
Thanks everyone.

So my current plan is to put wraps or boots (whichever I can get my hands on first!) on in the box for the way home, then into the stable for 1/2 an hour (so she can get her supplements, greedy pony in the field would steal her feed, even though it’s only chaff!). Take off boots, hose down legs and turnout for the night with a nice warm rug. Sound ok?

I’ll keep ye posted on how it goes next time we’re out…
 
Being an eventer.... I'd probably be tempted to try the eventing approach of cooling legs once you've finished hunting and are back at the box with cooling boots or ice. I'm always pro turnout after strenuous exercise as I think it keeps them moving and so helps to stop them stiffening up - so essentially move your leg hosing (cooling) to straight after work and then you could put on some boots for travelling home, feed and then turn out :)
 
Squeak said:
Being an eventer.... I'd probably be tempted to try the eventing approach of cooling legs once you've finished hunting and are back at the box with cooling boots or ice. I'm always pro turnout after strenuous exercise as I think it keeps them moving and so helps to stop them stiffening up - so essentially move your leg hosing (cooling) to straight after work and then you could put on some boots for travelling home, feed and then turn out :)
Click to expand...
Unfortunately there isn’t usually water at the place where we’re parking, which is my reason for doing at home….

Clodagh said:
Why do you want her legs to be wet when she goes out? (Genuine question).
Click to expand...
I don’t lol 🤷‍♀️ Just that is when I usually do them. Taking off the boots and hosing straight away makes way more sense if I actually think about it!
 
Fieldlife said:
I saw a really good suggestion of wetting 4 nappies. Freezing them. Putting in cool bag in lorry. Then using them as cool boots on way home. If it helped you could then invest in proper cooling boots.
Click to expand...
Ohh clever!!
Equi said:
Perhaps try adding some marigold and cleavers to the feed (if you don’t already)
Click to expand...
No, that’s something else I’ve heard about but need to look into 😊
 
Ladybird L said:
Unfortunately there isn’t usually water at the place where we’re parking, which is my reason for doing at home….
Click to expand...

Eventing is usually the same - we put ice in cool bags with ice packs and even in summer it stays as ice for pretty much the day or you can use boots like these which just need to be left in a bucket of water to be activated.

www.viovet.co.uk

ARMA Cool Hydro Therapy Boots Black

Buy ARMA Cool Hydro Therapy Boots Black for your Horses & Ponies from VioVet, FREE DELIVERY available over £35. Great prices and super easy to use website, see for yourself now.
www.viovet.co.uk www.viovet.co.uk

I'm pretty sure the research showed that the biggest benefit was cooling legs as quickly and soon as possible. Maybe have a search for what people do for their eventers legs - I'm just thinking it's pretty much the same thing where a horse has done hard work and you're trying to manage the impact on legs :)

Eta - You can also use the ice cube bags from supermarkets and put a cloth under them so that the ice isn't next to the horses skin and brushing boots or whatever you have/ use to hold them in place - I always found that way a bit of a faff but it would give you an idea if leg cooling helps without having to spend on boots etc.
 
Last edited:
Squeak said:
Eventing is usually the same - we put ice in cool bags with ice packs and even in summer it stays as ice for pretty much the day or you can use boots like these which just need to be left in a bucket of water to be activated.

www.viovet.co.uk

ARMA Cool Hydro Therapy Boots Black

Buy ARMA Cool Hydro Therapy Boots Black for your Horses & Ponies from VioVet, FREE DELIVERY available over £35. Great prices and super easy to use website, see for yourself now.
www.viovet.co.uk www.viovet.co.uk

I'm pretty sure the research showed that the biggest benefit was cooling legs as quickly and soon as possible. Maybe have a search for what people do for their eventers legs - I'm just thinking it's pretty much the same thing where a horse has done hard work and you're trying to manage the impact on legs :)
Click to expand...
Cool thanks, I’m definitely going to do that 😊
 
Why are you hosing her legs off after she’s cooled off? Just trying to understand the logic! Is it to clean them or cool them?
 
rara007 said:
Why are you hosing her legs off after she’s cooled off? Just trying to understand the logic! Is it to clean them or cool them?
Click to expand...
Both, I guess, but because there’s no cold water when I’m cooling her. I’m going to get some ice boots or something to put on straight away though.
 
So was out today. Meet was 5mins away so didn’t use ice boots. As soon as we got back I hosed off the legs, there was no swelling but she was in the stable for 10 minutes eating her feed, by the time I took her out they were quite swollen and warm (she was warm everywhere though so not sure it’s actually to do with swelling), so I hosed off legs again and popped her out in the field. Will be going back over shortly to give some haylage so I’ll check on them again then…
 
  • Like
Reactions: tda
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top