Tendon boots

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crunchie1

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Hi All,

I've always used either brushing boots or dressage wraps (depending on horse), however my sect. D mare pulled a tendon approx 7/8 yrs ago - she recovered fine, but due to lack of time / circumstances, she's been in the field for the last 6yrs. I'm now bringing her back into work and am thinking about boots for her.

She hasn't worn boots before, so I'd like something that will do the job without being too hard / uncomfortable - she's a bit of a precious flower and wasn't very amused at having to wear over-reach boots after receiving her first ever pair of shoes ! She does brush behind a little (more down to lack of muscle tone and / or age, as she never did previously) So i'm thinking tendon boots in front, and either brushing boots or fetlock boots behind ???

Despite having owned horses for nearly 15yrs, I'm rather clueless when it comes to tendon / fetlock boots - tell me all you know please !! :)

Thanks,
Crunchie
 
Tendon boots protect the tendon from strikes and brushes (they are only open at the front and im yet to see a horse that brushes the front of its leg?) Tendon boots prove little to no support of the tendons and ligaments

Brushing boots are padded to protect against brushing but arnt tough enough to protect against a strike to the tendon. Again offer no support.

Sports medicine boots do offer support to tendons and ligament, especially the suspensory, and provide some protection against brushing but minimal against strike. This can vary with which SMB you buy. There is suggestion that prolonged use of SMB can cause the leg to be weak without them on but not sure how much evidence there is to support this!

I always use tendon boots myself


Hope that helps
 
Thanks for responses -

She's only brushing behind, so I think I'll pop some brushing boots on her behind. In front, I'm looking for something to give her a bit of support and lessen the chance of her pulling anything - doesn't sound like tendon boots or brushing boots are going to do this .. ?

Would I be better off using wraps / bandages ? I don't want to weaken her legs, but would like to give her a bit of support just in case !

Thanks,
Crunchie
 
Like I say im not 100% about SMB weakening I may look at some papers. Bandaging offers support as long as you do it right, else it can be more harmful. I would think that if SMB causes weakness then bandaging must too? But I dont know. Sorry I have my dissertation head on and may be over complicating this for you!

Hacking will help bring your mare into fitness and help her leg. I personally would use tendon boots but I know people who use SMB with no effects that I have seen
 
It has been scientifically proven (would need to find the paper again if anyone wants to read it) that any form of boot or bandage that wraps around the tendons/ligaments can actually cause more damage in the long term. This is due to keeping the core temperature of the tendons/ligaments too hot, which can result in weakening and then 'blowing' the tendon.

Depending how she managed to pull the tendon,and the type of work you do with her, I'd stay stick with some good breathing brushing boots or have nothing at all
 
I do believe, without checking, that it is 43degrees. However, I could be wrong! But 47 degrees is a temperature that always sticks in my head when I think of tendons-I think this is the temperature when tendon cells radically break down.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/305373.html this is one article on it I can find so far. Will see if I can find the journal (haven't read that article yet so may not even support what I'm saying!!)

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP1449497.html

http://www.google.co.uk/patents?hl=...e+boots&printsec=abstract#v=onepage&q&f=false
 
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My mare put a big hole in her deep digital flexor tendon in her hind leg and I've been using the Equilibrium wraps (http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/leg_protection/stretch_amp_flexreg_training_wraps/). I used them initally as I was bringing her back into work and gradually worked her up to not using them and am pretty much at the stage of the only time she'd wear them now was if I knew we were going to have to go through boggy type ground (which I avoid if possible) or if she was going to jump.

You do need to take any boots off immediately and let the leg breath so they don't overheat and I tend to put cooling gel on or hose if the weather's hot or she's worked hard.
It's something I discussed with the vets and while they weren't convinced it would prevent re-injury they did say they wouldn't do any harm.
 
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