Thermatex Cordura Wraps

[Ceriann]

My three girls are out 5/6 days a week and stabled once or twice overnight (depending on storms etc) so that they get to dry out - their fields are clay fields and they are currently very muddy (depressingly so). I dont wash legs on bringing in - i let them dry off over night and brush off (i then baby oil legs and feather and add a bit of barrier cream to heels), but because its clay it can take ages to dry.

Im thinking about buying the thermatex cordura wraps to dry off their legs but have read mixed views on putting these on over muddy legs to dry. Would you hose and wrap or simply wrap (given the idea is that the wraps whick away moisture so shouldnt trap wetness in). My stables are right by the house so the plan would be to wrap the legs on coming in and take them off once legs are dry (to avoid mud rubbing etc).

 

[NinjaPony]

I wouldn't put them on very muddy legs, could cause mud fever I would imagine. I would hose off the mud then out on the wraps overnight-they are really good.

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi Ceriann, I've got some Thermatex leg wraps which are very good but I do find them best on cleanish legs - although I've used them on muddy legs (no feather though) as well.

Have a look at the Mark Todd Coolex leg wraps as well - about £45/set and they're very good as well.

 

[Ceriann]

The mare i would use them on (not prone to mud fever but has had mud fever years ago so am a bit more wary with her than my other two (both of which have feather) due to the horrendous mud we have - first winter on clay) has no feather so is very easy to do. Do you hose off and wrap so more or less clean? I want to avoid using a hard brush on wet legs as think that would just create a problem i dont currently have.

Thanks for the heads up on the other boots - i'll take a look at those.

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi Ceriann, tbh since I moved my horse to a new yard, I have not had to use the wraps at night because the mud's not a problem there - he just gets muddy feet and not thick mud up to his knees as before!!

However, when I did use them, I hosed his legs off gently using a soft brush that is actually from a dustpan and brush set - very cheap but as it has a handle is so easy to use and as it's soft it doesn't scratch the legs.

I wouldn't hose his legs off if I wasn't using the wraps afterwards though - although I do know people who do this without any problems. Some horses are more susceptible to mud fever than others.

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

hose and wrap, they dry very quickly that way.

 

[Ceriann]

I am very jealous! Hard standing is on the priority list for 2014! They dont like being in really and my older mare gets stiff if in too much (they needed nearly a full day in at the weekend to dry out) but i hate seeing them in so much mud (i seem to spend so much time at the moment finding the least muddy/driest patches in the fields to put their hay onto so they eat out of mud!

The soft brush option sounds a plan - ive used a hose brush at a previous livery. She is very good with the hose at least!

 

[deb_l222]

I've never used them personally (can't get them big enough for my boy) but my friend has them for her mare and they're brilliant.

She does hose and towel dry her legs off first though as I think putting them on muddy legs would just trap the mud to the skin. Her legs are bone dry within an hour of wearing them and you can see the moisture wicking off.