Thermatex Leg wraps - save to leave on overnight?

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Stasha22

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Have just bought some and was wondering if people leave them on overnight or just for a few hours?

I am planning to use them to dry her legs but am also thinking about using them to keep her legs warm when it gets really cold.

Is it safe for her to wear them overnight?
 
Yep
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Have always left these on over night and my old mare actually owes her life to a pair!

She always wore her leg wraps at a livery yard I was at during my teens. The YO had fed one night and put the kick bolt of her door on but not the top bolt. My mare kicked out at her stable door while eating (for some bizarre reason) and as the top bolt wasnt on, the door bowed outwards. My mare was unfortunate enough to get one leg caught in the gap between the wall and the door. Her leg was extremely badly damaged with an almost entire degloving down her hind leg right to the bone. The leg wraps gathered when she pulled her leg back in and because of the pressure they created, the vet said that they undoubtedly controlled the bleeding and probably saved her life.

I know this is a freak accident but I still wrap legs to this day!
 
I have read that leaving these wraps on overnight can actually do harm. This is because the heat they encourage in the legs can soften the tendons, and then when the horse is turned out in the morning, especially on hard frozen ground, damage can be done.
I have worried about leaving my leg wraps on overnight for this reason, as it sounds plausible to me.
Any comments?
 
I thought they were designed to be left on overnight. Only used them on my arthritic mare, usually afetr washing in the winter though. She definately came out of the stable better when she wore them.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have read that leaving these wraps on overnight can actually do harm. This is because the heat they encourage in the legs can soften the tendons, and then when the horse is turned out in the morning, especially on hard frozen ground, damage can be done.
I have worried about leaving my leg wraps on overnight for this reason, as it sounds plausible to me.
Any comments?

[/ QUOTE ]

I understand what you are saying. But warmth will actually help the tendons to be more supple. Think of a thin stick of liquirice one frozen & one room temprature. Which is the more pliable??
It's the same reason why all athletes (even horses) are warmed up before doing strenous work.
But yes it would also not be wise to keep warm all the time they need to cool down as well.

So it's a bit of swings & roundabouts & what suits the indivdual owner & horse in the end!!
 
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