There is a lot to being a successful equestrian, but the first is having the right horse and the second is having a healthy horse. In my last blog I discussed the importance of adjusting a horse's diet to best fit their needs. There is a lot of information out there about equine supplements, and with the recent wave of "all-natural" equestrians it is often easy to get sucked into using a natural product that has minimal cost, but also minimal results. The next step to becoming a successful equestrian is to have the right equipment and physical care. In this two part series I will first discuss the importance of the right leg support and care.
Over my 15 years in the equestrian world I have seen a lot of different horses in terms of health and breed, and a lot of different approaches to supplemental care. The tips and suggestions below are a compilation of what I have learned and have seen to work best.
Leg and hoof care are one of those things that can completely ruin a 1st place duo in a matter of minutes. If one does not take adequate measures to prevent leg damage, or to deal with it in an appropriate amount of time the damage can easily become long term. Long term leg damage can result in the ending of a horse's career and a laundry list of vet expenses.
Professional Choice Splint Boots: Professional Choice splint boots can be one of the most effective preventive measures that a horse owner can take when it comes to leg support. Few may know horses used to have four toes, not a hoof. As evolution progressed two of the toes grew upward, one became the hoof, and the fourth shrank and grew up into the cannon bone area. Due to this strange bone location it is often common for horses, even those with excellent confirmation to be at risk for splint damage. Splint boots were then created to support this weak and fragile bone. Due to hard compression disciplines (such as barrels racing, poles, keyhole, etc.) it has become common for riders to often ride with splint boots on at all times.
I have personally found that they are an easy and stylish preventative measure that a rider can take to give their horse a little bit more of support. I almost always slap my splint boots on, whether it just for an easy trail ride or performance drill. The important thing to note is keeping the boots clean and the area between them and the leg clean. Depending on the types of competitions and time of year, I wash my Professional Choice splint boots anywhere from every other ride to every other week. Due to this, I have at least two pairs of forefront boots. Hind support boots I have found are not as important for day to day use (and can take some time for the horse to get used to). When riding on long trail rides or in deep loose dirt (barrel racing, etc.) it is important to take of the boots and shake them out, as well as brush off the horse's legs to ensure there is no irritation. It is also very important to properly apply them (see video below).
A horse's reaction to splint boots the first time is always funny!
How to apply splint boots.
Alcohol and Polo Wraps: Alcohol and Polo Wraps can be used in a variety of aspects. The first is for preventative measure. When stalling a horse, especially in small box stalls at competitions it is imperative for a rider to wrap their horses legs (even more so if they are older). Stalking up is often common when horses aren't used to standing in one place for a long period of time. To prevent this pull the horse out of the stall and onto a flat surface such as pavement. It is helpful to pour rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and then lightly spray one leg from the pastern to just above the top of the cannon bone. Next take the Polo Wrap and with medium tightness wrap the leg from the top of the pastern to the top of the cannon bone. Repeat on each leg. At competitions in which horses are active for a large part of each day, it is usually only necessary to do this in the evening before the horse is put down for the night. If however, the horse will be standing in the stall during the day as well, it would be beneficial to rewrap in the morning with a clean polo wrap.
If a horse has mild swelling from excessive exercise or stalking up, repeat these steps, wrapping a little tighter to reduce the swelling. The compression of the wrap and the coolness of the rubbing alcohol will help to decrease the swelling.
How to apply a Polo Wrap properly to avoid ligament damage.
Quilted Wrap and Polo: A quilted wrap in combination with a Polo Wrap can be used when furthermore dealing with injury. In most cases I use this combination to keep my horse's legs clean, cool, and protected when healing from a laceration. Depending on the degree of the laceration I will clean and ointment the laceration, lightly gauze it and then wrap loosely in a quilted pad and Polo Wrap.
As mentioned above, a horse's leg health is essential to not only their overall wellbeing, but their rider's career success. When dealing with any aspect of a horse's leg, whether a preventative or reactive measure, it is essential that it is handled properly. Wrapping or handling a horse's leg incorrectly can lead to permanent long term damage. If a rider is questioning whether or not their horse's leg is damaged, it is imperative for them to check to see if the appendage is hot. If that is the case, the swelling can be taken down with cold water and decreased exercise before wrapping. If it is determined that the leg is still hot, and the cold water does not seem to help within 12 hours, I would highly recommend calling a vet for advice. They can recommend anti-inflammatory medication, proper wrapping techniques, and often they will give their advice free of charge over the phone.