Boots and Bandages: Are we doing more harm than good?

There is no doubt, as horse owners, that we want to keep our horse safe at all times; I would wrap my horse up in bubble wrap if I could! When we ride out, whether in an arena or out in the bush, many of us use boots or bandages for leg protection. But are we doing more harm than good?

On the off chance you haven't been on social media lately, there has been a lot of talk about the safety of boots and bandages and whether wrapping our horses' legs is, in fact, causing more harm than good. If you have ever wrapped your horse's legs for a workout and worked at moderate intensity, you will have noticed that when you take the leg protection off, the legs are warm or hot and are often sweaty. It is thought that this heat, which is essentially trapped under the leg protection, is what can cause ligament or tendon injury. 

But how can heat cause damage? Well, tendons and ligaments are made up of cells. If there is sufficient heat build-up, then these cells will become damaged and die. As the body starts to repair itself, scar tissue will be evident where the part of the tendon or ligament has been damaged. If heat is applied to the leg continually, then more and more cells will die, and scar tissue will be replaced, and so on. Scar tissue affects the elasticity of the ligament or tendon, so it can't work in the way that it is supposed to, and so a tendon or ligament injury can result. 

So, what do you do if your horse needs boots or bandages for leg protection? If you want or need to protect the leg from grazes or brushing, then it is essential to choose leg protection that offers sufficient airflow. This means that any form of bandages is out. Polo wraps just don't provide the required amount of airflow, and are very good at trapping heat. This is compounded if you use pads underneath them. Therefore, it is best to choose boots that are breathable, and the best way to know if they are breathable is to ensure that you feel no heat along the horse's leg after a workout. Also, look out for the fit of the boot; if they are too small or too large, you can bring about other issues such as rubbing. When fitting the boot, make sure that they are not too tight; the goal is to have them tight enough to prevent any sand from getting in and causing abrasions, but not too tight to restrict blood flow! To further protect your horse's tendons and ligaments, it is also a good idea to remove boots immediately after a workout and cold hose the legs to decrease the temperature of the limbs. 

If you need a pair or two of brushing boots, visit us in-store or online and we can help you choose the right product for your horse!