RE: Re: ice boots

["Bob Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>]

Tracy:

Being a maverick about horse care, I believe the horse knows more about what
is correct than we do, I do not advocate any form of wrapping for support
after exercise. If you do wrap for support, you are usurping the task of the
horse to develop stronger tendons and ligaments. You are doing the task for
the horse in an artificial manner. In other words YOU are providing the
support and the HORSE is not developing the support.

One thing I fear many horse people are doing is to subvert the natural
development of the necessary systems for endurance riding. If you always
supplement the systems vs. developing them, then you must constantly
increase this support as the horse does not develop them. A never ending
circle.

An example, you exercise the horse and the legs are tired. This is natural.
Through this stress the horse's system strengthens the system. However you,
in feeling for the horse, provide supplementary support after that exercise.
The horse's system then responds by saying well. I am not so tired now so I
do not have to strengthen. i.e. Horse does not improve in condition.

Most all equine systems work this way.

However, the postulate "IT ALL DEPENDS" now enters. If you have OVER
stressed or OVER extended a system, some modicum of support is warranted. A
very fine line that thing about "IT ALL DEPENDS".

Most likely have you confused by now but it is very simple. Use common sense
and clearly think things through. Then act.

Bob Morris
-----Original Message-----
From: Tracey [mailto:tracey@tbt.co.za]
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 11:27 PM
To: Bob Morris; Rides 2 Far
Cc: bluewolfranch@yahoo.com; scottj@cyberlynk.com;
ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: Re: Re: ice boots


What you've said makes sense, Bob.  Obviously, after an event, I am less
concerned with cooling the legs that with supporting tired tendons, hence
the ice tight and bandages.  When I need to cool, I prefer a hose pipe,
although I understand Angie's point about the difficulties of hosing 50
horses with 1 hose pipe.


Someone once suggested putting those disposable ice plastic bag thingies
(like a Jiffy bag, but with little baggy things inside for individual ice
cubes) around the leg.  As the ice melts, the water runs down the legs.  I'm
not so sure whether this is good the leg, however, as the ice pack is lumpy,
and you'll have pressure points on the leg.  Any thoughts?


-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Morris <bobmorris@rmci.net>
To: Rides 2 Far <rides2far@juno.com>; tracey@tbt.co.za <tracey@tbt.co.za>
Cc: bluewolfranch@yahoo.com <bluewolfranch@yahoo.com>; scottj@cyberlynk.com
<scottj@cyberlynk.com>; ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Thursday, June 08, 2000 4:57 PM
Subject: RE: Re: ice boots


>People forget the insulation factor of ice and water. Remember that a
>sliding sled runner on ice or snow, moves easier because of the thin film
of
>water formed by the friction.
>
>When you put ice on a horses leg a film of warm water forms next to the leg
>and deters the transfer of heat to the rest of the cold matter. The only
>thing that will act to really cool the leg is flowing water in large
>quantities. Like standing in a cold stream.
>
>This is why we never wrap legs or use ice boots.
>
>Bob Morris
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rides 2 Far [mailto:rides2far@juno.com]
>Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 8:31 AM
>To: tracey@tbt.co.za
>Cc: bluewolfranch@yahoo.com; scottj@cyberlynk.com;
>ridecamp@endurance.net
>Subject: RC: Re: ice boots
>
>
>  In that case, the boots are obviously important (or >hosing
>>with water).
>
>Ahh, but when there are 50 hot horses and one water hose...
>actually, ice water with a sponge is my favorite on a really hot day when
>you're trying to get through the vet check.  We just opened the spiggot
>on both our coolers and drained them into buckets for sponging his neck
>and legs.  When I had my knee surgery they gave me an ice boot for
>myself.  Even freezing the inserts in the freezer, they didn't stay cold
>very long...  At Liberty I tried Karen Chaton's suggestion of carrying
>the little blue ice packs that you can freeze and putting them under his
>crown piece.  They were frozen when we left home, kept in the cooler but
>had gone soft, were nice when first put on but within just a couple of
>minutes were warm.
>
>By the way...you people who are riding horses on HOT days with those
>crocheted ear and forelock covers.  Don't you think those things hold in
>a lot of heat???
>
>Angie
>
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