ridecamp@endurance.net: Leg Wraps after rides

Leg Wraps after rides

Karen Steenhof (ksteenho@eagle.idbsu.edu)
27 May 1995 07:40:57 -0600

Hi everyone:

This weekend Bob Morris and I got into a discussion about the merits
of wrapping the legs of non-injured horses after an endurance ride.
It seems that almost everyone does it, but why? Bob believes that the
wraps do more harm than good by holding in heat. I have also heard
vets say that leg wraps do not provide significant "support" as is
sometimes claimed. Other than providing a cushion against bumping
and banging in a trailer ride, we could come up with no good
reason to wrap the legs of a non-injured horse. This weekend after a
challenging 55-mile ride, my horse was sound and showed no significant filling.
After talking with Bob, I decided not to wrap his legs. Was I right?
I know there are alot of you out there who regularly wrap legs--why? What
are the advantages?

Karen Steenhof
Boise, Idaho