Boots vs Bandages

[CharlieBrown]

Which do you think is the best and which offers more protection?
Should you use anything underneath bandages or do bandages alone offer enough protection?

[Daffy Dilly]

For schooling I like bandages, as it's the support I'm after rather than protection from anything.

If i'm being lazy and not taking his fleece bandages off, he doesn't have anything underneath. If he has exercise bandages on, he has gamgee underneath or they can be uncomfortable.

However, if you aren't sure how to bandage and don't have someone to show you how to do it properly, boots are the best bet. The Stretch and Flex training ones by Equilibrium, whilst expensive, have a good reputation as schooling boots.

[Luv 2 Trot]

I use splint boots, mainly because im horrible at wrapping legs and they are easier on me. LOL. But i like them because they do offer enought protection for my horses.

[Herbie's mummy]

For working or in the box?

In the box bandages and gamagee.
When riding brushing boots.

[carthorse]

I think boots offer more protection, certainly I'd use boots rather than bandages for jumping, fast work or hacking over rough country.

At the moment I use polo bandages a lot on Jim when he's schooling or doing roadwork, although I don't think they offer as much protection as boots these are activities where he shouldn't need much (if I wasn't such an overprotective mummy I'd probably make him cope without :o ). I tend to use boots more in the summer but this time of year he's prone to mud fever & if his legs are even slightly sore he isn't happy about having boots on - bandages are softer, don't get sand inside them if the going is deep & are easy to wash after each use.

[Nik-n-Kia]

I used bandages during the rideouts as I didn't have to worry aboutmlosing one whilst galloping as I would have no idea where it was and no chance of getting it back.

The only boots I used were over reaches and I have a hard enough time of getting them off anyway :rolleyes: but the bandages protected his legs and I had a thick gamgee on underneath. stopped any injuries but I had to travel him in them too as I didn't have time to put them on at the other end. Stiil it saved me faffing around with travel boots............ ;)

I use boots at home tho as I go at my own speed and can get them off quick when we're finished. Tendon boots and back brushing boot plus over reaches when jumping, over reaches and back brushings for flat schooling and just brushing boots on the back if going a sedate hack, if planning any fast runs the over reaches then to.

Nikki xxxx

[CharlieBrown]

I was thinking more of schooling rather than for travelling or jumping (i don't have a horse sane enough for jumping). At the moment i'm using bandages but i don't use anything underneath. i wasnt sure whether is should put anything underneath them, it didnt say so on the package when i bought them. It's interesting to know what other people use though...

[Daffy Dilly]

It depends on the type of bandages.

If they're soft and flexible rather than elastic, they wont provide as much support, but you don't need pads underneath. That type are usually known as fleece, stable or polo bandages.

The elastic type (that's exactly what they are - long thick pieces of elastic) are known as exercise bandages, and they should be used with pads underneath. You can buy these from most saddleries.

[Jamey]

For protection I would use boots if I'm in a hurry but otherwise use bandages. For support I use bandages (the half toweling, half elasticated kind).