Acclimating to BOT stuff

[appendix100]

bought a BOT mesh sheet & quick wraps for use at horseshows. My horse can get a little back sore on the long show days, & tends to stock up some in the small stalls (he’s usally out 24/7). Did not realize when I bought them, that an acclimation period was recommended.

I was planning on using this overnight at shows, not at home (where he & his pasturemate routinely ruin things). Is this even a practical plan? I don’t see how I can gradually acclimate him prior to every show, & I wasn’t necessarily planning on pulling blankets/wraps on & off all the time at a show…

thoughts?

[Weezer]

I use BOT stuff on my horse, my dog and myself. The acclimation period is just for the animal to get used to the sort of warm or fuzzy sensation that may be created by the wraps. When I first started using the braces on myself, I felt a very slight sensation at first and would take it off after about 3 hours. After building up use on myself over about a week, I don’t notice any feeling when I put it on. I will now go months without wearing one and then put it on all day and not notice any strange feeling (but will notice relief). I took the same approach with my pets, building up use over a couple weeks but now they go months without using them and then will wear them overnight without any apparent discomfort. My dog showed sensitivity when I first started putting it on him, but that could be because he hates wearing any sort of clothing. My horse, who is generally fairly emotional, showed no signs of discomfort the first couple times he wore it so he wore it all day within week 1.

[joiedevie99]

You should be fine. Most horses do fine the first time. I’d just make an effort to put the stuff on him a few times at home in case he has a reaction. It doesn’t need to be the days before the show - anytime - just let him wear it for an hour while he’s inside, or hand grazing.

[Jarpur]

I agree with the above posters, just give your horse a chance to wear the BOT before going.

I also wear BOT items, on and off (more during colder weather, or if I’m sore from overuse), and don’t have an issue doing taking breaks from them then wearing them again, nor does my husband.

My horse has a mesh sheet, saddle pad, and wraps, and there doesn’t seem to be an adjustment period when I return to using the pad on him, for instance, after having rotated to another style of pad for a while.

[Pally]

I agree with the other posters. Try it at home, but don’t worry too much about a perfect ramping up schedule.

Kind of funny story… when I bought myself the socks, I acclimated for short periods a couple of days, then slept with them on one night. I got out of bed and almost fell over because the “good” ankle was a lot looser than I expected (that said, my ankle was never that stable… I’m just now learning that I tick most of the hypermobility checkboxes ). The “bad” ankle was lovely! From there on I usually just wore one sock. I never noticed anything so dramatic from my T-shirt or “hot pants”. Or in any of the horses for that matter. So don’t worry!