Hello all,
I just found this product, the Equi FlexSleeve, in the new products section of the Dover Saddlery website. I thought they looked pretty interesting, so I went ahead and did some more research.
Here is the link to the website of the Equi FlexSleeve for those who have not yet seen or heard of it:
I was wondering what you guys thought about them, or if you had any experience with them.
Thank you:)
I’ve saw these just last week - I wasn’t impressed.I’d be interested to know what other think too. My friend returned them
I saw them at a trade show a couple of years ago. They’re not new, Schneider’s has carried them for years. I find the idea interesting but decided struggling to get them on/off over shoes was more than I could expect the barn staff to spend time doing when they’re already so busy. So I didn’t try them. Equifit makes a similar product they sell on a roll.
I have a pair. They are excellent for holding dressings in place and the like. I wouldn’t bother to use them just for “support”, as how much support is a bit of spandex going to give a leg that’s attached to a thousand pounds of horse? For wound care, excellent. I have used them a couple of times. Put the medicated piece of gauze on the owie, put on the sleeve and NOTHING moves. Excellent. Wouldn’t be without them in my first aid kit.
[QUOTE=Madeline;7747340]
I have a pair. They are excellent for holding dressings in place and the like. I wouldn’t bother to use them just for “support”, as how much support is a bit of spandex going to give a leg that’s attached to a thousand pounds of horse? For wound care, excellent. I have used them a couple of times. Put the medicated piece of gauze on the owie, put on the sleeve and NOTHING moves. Excellent. Wouldn’t be without them in my first aid kit.[/QUOTE]
I’m cheap. I use socks from the dollar store that I cut the toes off 
[QUOTE=vxf111;7747495]
I’m cheap. I use socks from the dollar store that I cut the toes off ;)[/QUOTE]
I doubt that the socks would stan up to 24/7 turnout and keep the meds in place. Though they certainly would be cheaper.
I saw these a while ago and did some reading about them. As someone who uses compression garments on myself for recovery, the concept is good. However, I know that my compression socks and tights lose some of their compressive nature over time (from washing and just being stretched around my body). Add to that the extra stretching here needed to get the sleeve over the hoof, I don’t think the support is going to really last long enough, whereas traditional standing wraps can be used for a long time. Maybe if your horse lived in a place where standing wraps aren’t possible or ideal (such as here, many horses have runs or small paddocks available to them 24/7 and aren’t just tucked into a stall for the night), then they might be a good alternative. I see their best long term utility as being a way to cover wound dressings – so, for more occasional use where the ease of getting the thing on isn’t as big of a deal because you’re having to take extra time with that horse’s leg anyway.
[QUOTE=Madeline;7747541]
I doubt that the socks would stan up to 24/7 turnout and keep the meds in place. Though they certainly would be cheaper.[/QUOTE]
If you buy the tightly ribbed socks-- they are almost exactly the same thing as the Flexsleeve. I have bought socks that were literally knit almost exactly the same! I put the top of the tube sock, the the extra band of elastic, on the bottom. I’ve done it for years with no issues.
I’ve been looking at the Equisleeves for a while, too. I’ve often wondered if the right sized human compression sock would work or if it would be a little awkward with fitting.
Since my horse likes to grab and chew things, I’d worry he’d pull it up or down and restrict circulation somewhere.
Hi All - I thought I would chime in because I have had a ton of experience with using the Equiflexsleeves (we have all but eliminated using standing wraps unless a horse has a severe injury). First, the sleeves are not meant for use during turnout or exercise - just in the stall or hand-walking. They may get out of shape depending on the size of the horse’s hoof, but washing and drying (low heat) will bring them back into shape/tightness. The mfg told me that the elastic used in them is the same as used in human compression stockings. They also give the same compression at the fetlock as a standing wrap, but don’t immobilize the joints. I hope this helps!
Speaking as someone who wears compression shirts daily, and who has seen the sleeves used by an A circuit rider at my barn, the sleeves just don’t last.
The material used to create the compression effect loses its stretch with frequent use, and drying them in the dryer, even on low, actually weakens the fabric. Yes, sticking them in the dryer on low DOES make them shrink down again, but the next time you stretch it, the threads start to snap. Do this too often and you’ll lose all compression power in a short amount of time.
The issue that the rider at my barn has been having is that in order to stretch enough to fit over her gelding’s proportionately large hooves, the sleeves end up being too loose on his legs. Not so loose that they fall down off the fetlock, but they definitely don’t offer the best compression. She ended up selling them and going back to normal standing wraps.
The idea is great, and I’m sure they’re fine for some horses, but they definitely can’t beat a good old fashioned standing wrap in effectiveness!
I’ve used these (and am currently using them) in a few situations. They were really helpful when I was traveling and barn staff didn’t have time to wrap/unwrap my horse with suspensory injuries daily. These were able to stay on for a few days in a row and be reset 2x a day if they slipped or moved at all. I also used them on another horse over a wound and they worked wonders!
As for getting them on and off, if you use the plastic bag included (or any plastic bag will do) over the hoof, I’ve been able to get them on and off several horses with ease. I’ve made the mistake of not using the plastic bag and had a rough time until I realized how much easier the bag makes it! If you haven’t tried getting them on and off that way, I highly recommend it!
I also use them under stand wraps for more serious injuries, or when shipping longer distances for additional support. I use them together with my Draper stuff (I now only use Draper Recovery Wraps for standing wraps) and they work great together. For my horse with the suspensory issues, I’ll alternate - few days EFS, few days DT, and he’s doing great!
My horses are turned out 24/7 if weather permits, so when we go to A shows and they stand in a box for 5 days in a row they tend to get stocked up. In the summer heat I didn’t want them wearing standing wraps all day, so the Equiflex Sleeves have proved to be a great solution for my problem! Nice cool and tight legs when I peel the sleeves off. Also keeps the white socks white while waiting for classes all day 
Reviving this thread to ask if anyone has more input on these. I’m specifically wondering if they will serve as fly boots, or if the material is thin enough that the flies can bite through it. I’d like some compression wraps for my older guy, but something that is breathable in the hot summer weather and will protect against biting flies.
[QUOTE=feuerkracher;8277244]
Reviving this thread to ask if anyone has more input on these. I’m specifically wondering if they will serve as fly boots, or if the material is thin enough that the flies can bite through it. I’d like some compression wraps for my older guy, but something that is breathable in the hot summer weather and will protect against biting flies.[/QUOTE]
We have these for some of the horses that have previous injuries as we thought they would be a good alternative for wrapping. They are good, and keep the legs tight, but the horses that have them on the back legs are so annoyed with these. They have started kicking when we put them on and off. Apparently there is a company that makes a pair with a zipper on them, and I think those would be a better alternative. The horses hairs are also all messed up with the use of these daily, you really need to be quite diligent with keeping the horses legs shaved with these.
Thanks for your input, lando. Can anyone chime in to tell me if flies are able to bite through the material on the Equiflex Sleeves?
I have two pairs, and neither one stays up–they’re good for an hour or two, and then begin to sag. They also get holes easily if you’re wrestling them on/off over shoes. Equicrown, on the other hand are fantastic! They have strong zippers and are contoured to fit the leg very closely. I have one pair that are almost a year old, and still behave as if new! The Equicrown are more expensive, but worth the money.
Here’s a link: http://www.equicrowncanada.com/
Another bump. Still on the fence. Would like to use them at shows in a stall for a mare who lives outside at home and stocks up at shows.
I’ve won a pair of these from Buckeye over the holidays and will be giving them their first use this weekend after a jump school. I’ll try to report back on my opinion of them. I’ve heard great things from other places about them for horses with fetlock, pastern, and minor tendon problems, as well as great compression after workout. If they slide down after an hour or two of use, you have too big a size. Unless the horse’s foot is absolutely ridiculously large.
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