Which ones do you prefer to use and why? I’ve always used the Dover Vac No Bow wraps. I am not a big fan of the bulky pillow wraps. I was told if the No Bow wraps are too thin they can do more harm than good. Any thoughts or opinions?
I don’t love no Bows unless its super hot out or I’ve got a fussy horse where less means maybe they will keep their wraps on.
I use Wilkers cotton flannel over foam.
I use them interchangeably. I do think the relatively thin NoBows are easier to handle if you aren’t proficient at wrapping.
I prefer the sheepskin ones but will use most kinds. If I am wrapping for longer than 12 hours or so (longer than overnight) I will use something on the thicker side. I actually think people who aren’t proficient at wrapping should use the thicker wraps, as the margin for error is greater, but I agree the No Bows are easier since they are less bulky.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8390252]
I actually think people who aren’t proficient at wrapping should use the thicker wraps, as the margin for error is greater, but I agree the No Bows are easier since they are less bulky.[/QUOTE]
I think the opposite is true. 
The ability to get the right tension on a pillow is a learned skill. You have to pull just enough so that it’s tight enough to stay on, but not too tight. It’s a hard balance and one someone not proficient at wrapping should not attempt on their own.
I like a pillow wrap. “But” it has to be a certain kind. I do like the Wilkers ones. I have been wrapping legs for a long time but when I try to wrap with a wrap I don’t like I cannot seem to get a nice wrap done… and go back to my old faithful - pillow wraps. When it’s hot the Wilkers are nice because they are not too thick. Not a fan of the no bows.
I have heard from people over the years the No bows are the wraps that have the most issues. But that’s just what I have heard.
I guess it’s what you are used to using as well.
[QUOTE=RugBug;8390319]
I think the opposite is true. The ability to get the right tension on a pillow is a learned skill. You have to pull just enough so that it’s tight enough to stay on, but not too tight. It’s a hard balance and one someone not proficient at wrapping should not attempt on their own.[/QUOTE]
See, when I have taught wrapping/ checked wraps as a pony club instructor, I’ve found that the biggest rookie mistakes are wrapping too tightly or not wrapping evenly. The thicker the padding, the less likely they are to cause a bandage bow. The wrap might look like a hot mess, but at least it’s unlikely to do real damage.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8390332]
See, when I have taught wrapping/ checked wraps as a pony club instructor, I’ve found that the biggest rookie mistakes are wrapping too tightly or not wrapping evenly. The thicker the padding, the less likely they are to cause a bandage bow. The wrap might look like a hot mess, but at least it’s unlikely to do real damage.[/QUOTE]
Heh…there is not temptation on my part to pull a no bow too tightly…but boy do I like to tug on that pillow.
My personal favorites are wilker’s combo wraps…
http://shop.farmvet.com/Horse/Protective-Wraps/Combo-Quilted-Leg-Wraps
The wilkers combo wraps on my 14.2 horse make her legs look like elephant legs. I have been using no bows as I think the padding stays even under the wraps. My mare is also a total pansy about things on her legs and will not move or bend her limbs if she thinks the wraps are too bulky.
Wilkers combo wraps with the flannel on the back. Washed and used so the batting gets a bit compressed. I HATE new wraps straight out of the package.
The danger in using no bows is that you can actually create a bandage bow, if you don’t know how to wrap. I think that pillows are safer in that regard, but making them pretty does take some practice. I prefer no bows now that I am 100% comfortable with achieving just the right amount of tension.
I find that (quality) no bows lie more smoothly and evenly against the legs. Pillow wraps require a lot more finesse because they are more prone to wrinkle and create uneven spots under the standing bandage, in my experience.
I’m curious about those of you who report seeing lots of problems with overly tight wraps. I teach about 60 students a year to wrap legs, and I’ve set to see anyone wrap too tightly. The vast majority of beginners wrap with too little tension, creating saggy wraps. That tendency is magnified by the bulk of pillow wraps.
I like the no bows for general standing wraps. For shipping I prefer the pillows as they’re fluffier and offer more protection.
I bought no bows after hearing all sorts of great things about them. I hate them. I used them once and went back to my pillow wraps, which I find so much easier to use.
I use each for different things. I’ve been wrapping since I was a kid, though, when all we had were very thin cotton wraps or very thick pillows, using cotton bandages with ties, not velcro. So I’m pretty comfortable with all sorts of wraps!
I like no bows (with knit bandages) for in-stall wrapping, and I use pillows (with flannel bandages) for shipping. I rarely wrap mine since they usually go out after hard exercise, but my jumper gets wrapped in standing wraps (no bows) every night at shows. I used to use Wilkers but I don’t like how (relatively) stiff the foam in the middle is, so now my ferrets use them!
[QUOTE=RugBug;8390319]
I think the opposite is true. The ability to get the right tension on a pillow is a learned skill. You have to pull just enough so that it’s tight enough to stay on, but not too tight. It’s a hard balance and one someone not proficient at wrapping should not attempt on their own.[/QUOTE]
I’ll second that. For years I wouldn’t own a pair of no-bows and LOVED my pillow wraps, especially with white flannels, fuzzy side out, tyvm. I used to do up 4-10 horses all the way around, daily. My pillow wraps would stay where I put 'em on a horse in turnout, never mind one stood up in a stall. And then I had hand surgery followed by elbow surgery on the other arm.
No more pillow wraps for me. There are very few things I can’t do with my right hand after 6 months rehab, but one of two that stand out are ZERO ability to tighten up enough for pillow wraps. First I thought it was just the flannels (because that really is an art form), but the same held true with track bandages. So I had to switch to no bows. I still kind of hate 'em but at least they are a bit thicker than the ones that first came out on the market. So no bows it is. (blech)
And the other thing I can no longer do easily? Hold a stemless red wine glass. My hand won’t open wide enough to reliably get a good grip on it.
It’s a testament to my love of wine and traditional whites on a horse that I can’t figure out which of these is a greater sin against humanity.
ETA - my experience in years of watching bad wrap jobs (what can I say, old track person in a h/j world … <shudder>) the most likely way to create a bandage bow by a too loose wrap that slips down and tightens. I have seen a too tight bb once, but so many more times the issue was a loose wrap that slipped/tightened in the wrong place)
[QUOTE=DMK;8390752]
I’ll second that. For years I wouldn’t own a pair of no-bows and LOVED my pillow wraps, especially with white flannels, fuzzy side out, tyvm. I used to do up 4-10 horses all the way around, daily. My pillow wraps would stay where I put 'em on a horse in turnout, never mind one stood up in a stall. And then I had hand surgery followed by elbow surgery on the other arm.[/QUOTE]
Whoa whoa whoa WHOA there. Just a hot second.
FLANNEL SIDE OUT?!?!?!?!?!?!?
My mind is blown. BLOWN. I’ve always done flannel side in. Is there a rhyme or reason to flannel out, or just personal preference?
Please advise.
ETA: Nevermind. I’m dumb. I blame it on me not having coffee yet this morning and also having poor reading comprehension skills when trying to multitask. I see now that you say you wrapped pillow wraps WITH FLANNELS, fuzzy side out. Not the fuzzy flannel side of the pillow wrap out.
I mean, unless you do that, too. In which case, my above question still stands.
I’ll show myself out.
GOOD pillow wraps (wilker’s no foam). And possibly extra-long wraps if the horse’s legs are beefy.
I dislike foam in general because I don’t think it breathes and holds heat, and most of the no-bows I’ve seen are quite thin.
I LOVE the Back on Track No Bow Wraps. I use them both for shipping and overnight to wrap legs at shows.
whoa, wait, what?? Bandage flannel fuzzy OUT?! No, god, no. All fuzzy in! The bandages have just a little grip and go on nice and smooth and even, and shavings don’t stick. But now I know who to blame it on that the last flannels I bought had the Velcro on wrong!
oh, sorry, were we talking pillows v no bows? I care less about that than about batting vs foam. My favorites are Clothes Horse pillows - all flannel with batting, and just the right thickness.
