Saratoga Bandages and Exercize Wraps- correct way to use?

[StormyDay]

I recently started using saratoga bandages and exercise wraps on one of my horses while riding. There seems to be a ‘trend’ going on right now in the dressage world (and it is bleeding over into jumpers too) of using these… however no one seems to be able to decide the correct way to wrap and use them. Maybe COTH has a suggestion?
This is how I was taught to wrap them. These are a bit big for my horse, so I don’t wrap all the way up

Now, here are several other ways people are wrapping:

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Horse on the left
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[IMG2=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“full”,“src”:"http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o735/Aceofspades1313/Leg%20wrapping/legwrapping2_zpswgni44vt.jpg)

And the recent article on Milano mentions she uses the same ones as I do in the jumper ring.

http://horsesdaily.com/sites/default…?itok=fDLjuT1P

Which way is correct? Or maybe they are all correct?

[keysfins]

I’ve only used/seen the Climatex wraps with normal polos over them, as in the photo of the grey horse with all four legs wrapped. Although I might place them/wrap them a tad differently.

Have not used Saratoga bandages—they have the grippy lines of silicone on them?

[StormyDay]

@keysfins

I’ve only used/seen the Climatex wraps with normal polos over them, as in the photo of the grey horse with all four legs wrapped. Although I might place them/wrap them a tad differently.

Have not used Saratoga bandages—they have the grippy lines of silicone on them?

Yes, they are the ‘traditional’ way of doing it, along with gamgee, but I don’t know if it matters between using polos or saratoga bandages with climatex or equifit wraps.

[Sister7]

I put the liners a smidge lower than in your top picture and wrap around the fetlock a bit more. The purpose to me of the liners is to provide protection and compression.

I don’t know why people have the wraps sticking above the knee and way below the fetlock. Seems like it would be annoying to the horse and offer no benefit. Put in some bell boots if you are worried about over reaching. But maybe my horse just isn’t fancy enough to over reach and hit his knee

I wish they sold the liners by the pair and in more sizes. I have the 14" and they are a bit big on the fronts.

eta- I got the saratogas because I thought they would breathe better, not sure if they do, by I really like how they wrap. I think you get better compression due to the elasticity and they are a bit more rigid.

[StormyDay]

I totally agree sister7, I think the saratoga wraps give better compression too, and that is what I use them for. I also worry less about them shifting and causing pressure points.
So about size I have these leMieux ones. They come in 10 and 12 inch sizes http://www.lemieuxproducts.com/boots-bandages/leg-pads/lemieux-small-exercise-bandage-wraps-25x35cm-pair

I still prefer the equifit ones, but they only come in one size so I am out of luck there.

[StormyDay]

Bumping for the daytime crowd.

[btswass]

Just a comment for all you people using wraps and polos…do you not worry about heat? I’m so paranoid about excessive heat in the leg that if I either use nothing or the veredus e-vento boots. I did my senior design project for my engineering degree on a new design of boots and after the research I did on the damage of heat in legs I am paranoid about it. I can understand the benefit of using wraps but honestly polos do nothing. They don’t provide “support” and all that fleece is just heating up the leg plus they aren’t going to provide any beneficial protection if the horse does overreach. Maybe its just me…

[StormyDay]

@btswass

Just a comment for all you people using wraps and polos…do you not worry about heat? I’m so paranoid about excessive heat in the leg that if I either use nothing or the veredus e-vento boots. I did my senior design project for my engineering degree on a new design of boots and after the research I did on the damage of heat in legs I am paranoid about it. I can understand the benefit of using wraps but honestly polos do nothing. They don’t provide “support” and all that fleece is just heating up the leg plus they aren’t going to provide any beneficial protection if the horse does overreach. Maybe its just me…

I don’t really use polos so I can’t comment on that but with the Saratoga wraps and exercise bandages I do find they hold less heat than some boots I own do. In this case, the benefit of the wrap outweighs the risk of the heat.
Of course, I also ice my horses legs after each ride

[btswass]

@StormyDay

I don’t really use polos so I can’t comment on that but with the Saratoga wraps and exercise bandages I do find they hold less heat than some boots I own do. In this case, the benefit of the wrap outweighs the risk of the heat.
Of course, I also ice my horses legs after each ride

Good to know! I’ve been wanting to experiment with Climatex wraps. Acavallo has a new wrap out that is gel then the wrap part
http://www.acavallo.com/ac_product/gel-acrilic-bandage/
I’m sure it provides a lot of protection but I can’t imagine how much the legs must heat up in those! I use a gel pad under my saddle pad and even when I don’t work my horse hard he’s always a little sweaty underneath

[joiedevie99]

I grew up with Saratogas and Porters as an event rider, so I’m somewhat partial to them. I hate putting polos over Climatex liners. I use “invisible” size liners on most horses. One who can’t wear bellboots due to scars on his heels gets the extra long ones that hang down to replace that function. The liner size doesn’t change where I put the Saratoga though. Mine look a lot like this, except I put a bit of angle in the last turn at the bottom so it is higher in the front and makes a small V at the front of the fetlock: https://www.google.com/search?q=exercise+bandage&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc6JGnv-3SAhUW0IMKHU5ADrwQsAQIwAE&biw=1625&bih=931#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=saratoga+bandage&*&imgrc=8T4vHNyTVexWXM:

[StormyDay]

joiedevie99: I try and aim for that look, but I am not a master leg wrapper so mine looks no where as nice
btswass: I would worry that the gel would pull on the hair on the legs and be irritating. But maybe these don’t have that issue?

[retrofit]

Does anyone know of extra-long stretchy wraps (Saratogas, Eskadrons, etc.) for hind legs? My horses aren’t even that big and even still, wraps aren’t long enough to start at the top, wrap down & wrap all the way back up on the hinds.

[Renn_aissance]

@StormyDay

I don’t really use polos so I can’t comment on that but with the Saratoga wraps and exercise bandages I do find they hold less heat than some boots I own do. In this case, the benefit of the wrap outweighs the risk of the heat.
Of course, I also ice my horses legs after each ride

What she said, including the ice.

I use Saratoga wraps for support- impact protection is not a concern- and do not generally use a layer underneath.

[Highflyer]

@joiedevie99

I grew up with Saratogas and Porters as an event rider, so I’m somewhat partial to them. I hate putting polos over Climatex liners. I use “invisible” size liners on most horses. One who can’t wear bellboots due to scars on his heels gets the extra long ones that hang down to replace that function. The liner size doesn’t change where I put the Saratoga though. Mine look a lot like this, except I put a bit of angle in the last turn at the bottom so it is higher in the front and makes a small V at the front of the fetlock: https://www.google.com/search?q=exercise+bandage&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjc6JGnv-3SAhUW0IMKHU5ADrwQsAQIwAE&biw=1625&bih=931#safe=off&tbm=isch&q=saratoga+bandage&*&imgrc=8T4vHNyTVexWXM:

This is how I was taught to do them as well. It’s also how I do polos and standing wraps.

[Laurierace]

It appears as if the one on the left is wrapped backwards. You want to wrap from the inside around the front so the left would be counterclockwise and the right clockwise.

[Highflyer]

@retrofit

Does anyone know of extra-long stretchy wraps (Saratogas, Eskadrons, etc.) for hind legs? My horses aren’t even that big and even still, wraps aren’t long enough to start at the top, wrap down & wrap all the way back up on the hinds.

The Saratogas come in 9’ or 12’ https://www.fourstarbrand.com/product/saratoga-bandages/

[btswass]

@retrofit

Does anyone know of extra-long stretchy wraps (Saratogas, Eskadrons, etc.) for hind legs? My horses aren’t even that big and even still, wraps aren’t long enough to start at the top, wrap down & wrap all the way back up on the hinds.

Your probably starting too high up. Start wrapping in the middle then go down and up. Wraps would have to be like 15’ if you were to start at the top of the legs.