Who will train the horses? plus, the rebuttal

[enjoytheride]

I actually bought those quick wrap things because sometimes my husband is home alone and in case of emergency he can wrap a horse without a leg falling off.

[endlessclimb]

I do wonder about the over-the-top dressage wraps that are/were in vogue. You know, the ones that covered the horse basically from their elbow to the coronary band? (a little facetious there, but they were GIANT).

I mean… I get not wanting the horse to hurt themselves, but you do eventually want that spider-on-legs to be able to do those moves without bloodying himself and getting the E, right? He’s got to be able to feel it at least a little when he biffs up the footwork.

Edit: This.

[Heinz_57]

@dmveventer

Great point. Someone upthread mentioned polo wraps as an essential skill that “the kids” are all missing these days. I grew up riding hunters and didn’t encounter polos until college, and even that was just for one horse who happened to go in them. I asked my coach to show me how and I practiced the next few times I rode that horse - and then he left the barn and I promptly lost any muscle memory I’d built up. Even since switching to eventing and dressage I’ve never had to deal with polos since. It’s not like someone teaches you something one time and then you’re set for life, it’s so easy to lose skills if you don’t have an opportunity to practice.

That was me, and what I actually said was: “I’m not that old, but a lot of younger riders these days can’t even wrap a polo correctly ”

I didn’t call it an essential skill. It was a personal observation - I’ve seen loads of horses running around in a variety of disciplines with very poorly wrapped polos. If you don’t know how because you/your discipline does not use them, that’s one thing - but if you’re going to use a particular piece of equipment, isn’t it essential to know how to use it properly? The comment was made in relation to the sentences that came before it, about there being a shortage of young people with the desire and experience to become real professionals.

@fivestrideline

This always makes me laugh. A standing bandage might be a valid argument of a skill that is actually necessary - but polos? Polo wraps provide almost no benefits (no support or protection and most trap ungodly amounts of heat), and are little more than a fashion statement. Who cares if The Kids don’t know how?

I don’t even own a set of polos anymore (too time consuming when I can just use brushing boots), but applying a standing wrap requires the same skillset of wrapping consistently and evenly (plus a few extras, given the padding underneath). I realize that polos have largely fallen out of fashion, so maybe it was an outdated ‘example’ to use - but someone must be using them, because there are a lot of companies advertising matchy-matchy polos to go with the bonnets and saddle pads. Perhaps I should’ve just said ‘wrapping’ or something, because it’s the same basic principle whether you’re using a polo, a standing wrap, or a roll of vetwrap.

At any rate, whatever “kids these days” don’t know, blame the trainer. Or the trainer’s trainer, because you can’t teach what you don’t know (unless you’re a charlatan). I consider myself extremely lucky to have had a childhood trainer who was not only a strong female role model, but an excellent horseman. It definitely shaped the way I approach horses, riding, and training.

[Jealoushe]

Working upper level movements on a horse worth close to a million bucks……you might wrap like that too. Missteps happen and a bad step on another leg can cost you your season. There is a purpose to them.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

FWIW when I audited a Luicinda Green clinic, she’s famously not a fan of over-wrapping and over-booting horses and took some time to explain her views on the subject. I know her view may be somewhat controversial, but even among the pros there’s some debate.

[endlessclimb]

Sure, ok, but how about Joe-Blow wrapping like that on a training level animal?

Not to mention the heat damage being done.

The little spider will have to do the movements sans-wraps in the competition ring. If he steps on himself and ends up bloody, that’s an E. Might as well school him where he can at least feel it if he takes a mis step at home.

I’m not saying don’t wrap. I’m saying wrapping from mid-forearm to hoof is ridiculous.

[Jealoushe]

If you don’t understand the purpose that doesn’t make it ridiculous.

I haven’t seen any training level riders do this but maybe they do. Maybe kids do wanting to follow trends but that happens with everything.

Many horses especially at FEI level wear wraps right until they go into the ring and back on once they come out. The riders livelihoods and goals rest on a sound horse so they take every precaution. It’s not that the horse can’t go without wraps, it’s that the risk is not worth the reward to go without.

Studies have shown that the heat from wraps and boots is insignificant for the time the boots are on the horse being worked. As long as they are removed immediately afterward the leg has no more risk of damage then without boots.

I encourage everyone to watch this video specifically at the point where they show how easy it is to tear a tendon that is fully loaded with the softest hit.

Inside nature's giants: Racehorse

It’s not hurting the horse at all so I don’t know why it would bother anyone.

[endlessclimb]

@Jealoushe

Studies have shown that the heat from wraps and boots is insignificant for the time the boots are on the horse being worked. As long as they are removed immediately afterward the leg has no more risk of damage then without boots.

Actually, studies have shown the opposite. Edit: I should add - your hypothesis holds true IF you cold hose the legs afterwards. Who actually does that after every ride?

And, the XXXXXXXL wraps are noted as a FASHION trend by nearly everyone. There is absolutely no real purpose to wrapping a horse past the knees.

[athelas]

This is SO true. I did most of the work on my guy myself, outside of lessons of course, until I just didn’t have any more tools in my toolbox. So I sent him to someone who did!

I have lots of experience with getting a horse that’s been sitting fit and restarting/second career-ing. But as it turned out, not all of that translated into baby horse and/or I just didn’t have the skills to make it so. It’s okay to ask for and seek out help! And clearly–riding in a clinic as these riders were doing is exactly that.

[enjoytheride]

You could always start a new thread on your feelings about wrapping.

[endlessclimb]

No thanks!

[Pennywell_Bay]

Funny for this pic that the wraps are not correct anyway- since the velcro is not pointed to the back of the horse… (besides looking just ridiculous)

Probably some grumpy person lamenting aboutt the younger generation, yet doesn’t know which was to put the velcro

[Live_Wire]

My friend videod for me while I was riding in a clinic and in the background someone commented on “what a quiet, nice boy” my gelding is. You could hear her bust out laughing. He is incredibly nice, yes. He’s an absolute freaking nutcase though.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

I’m waiting from someone from the pre-velcro era to weigh in.

[Xanthoria]

@dmveventer

It’s not like someone teaches you something one time and then you’re set for life, it’s so easy to lose skills if you don’t have an opportunity to practice.

That’s why I often throw polos on for dressage. Ok mostly for matchy fun, but also it keeps my wrapping skills up. When I compete I can do proper standing wraps and god forbid a horse gets hurt my bandages are smooth and even and stay on.

I’ve seen a lot of very poor wrapping done - even by by trainers in the past! It’s definitely a skill worth practicing.

[Xanthoria]

Yeah ok. I remember sewing down the tapes of exercise bandages over fibagee pads to go xc so I guess that’s me. What a PITA!

[emeraldcity]

FWIW I can standing wrap with quilts and track bandages pretty well (including without the use of velcro- former pony clubber here), but I can’t do good polos to save my life. It’s totally not the same skill

[Pennywell_Bay]

I’m slightly pre velcro- the velcro became a thing when I was a teen maybe? Or my older trainer wouldn’t switch? (them fangled things- I hear him griping). We used to freaking fold the ends and masking tape them.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

As a kid, I remember pre-velcro (although the horses I rode didn’t use them), and when I returned as a rerider, was solidly in the velcro era!

[Jealoushe]

I’m guessing it’s for an ad, I always see tack on wrong in advertisements.