May 24, 2010
Ice boots
I'm thinking about purchasing a set of ice boots for Phebes for the post ride hours. Since I'm demanding a little more out of her in training than I ever did before it seems sensible that I be proactive and apply cold post ride after any session that pushes her beyond what she has done before. Would like opinions about ice boots, where the best buy is, likes and dislikes, etc. ~E.G.
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I bought ice boots yonks ago from Paddy (Canadian Trail House); I see that the folks who bought her business still carry the same kind:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americantrailgear.com/USA_pages/USA_Kool_iceboots.htm
I like this style because the "ice" is replaceable gel packs (we get those here cheaply because fishermen use them to keep the catch cold), and the covers are machine-washable. The velcro straps are handy. You can use them on sore legs, backs, or whatever (equine or human) and they will also keep your lunch cold in the vetcheck bag.
Do you routinely ice your horse's legs post ride, or only keep them handy for a noted problem?
ReplyDeleteI have ice horse boots with gel inserts, which I like much more than the type where you have to put the entire boot in the freezer. Years later and they still look decent, although the ice packs need replacing.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm going to do my own ice boots though instead of replacing the packs. Either I'll buy gel packs and replace the ice horse ones, OR I'll dry a double sock method - 2 worn out tube socks, one goes over theh leg to protect it from freezer, then another on over that and then I'll insert a sheet of flexible ice cube sheets between them. I haven't actually tried it, so I'm not sure how it's going to work.
I don't routinely ice, but if a horse is "ouchy" or stocked up, I have the boots ready to go.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, I've used them on myself as often as I've used them on a horse. :-)
Is it normal for a horse to have some filling after a long ride? Or ideally that shouldn't happen?
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to be more prepared, and the ability to ice has not been in my first aid box. I purchased two human ice packs today that are the flexible gel that you freeze. I'm going to use Mel's idea of applying a tube sock, the packs, and then vet wrapping the packs on to hold the cold. I think it will work, and will be a low cost alternative to the high priced ice boots.