Another interesting resource or horse invention that I have recently come across through work is compression bandages for horses. Equi Crown had an advert in an online horse magazine that I was reading. And I got to thinking, what an interesting idea!
Have you ever had a horse that you’ve brought in out of a field/paddock into a stable and the following morning you find its legs filled with fluid? I first experienced this just outside of my Diploma when I was working at a yearling preparation. The manager was concerned that there was something wrong with the horses and after ruling out any lameness concerns, he concluded that perhaps a high protein diet was the issue.
If you’re familiar with the lymphatic system in the horse, you will know that this is a pump that deals with circulation of fluids within the equine system. This pump functions via movement. If the horse is not moving, then fluid will accumulate in the lymph nodes and cause visible swelling.
I would guess now in hindsight this was the issue with the yearlings. They’d come out of a large paddock where they were able to consistently move and were transported to a 12 foot x 12 foot stall for a sale preparation – their movement was greatly restricted!
Equi Crown Compression Bandages
Perhaps this is where compression bandages can work for horses. If a horse is to be stabled for illness, competition, sale preparation or something else, then these bandages could work to keep swelling down. Like people wear on a long plane flight, why would this not also work for horses? A unique idea! Curious? Be sure to head along and check out the Equi Crown website.
