Theres a run in my hose!

So I ran in to Amy at the NASTR ride back in June and we got to talking about how she was using the knee high stockings and having great luck.  So I thought I would give it a try on May - the horse who gets rubs when the wind changes direction.  So when I found a great deal on them I just had to try them out.  We have been out only a few times since my last surgery and mostly on short flat rides.  May's feet were actually doing quite well with nothing but we all know that will not be the case at 50 miles.  The vet wrap works ok but she gets a wad of sand stuck in the front of the hoof and her corronet gets irritated.  Amy says she has no problem with sand, it all comes out, so that sounded great to me (and if her boy could wear stockings with no complaint then surely the curious little mare will too.........)

We get ready to ride on Saturday and I pull out my stockings.  May thinks they look like food and that they feel funny but no big deal.  How easy was that!  Well I get to the last one and of course snag it and it runs, but no big deal right.  Not so much.  May proceeded to stand with her right rear foot in the air, looking from her foot to me to the foot with this look like "seriously, we are not going out like this right?".  It was just about the funniest thing I had ever seen and she would not put it down, even for a treat.  I walked her around and she just kept looking at that foot.  Finally I took it all off thinking that there had to be something seriously wrong with that boot.  Nope, a new stocking with no run and all was well again.  Mares!

But, anyway, back to the important part, how did it work.  Well it worked ok.  We had small rubs at the top of the gaters on the fronts only.  Rubbed the hair off but did not break skin.  I did realize that I had not retightened the gaters as I had been doing prior to starting the ride.  The next week we did a 30 mile ride and I did recheck the gaters prior to start to snug them up and we had less of an issue.  This time I did notice that the back of the pasturn area was pretty pink and I wonder if it was from heat generated by the nylon.  She did not get scratches though so that was good and did not seem to be sore.  The next morning there was no redness.  We use Epics in case you are wondering.

I used only a single layer wheras I think Amy had doubled up.  Please correct me if I am wrong Amy.  It seems to work well and is cheaper than vet wrap.  Thanks Amy for the tip.  Our only question is what brand holds up best and should older mares wear support stockings???????

Tami

Comments

[Todd]

Thanks for the update Tami,

I have been working with the stockings as well during our conditioning rides (which are few and far between when it's 1000 degrees outside) anyway, seems to have been working fine. I'll check them when we're done and Fortune has no rubs. Will try them at our first ride back at the end of August and see how they work on a fifty. I would have to agree that doubling up would probably be wise and I do like the price. I can get 4 pairs for under a dollar at the dollar store. Compare that to $1.50+ for a roll of vet wrap. That's that much more I can spend on fuel getting to rides... LOL.

Safe Riding,
Todd

[Carol Crisp]

Thanks for the tip, can't wait to give it a try.

[Dawn Willoughby]

Dear Tami and Todd...I have shared your ingenious idea with an owner in Annapolis who has a gelding in Epics most of the day, rehabbing from "gosh my hoof is several feet in front of my leg-itis". TX

[Jyl Snyder]

What type of stockings/socks are you using? I get rubs on my horse and would like to try this to help him!!!

Jyl Snyder

[Tami Rougeau]

Hi Jyl,

I was just using the cheap brand (10/$1) like Amy had told me. We used knee highs but I am now thinking that all those old hose in the drawer might have a new purpose in life.

Now that I have gone through all of the cheap ones I am upgrading to thicker/heavier brand name just so I have something to compare. Amy said she had great luck just doubling up and that will be my next trial. I will keep you posted on how it works.

It will be interesting to see now that it is getting hotter if there is any impact from heat.

Tami

[Amy Bray]

Hi Tami!~ Great I'm glad they are working.. Yes mares are funny. I feel price wise to just use the cheap ones and double up as why pay more to just throw them away. I don't feel they would wash and dry well after the ride in the laundry...ha-ha
(Sorry I was late to comment.... my dial-up at home is not the best and work is keeping me buried!)
Hope to see ya at the next ride - Tour De Washoo, Washoe Valley, NV!
We'll give the hose a "run for the money" hee-hee.
I have a "newby" trying the hose and boots on a green endurance gelding. We'll see how it goes for her. She has no trouble using them on her gelding. She thinks it is a cool idea too. MUCH cheaper than vet wrap!
Amy :)