Can you ride in magnetic boots? Or any suggestions?

[amandaxx1]

I may have asked this before but it was a while back and i can't remember.

I have a pair of bio flow magnetic boots, some "new" (brand name) magnetic boots and a wrap around magnetic knee boot. I just wondered if you can ride in any of them or if there for stable/ turnout only? If not, does anyone know of anything I could use, or even if there is anything on the market for use on riding a horse with creaky joints?

Would something like fleece bandages help?

[clippi]

I imagine that if they are turnout boots you could ride in them, but not if they are stable boots as tournout boots would be more likely to stay in place

[The Little Magician]

All I can remember written on the packaging is that you should not use them over areas of injury or scar tissue.

A friend of mine used them on her mares hind legs which had had scar tissue on and they swelled up really bad, and stayed swollen for over a week. (Hence why I went to find out about them for her!)

[The Little Magician]

Feeding garlic and cider vinegar are very good for creeky joints, as they are both anti inflamatories (both in different ways, so they work really well together).

[ness]

Well, that's one way to get an outline! lol

[Partner]

From what my physio friend says you should not ride/travel/turnout in magnetic anything. As the whole idea is that the magnets increase the bloodflow the risk is if the horse injures himself he will overbleed. For this reason she also advised against me using magnets for at least 12 hours after XC.

For creaky joints we use joint suppliments, regular massage, regular turnout on level fields, magnetic therapy in stable (only before exercise) and correct suppling and schooling followed by stretching exercises to promote muscle development that supports the joints.

[Loz]

Well, that's one way to get an outline! lol

Hahah, some seriously strong magnets would be needed though!

I personally wouldn't ride in them, but wouldn't know what to suggest for creakyness of joints so not very useful, sorry.

[CityLights]

Ive always been told no as the magents draw blood to an area and increase bloodflow, which also causes heat, which during exercise the blood is flowing more and there is more heat naturally and magenets can cause over heating and make tendons overlly flexible and cause cause them to strain

have you got him on any joint supplements at the moment? how often do you use the magnet boots and is there anything else you do with him to help keep him loose and supple

[Susan]

Hey Amanda,

As you know Maguire has arthritis. The thing that has made the most amount of difference in him is moving to a yard where he lives out 24/7. He was previously stabled overnight all year round, and with only a couple of hours turnout a day in winter.

When he was stabled he got Blue Chip Dynamic which we always thought made a difference, but I can tell you that it is nothing to the difference we have seen since he started living out.

I know it will be different for each horse, but if it is an option for Bertie then I would say it would be worth looking to see if he can live out. (Perhaps he already does, sorry if that is the case, not much help am I!)

[amandaxx1]

OK thanks everyone. Seems the general thinking is not to exercise in them.

At the moment Im not using them at all but would only have them on him in the stable when I was (over night). I cant use any of the boots or knee wrap at the moment as his feather has been growing for 6 months (!!!!) and is very thick. However he'll be having a clip next week so was planning on starting with them then.

Susan the horses at my yard are stabled over night in winter and can have 24/7 turnout in summer. Although this would be very hard to manage with Bertie as he is such a good doer. He spends the best part of summer in a wood chip paddock which we have a few of at my yard - I dont think many other yards would have this option...

He is on Mobifor joint supplement and is just about to finish his course of cartrophen injections. He is currently only turned out in a small area on his own during the day due to being out of work for a while and needing to NOT run around in a huge space. The ground is so hard in the field too at the moment, he hasnt been in there for about 10 weeks and I dont want him bombing round. Hopefully he will be back in there in a month or so when his exercise has been increased.

The thing is, he is getting better. Obviously his arthritis will never get better, but from the foot problem he had and now the knee thing, he is improving every day. I rode him in the school this morning and trotted - sound as far as I can tell but will have someone to watch at the weekend.

Re cider vinegar - Im a little reluctant to add too many supplements to his feed. He's already on the expensive vet stuff which seems to have worked so far. Its just a shame that this has happened with the foot and obviously flared the knee up as up until then he was doing fantastic.

Back to the boots, I think what I might do is pop the knee wrap on for an hour or so before I ride him. Do you think that's a good idea? Other than that leave them off.

Thanks for all your help and suggestions, ask me anything ive not answered!!!