[RC] Dealing with fill - Kristi SchaafMy first distance horse never got any fill in his legs after a ride, so I didn't pay much attention to all those wrapped legs that I saw at AERC rides, and I never had to worry about losing points in NATRC for it. I'm a bit concerned because my learning-to-be-a-distance horse gets pretty significant fill. At age 9, with several years of LSD, he did his first rides recently - an NATRC ride a few weeks ago and a very slow LD this weekend, and at both rides he had significant fill within a few hours of finishing. It's all four legs (though the hinds are worse) and it is at its worst within a few hours, stays about the same overnight (I hand graze him in the evening so he gets to move some, but I don't walk him a lot), and the stocking up goes away with movement the next day. I don't feel any heat and he doesn't move the least bit stiff after standing on a Hi-tie all night, but I really don't like the look of the fill. So, some questions for those of you in the know about it: is it a sign of too much stress, or are some horses just prone to get it even when they're conditioned enough for what's asked of them? Are all those AERC riders wrapping legs out of habit or can I assume that all the horses I see wrapped have issues with fill (or are they wrapped more to support the tendons rather than to discourage stocking up?) My horse is barefoot and I ride in boots, so I wonder if the boots (extra weight/breakover change) are causing stress. He's never been shod and I haven't ridden him long distances totally barefoot so I don't know if he'd still get fill without the boots. I always condition in them, and haven't noticed fill afterward, but he doesn't have to stand around on a Hi-tie after those rides. Also, any suggestions on what to use for the wrap is appreciated. In the past, I've wrapped with poultice/wet brown paper/cotton/vet wrap for injuries; can I use that same system for fill, or is it overkill and do I want to use something that dries out sooner? It seems most horses that I saw at the ride this weekend were wrapped with 'fuzzy' track bandages but I don't know what was underneath. Kristi Life's a journey, so enjoy the ride (and try not to fall off) ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows. Yahoo! Answers - Check it out. http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/?link=list&sid=396545469 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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