John Whitaker training bandages are soft and elasticated – a perfect union for leg wraps. But before I talk about the bandages themselves, I want to highlight a point of added value. These training bandages are not posted to you in a cardboard box, like many bandages purchased online, they are presented in a clear plastic pouch that is designed to keep the bandages tidy and clean long after you open the parcel.
The plastic pouch has the John Whitaker International Ltd logo on the front and a blue webbing strap, for carrying them, at the top. This heavy-duty plastic – with thick plastic binding – has proved to be hard wearing and waterproof. My young horse has not only stood on the pouch, she has thrown it half way across our stable yard. It was also left outside in the torrential rain and found the next morning marinating in the mud.
Nothing has defeated this pouch. It is still in perfect condition – and it is still keeping the bandages clean and dry.
The Bandages
The key features of these bandages are the fleece inner padding that keeps the horses tendons and ligaments warm, helping to prevent injury; the elasticated stretch outer that moves with the horse; the double fold fastening with the John Whitaker International Ltd logo; and the fact they are machine washable.
The bandages come in four colours: black, red, navy or white. I chose black because I think it’s an easier colour to keep clean when used as part of a 5-day per week training schedule – also because my horse is grey and I think this colour looks smart on her.
Being a horse owner that is used to putting on horse boots, not bandages, I did find it difficult to make sure the bandages were positioned correctly, with the fastening at the top of my horses leg and on the outside. It did take me three or four goes to position them perfectly and because of this, I think a little card with ‘how to put on’ instructions/diagrams would be an excellent point of added value.
The bandages looked very smart on my horse and they performed well during our schooling sessions. BUT, I am not a convert. These bandages look and feel lovely… but I found the process of putting bandages on my young horse very stressful. Zara is still learning basic manners, like how to stand still for longer periods of time, and gets bored easily. By the time I have put on the second bandage, she is not so keen to stand still for the third and fourth – which makes the task of putting on bandages nigh impossible. For me, boots are easier.
Out of 5 *:
Packaging *****
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Ease of use **
One size only on Amazon.co.uk
John Whitaker Horses Training Bandages
