Joey in his Draper Therapies No Bow Wraps. PC: Meagan DeLisle
Hi my name is Meagan and I am addicted to leg wraps.
No seriously, I am borderline obsessive when it comes to any form of leg care. My OTTB Joey who I use in the Jumper ring came off the track with some set osselets that do not affect his ability to perform, but with that in the back of my mind I sometimes do a little overkill when it comes to properly caring for his legs. That being said, I am a huge fan of poultice and wraps after a hard workout and most definitely at shows so Joey can be in tip top form.
Finding a good set of no bow wraps is imperative if wrapping is going to be a regular part of your routine. One wrong wrap can affect both your short term and long term goals. When I was approached to do a product review on Draper Equine Therapy’s No Bow Wraps, I was excited to try out a new option that could give me some peace of mind when it came to Joey’s care.
What You Need to Know
These quilted bandages aren’t like your normal pillow quilts. As I unpacked them from their box, I was surprised to find that they were fluffy and soft. A blend of Celliant® (Draper Therapy’s newly FDA-approved magic fiber) and wool, I was very impressed with the quality and durability of the wraps.
According to Draper Therapy’s website, “Celliant® is a proprietary fiber loaded with a potent mix of thermo-reactive minerals. It recycles and converts radiant body heat into infrared energy which gives the body a measurable boost.”
Personally, I love products that use body heat as a form of treatment so I was eager to see just how well these wraps would hold up. I also took a huge sigh of relief when I saw that these gorgeous wraps were machine washable and dryer safe as I originally thought they would be hand wash only when I first saw the fabric from which they were constructed.
aA closeup view of the amazing Celient filled fabric that makes up the wraps. If you think they look comfortable enough to lay your head on, you’re right. I may be guilty of stacking these bad boys up on my tack trunk for a mid horse show nap. PC: Meagan DeLisle
The Ultimate Test
Lucky enough, we went to a weekend show the following day so I packed up the wraps in my tack trunk and made my way to Memphis. On Friday night, Joey not only schooled but showed in six classes so he had quite the workout. Factor in that he threw a shoe and didn’t necessarily perform his best that night and I knew he deserved a good hoof packing and a night with poultice on.
My love for the quality of these wraps only grew as I wrapped them on Joey’s legs (plus it didn’t hurt that several members of my barn continued to comment on how nice they looked and felt). You can tell a cheap wrap from a well constructed wrap and Draper Therapy definitely took their time when designing and producing them. They are quality enough that they hold themselves up, making it easier for you to wrap and bandage, but if wrapped properly they are not too firm on your horses tendons.
The next morning, the wraps were still exactly as they had been left the night before, aside from some shavings that stuck to the fabric. That is the only downside I could find was that the fluffier fabric does pick up shavings easier than typical quilts, but it was easily brushed off with a stiff brush.
I had feared Joey would have some swelling in his back legs after hitting a few rails, however his legs were cool and ready to work. He actually moved better the second day of showing then he had the first, which is an oddity for him. I can only attribute this change in dynamic to his comfort level which I have to believe was affected by the Celliant® in the wraps. “Celliant works by increasing the amount of blood traveling into the affected area, not by causing the blood to absorb more oxygen. The increased blood flow and blood oxygen levels help muscles and joints combat stiffness, soreness and edema caused by aging, injury or arthritis.”
The Breakdown
While we have not attended another show since, any time I felt Joey’s legs had a strenuous workout I used these wraps paired with poultice to bring him some relief. I am not a huge believer in wrapping legs when shipping in the summer due to the Missouri heat, but can definitely see myself using these in the cooler months when we haul home from clinics or shows to keep his legs safe.
The wraps wash and wear well and have yet to lose their fresh-from-the-box appearance despite being put to good use. They are a nice neutral gray, so if you are a fan of the matchy matchy game then it is easy to pair any color of bandages with the wraps to perfectly coordinate your look.
Off to the barn with my Draper wraps in hand. Check out the amount of padding the set has! PC: Wayne DeLisle
At $65.00 a pair, they are on the higher end of wraps, but I truly do not think leg care is one of the items you can skimp on for your horse. A leg injury can put major downtime to your training program or can even be career ending. I have been converted from a traditional quilt wrap lover because of the obvious results I have seen in Joey’s performance and recovery. I can only imagine how useful these wraps would be when healing from an injury or surgery!
All in all, I give Draper Therapies a 5 out of 5 for their No Bow Wraps. Classic and effective, you can’t go wrong with a couple pairs of these in your tack room and I know they will earn their keep as part of your leg care regime.
Click Here to Find No Bow Wraps on the Draper Therapies Website