Prevent Overnight Leg Swelling with Stablechaps
Keep your horse’s legs healthy, comfortable and supported overnight with stable wraps for horses
Why do horses’ legs swell overnight?
When horses stand still in the stable for hours, their muscle pump stops working. Normally, every step helps push blood and lymph fluid back up the leg.
Without movement:
- Fluid slowly leaks from tiny blood vessels into the tissues
- The lymphatic system drains more slowly
- Fluid collects in the lower legs, known as “stocking up” or stagnation oedema
This swelling is usually cool and painless, but it’s a sign of poor circulation from inactivity.
(If swelling is hot, painful, or only in one leg, call your vet immediately.)
How Stablechaps help
Stablechaps are breathable compression stable wraps for horses designed for horses at rest. They apply gentle, even pressure around the lower leg, just like medical compression stockings in humans.
This helps by:
- ✅ Supporting circulation – encouraging blood flow back up the leg
- ✅ Boosting lymph drainage – helping clear excess fluid
- ✅ Reducing capillary leakage – less fluid seeps into tissues
- ✅ Limiting swelling space – the leg can’t balloon outward overnight
In short: Stablechaps do what movement can’t, keeping legs tight, move fluid and support.
Do hind legs swell more?
Hind legs often “stock up” first, not because they carry more weight (forelimbs do), but because they move less in the stable. However, any leg can swell from standing still, so using compression stable wraps for horses on all four legs gives balanced protection.
What human research shows
Studies in people show compression garments:
- Reduce leg swelling on long flights or during long standing/sitting
- Improve lymph flow and venous return
- Help recovery after exercise and limit drops in blood pressure (post-exercise hypotension)
These effects are proven in multiple studies (Rabe et al. 2020; Sugisawa et al. 2022; O’Riordan et al. 2022).
Because horses’ circulation systems work in a very similar way, the same principles apply.
Compression after exercise
After work, muscles relax and blood can pool in the legs.
Using Stablechaps after exercise helps:
- Maintain healthy blood flow during recovery
- Prevent post-exercise swelling
- Support fluid clearance and cooling
This helps your horse recover faster and come out with tight legs the next morning.
Quick use & safety tips
✅ Fit snugly but not tight — you should easily slide a finger between the fabric and skin
✅ Preferably use on clean, dry legs, can be used on wet legs as the material wicks moisture away from the skin
✅ Check for heat, cuts or tenderness before use
✅ Remove and air legs daily
✅ Wash regularly for hygiene and consistent pressure
Summary – why use Stablechaps – stable wraps for horses
| Problem | What Stablechaps do |
|---|---|
| Legs swell overnight | Keep fluid moving while the horse stands |
| Poor circulation at rest | Support venous & lymphatic return |
| Slow recovery after exercise | Aid post-exercise circulation |
| Uneven swelling (hind or fore) | Provide balanced support on all legs |
Healthy legs are happy legs.
Stablechaps — simple, science-backed support to prevent overnight swelling.