Boots

[Mungo Madness]

I've heard it said by some that they think it's really bad to use boots all the time when riding/jumping as it makes their legs weaker and makes them less careful as they can't feel it when they knock themselves.

But I think that's stupid to be honest, I don't believe in booting for everything like turnout, but surely its better to boot up when riding/jumping and have them have slightly weaker legs ('cause lets face it, it's not going to make a hell of a difference) then risk them getting a serious injury that means they could never be ridden again?

Views?

[Spockky boy]

Spocks got feather to protect his legs, and it makes him a bit more careful if he knocks himself. He only gets booted up for fast hacks and XC. When he is booted up he wear 4 brushing boots, and overreach boots.

Something as simple as a fall can make horses reite from ridden work. If a horse knocks itself and feels pain it is less likely to repeat doing it again... Like if you burnt yourself, next time round you would be more careful.

[CDR]

I'll be interested to follow this thread. When I learned to ride years ago the horses always wore boots when being ridden, brushing and overreach. But when I part loaned he never wore any boots (although he was a cob).

Now I'm probably going to be buying a TB so I'm wondering what kind of boots I need to put on him and when - I was thinking probably brushing boots for schooling and hacks. He doesn't seem to overreach.

[My Crazy Clan]

I put boots on Jester because he has tripped on many occasions, I have started jumping him too, he has veru thin like TB legs.

[CDR]

What sort of boots do you use Rhea? Do you put them on for everything?

[Mungo Madness]

If I had a horse, I would always jump in boots, just in case. That's always been the "rule" with both share horses that I've had.

[lilholley]

I had some brushing boots for bella but her legs got really hot in them (even in winter) so I stopped using them, I didn't think that would be good for her

[My Crazy Clan]

What sort of boots do you use Rhea? Do you put them on for everything?

General purpose legacy brushing boots :)

[Susan]

I think the school of thought is that if you constantly boot, then when the horse really needs a bit of extra protection, for example going XC or jumping a big SJ course, you have nowhere to go. I don't know enough about tendons and muscles to know if that stands up physiologically!

I started riding at a time when no-one really booted their horses. I think that these days most horses are booted when they probably don't have a huge need for it. Everyone (including me) uses brushing boots, but how many horses really brush badly and need those boots? If wearing them to protect tendons/ligaments, then does a bog standard pair of brushing boots really make much difference? I don't know the answer...I am just thinking out loud!

Mags wears light brushing boots on his fronts and over reach boots. He has these all the time when ridden. I feel that they just give him a little bit of extra support in our school which is on the deep side. He doesn't really brush. He's been known to over reach though and I would leave off the brushing boots before the overreach boots. I guess if he was going XC he would wear proper tendon boots and back boots.

I reckon the boots which are most useful are the ones fewest use - knee boots for hacking!

I suppose that booting has positive and negative aspects and it is up to the individual and their horse as to what they feel is the best deal!

[jodee]

kitkat and prince only wear boots for cross country. both have lots of feather and have never had any problems hacking etc. perdy on the other hand has hardly any fur and thin skin as well as scars on his legs from brushing and over-reaching so he wears either brushing boots or sports boots on all four legs as well as over-reach boots.

[CDR]

Are knee boots just to protect them if a horse stumbles and lands on their knees or do they actually provide some support?

[CityLights]

^^ knee boots are just for if they trip up we hack out everything in them just incase, you do not want to nurse a horse with a knee injury

the hour or so of work you do even if you are wearing boots wont make the legs any weaker even if boots could do that, but supportive boots will help them prevent wear and tear but may also prevent them getting any stronger and gentle stressing should have a positive effect, it isnt a good idea for them to wear boots 24/7 though something to do with circulation someone told me as i did turn one of mine out in boots as he constantly came in with scrapes everywhere from nothing

[black crow]

Depends how they are used.

I do not agree with booting all the time.

When horses are ridden, if they dont need them, dont use them.

Several of my horses went without boots even when jumping, because yes, they can actually get careless and not remember to "not kick themselves"

If they need to be booted up, then i will do, even for turnout. But at the end of the day, they do need to learn. I severely dislike people who boot them up from being very young, as they then do NOT learn to be careful, as they then rely on there being a form of protection.

Susan is right. If you are constantly offering support to the horses leg, it then becomes the norm. Anything then even more strenuous, will then be out of the 'norm' and the horse may still get an injury.

Boots are not just to protect from the other hoof hitting the leg, they are also to protect the tendons, joints, bones, ligaments and muscle.

I booted Rowan up after his kick in the field, to protect his leg while it finished healing, but i wouldnt keep them on him all the time, as he then WILL get careless, and the second the boots come off, he WILL do it again!

[loubylou]

Uva gets over excited at times, and when she does the first thing that happens is her action kinda 'twists' which can result in her brushing. For this reason she is booted up all round in woof wear brush boots- which offer very little in support, and more for light brushing. being a polo pony i can imagine she has always been ridden in bandages, so I am very aware of her lower legs, and have considered more supportive boots if she shows signs of needing them which *touch wood* hasnt been needed yet!

Lola overreaches when she gets speedy, so for her protection wears over reach boots on the front. She is very narrow in front, and I will eventually put her in brushing boots as her workload increases as I have noticed she does catch herself slightly occasionally, but at the moment she isnt doing enough to warrent booting her.

I would not boot up if a horse didnt need it, and have thought long and hard about booting my two girlies. Salsa isnt booted for anything yet, and all being well wont be, and she has excellent conformation, and hasnt shown any signs of brushing/over reaching- fingers crossed eh!!

[Ali27]

I always put over reach boots on Rhia for fast hacks and tendon boots on for show jumping.
She had a bad fall on the road last week and took the skin off her knees so I have ordered her the Westropp brushing/ knee boot for when we hack on roads.
I believe prevention is better than cure!

[Bay Chaos]

Champ wears brushing boots all round and over-reach boots, but he has been known to brush and over-reach, so he has them for a reason. When he is turned out though, I don't bother, as although he'll still do it, I don't think it would be fair on him.

Dina has been wearing brushing boots, but more to get her comfortable with them, than for protection.

[CDR]

I was wondering if you could get boots for legs and knees all in one, now I know what to look for.

[My Crazy Clan]

I think you might be able too CDR but I would have thought it would restrict their movement?

[CDR]

Ali27 mentioned the Westropp boots - I've found a picture of them and it doesn't look like they restrict movement as they don't wrap round the knee, they're just in front of it so they protect if the horse falls.

[Ali27]

My Westropp brushing/knee boots have just arrived through the post so I will try them out later and let you know how they are! I got them as you can't canter in normal knee boots and I love a blast out on a hack! I'm a bit nervous about going out incase Rhia goes down again but at least she has her boots to protect her now!

[Spockky boy]

Friend uses Westropp brushing/knee boots and says they are good "all in one" protection.

[casper_cb]

My horses are all Warmblood (light weighs) or WB X TB, they only use boots for XC. Occasionally if I'm planning on doing lots of lateral work I'll put some brushing boots on.

I don't beleive in wrapping them in cotton wool. I've had 3 off due to injury, all various parts of the leg, none of the accidents could have been prevented by any form of booting protection.

For anyone wanting boots I'd suggest the Eskardon (sp) tendon boots.
Woof Wear or New GP brushing boots.
And for XC Prolite closed tendon boots.

[Poppy and Harmony]

I use Roma splint boots on front and legacy brushing boots on back for Harmony when shes driving, just in case she loses control of her legs and they end up whacking something or each other!

[beks the artist]

I only use boots for XC - brushing boots on all four legs and over-reach boots. However I found Taran doesn't jump well in over reach boots (tends to trip, not used to them!) - so I tend not to use them anymore.

[black crow]

Well said Casper!

Ive got many boots of all styles from westropp over reach to sausage boots, but never will they all be used on the same horse. No point in over doing it. Boot ONLY when really needed.

[Kat loves her Millie]

I’ve never used boots on Millie until now. She has a set of Bioflow boots that she wears in the field to help with her arthritis but you don’t use them for riding. Since she has been wearing them she seems to be supported a lot more. So do you think normal boots for hacking will help in the same way? To support her when working? Thanks x

[Savvy]

Sov has nothing on when turned out and overreach boots for all ridden work as she does overreach a lot. She wears brushing boots all round for xc or if she's had a bit of a break from work and is likely to lose control of her legs - this has happened before also!

[Loony]

I would probably wear brushing boots and over-reach boots when jumping and just brushing boots when hacking.. it's best to be on the safe side!