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GHALEEM
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2028 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 4:22:51 PM
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Some people boot to jump but not to hack, some boot to hack but not to school. Do you boot your horse just to be safe or because your horse over reaches or brushes or because you think it looks smart ? Can booting overheat the legs and cause problems?
Only asking cos i have never booted mine but wonder if maybe i should (quite fancy some white brushing boots for schooling cos they look smart)
Michelle
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 5:09:13 PM
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Personally, I've only ever booted if the horse had a known problem (over-reaching, brushing). Then I thought 'if we're going to be hacking over rough going, steep hills, moorland etc, should I give his poor little legs extra support?'
I also liked the wrap around equiflex training wrap types.
Did a bit of research, and came away with the opinion that most boots would result in heating of the legs, and that his legs would rely on the boots more and not be as strong in themselves.
I decided against it, for what we do (hacking, even if it is difficult terrain at times). |
Kelly
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Red Rum
Gold Member
England
508 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 5:21:53 PM
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| Hi I only ever boot for cross country and mine have never come to any harm. One of my horses wears knee boots on the roads as he has tripped over a couple of times. |
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Montikka
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2653 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 6:02:01 PM
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I only boot if the horse needs it - none of mine brush or over reach - but one has a tendency to shy and fall on her knees (fun!) so she wears knee boots.
I know some of the Dressage Peeps at the yard are a bit worried that their booting is over heating the tendons and leading to problems for their horses later in life.
Then we have the Hunters/Point to Pointers with no boots at all - and doing fine.
Of course all the 'Pony Club' girls have their Clarendon/brushing/over reach/tendon/wraps/travel boots - but are their horses any more 'sound'? I should say not! on the contrary, the poor animals seem to be on permanent box rest,.
I agree with Kelly and Red Rum
But hey Michelle - I agree - those snazzy white brushing boots look so cool But does your horse brush? lol xx |
   
Louise, Warwickshire |
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jasjmm
Gold Member
625 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 6:13:10 PM
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| Don't you should boot unless you have to. The horse will not feel it when he bangs something and can become over-reliant on the boots. Generally speaking, hurting teaches us not to do things again! |
    
Bristol |
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leiat8
Gold Member
590 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 6:36:28 PM
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i use boots when I'm lunging as sometimes the youngsters have a moment and do a wall of death type thing, and due to them working on a circle its easy for them to catch there legs.the only time other than that ill use boots is if I'm going to be hacking through alot of bramble or thickets but that's more to minimise scratches/scrapes. one thing i learnt at college was that boots do not heat the tendons up half as much as bandages thus less likely to cause injury( if used appropriately).
leiax |
     
Casper, Hannah, Hector, Bracken, Fargo |
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natntaz
Platinum Member
England
2919 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 6:37:32 PM
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My horse doesnt brush, but i always wear flourescent brush boots
for obvious reasons to be seen and then to protect, I would rather
make sure he doesnt get scratches from bushes and so on when i take
him through ruff bits of ground. We also do a fare bit of road work
so hopefully will help us to get seen. |
   
Natalie Pix. Essex. Tariq ibn Radfan and Taroub |
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Karon
Gold Member
England
1411 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 6:58:02 PM
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| I don't boot mine at all - they're barefoot so less likely to knock themselves. I do use hi viz wraps on their legs though, so we can be seen. |
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arkay1405
Silver Member
436 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 8:51:37 PM
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| Same here Karon. |
Seren Capella and Seren Rigel.Edgware, Middx/Herts border
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 9:19:37 PM
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Funny this post should come up because i was only thinking about this a few days ago.
I backed Ozzy in June and have used boots on all legs since i backed him. Initially i put them on because he is young and more likely to ping about and maybe catch himself.
Through the summer i noticed he was quite sweaty under the boots when i took them off, so i was always careful to sponge his legs down when i took them off. Recently with all the rain and mud i noticed that mud and grit were getting in under the boots and i started to think they might rub him.
He doesn't overreach or brush so i'm now of the opinion that i'll leave them off for every day hacking and maybe just use them if and when we start jumping...! |
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fidodido
Gold Member
England
797 Posts |
Posted - 13 Nov 2009 : 9:19:39 PM
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| I boot mine for hacking and schooling. When hacking this also includes knee boots and over reach boots as i would rather protect them than have them scratched/injured or marked. Oh and mine are nice white N.E.W Dressage boots . |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 12:24:36 AM
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I'm another believer in only using boots if you need them, so Harley the 18 year old wears nothing and never has and his legs are perfectly clean apart from the scar where he went through a barbed wire fence before I bought him, he's spent his time doing mid-level endurance and occasional hunting.
Nush the 20 year old mare wears some rather unattractive brushing/kneeboot combination things on the front because she went down on her knees on the road in a rather horrific accident - and yes she does get rather sweaty under them, but obviously we can't take any chances.
Lily my 4 year old is wearing over reach boots on the front because she catches her off fore with her near fore. I am hoping that these will become unnecessary as she becomes stronger and her chest broadens out.
My 6 year old tb x welsh wears brushing boots (flourescent) on the back and over reach boots on the front because he doesn't really care where his feet are going sometimes, and can catch himself, plus he's really good at pulling off his off fore shoe 
Arabs generally have excellent legs, so they shouldn't need boots for support, and yes they do get sweaty and gritty so I would rather not use them if possible.
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  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 14 Nov 2009 09:59:54 AM |
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jillandlomond
Platinum Member
Scotland
3586 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 09:18:59 AM
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| I only use boots if absolutely necessary. My PBA gelding brushes slightly behind, so he wears N.E.W fetlock boots when ridden. No problems with any of the others, so no boots on them. |
    
Borders, Scotland |
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GHALEEM
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
2028 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 4:55:00 PM
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| Thanks for your replies, will save myself the money and carry on without them |
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 5:12:26 PM
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Scientific studies show booting horses will reduce Tendon cooling. Overheating of tendons is known to cause damage.
I only ever boot, including jumping and XC if a horse brushes badly enough to cause itself damage ie on an +80km ride.
No boot available in any tack shop is capable of providing support to prevent tendon damage, none of them are structurally strong enough.
I tend not to have mine shod until they need it and have been backed for about a year, reducing the chances of knocking themselves and doing harm. also not convinced it is terribly fair to expect a youngster to have to cope with weighted feet and a lump on top all at the same time.
Dot |
Dot
www.threelowsfarm.com
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honey
Platinum Member
N. Ireland
2634 Posts |
Posted - 14 Nov 2009 : 7:05:25 PM
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| i boot my coloured mare with n.e.w boots front and hind, tendon on the front brushing on the hind, she rose a spilnt in the field in front when she knocked her self and as a 2yo she severed her tendon to the inside of her front knee, and in the hind she had joint ill as a foal so im just making sure more than anything. |
    
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Cinnypony
Gold Member
1160 Posts |
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Topic |
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Do you boot your horse to ride?
