am i the only one who...

Always use open fronted for jumping, and prolites for XC and bloodhounding, but other than that, quite flexible, depends on ground, intensity of work etc.
 
All ours wear:

Travel boots to travel
Over-reach and a sturdy brushings for fast XC
Open fronted tendon and fetlock for SJ
Light wraps for schooling and
Hi viz for hacking
Two 'expensive ones' wear knee boots on roads.

Nothing in the field or stable
 
I don't even possess any sort of boots any longer, but used to boot up my arab behind for hunting because he used to stand on himself and mangle his fetlocks. I, cut down a pair of white woof boots and used them as fetlock boots, never slipped.

I'm not a fan of boots, especially as I could never find a set that didn't rub arab legs raw after a days hunting, but if there is a reason for using them then I'd do so without a thought. Prevention being better than a cure and all that.

My bugbear about boots is not being able to get them in chestnut, if I had a purple horse, no problem, but chestnut, no chance. I once phoned up Prolite and asked if they did girths in chestnut, they didn't and don't intend to either, no call for it they said!
 
I only tend to put tendon boots on mine when jumping at shows and occasionally at home but thats the only time really! Have matching set with fetlock boots but dont tend to put them on so much as they twist round.
 
I always put tendon boots on Olympic no mattr what I'm doing purely as a precaution (They were new not long ago, the boots are worn by both him and Missy and the insdes are covered in scratches!) and I put brushers on behind for lunging.

Missy wears tendon boots in front and brushers behind because she catches herself occasionally.

When we finally get turnout back the horses are going to wear brusing boots all round because it's just my sodidng luc that one of my horses will always come in with a cut around their lower leg
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My ISH likes to throw himself on the tarmac when he sees birds in the hedge so he wears boots and knee boots when hacking, we also have very smooth tarmac and I am always worried the horses will slip on it.
Personally I would rather boot up for my peace of mind whatever the activity, however they are not booted when turned out, we have excellent soil that drains very well so never gets too soft or hard and I cannot stand those turnout legging things people put on.
Have seen some nasty accidents xc involving horses tripping up wearing over reach boots and only use them is a real necessity
 
I boot (bandage normally) for pretty much everything ridden and when it isn't wet they normally go out with brushing boots all round. When it is muddy Megan goes out in turnout chaps. I believe prevention is better than cure
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I'll often boot up..depends on what I'm doing though. Always boot for fast hacks, fun rides, hunter trials & hunting. Sometimes boot for hacking, sometimes don't. Bandage for schooling. Bobbles is always booted when ridden purely because he isn't ours!
 
When I had horses I rarely booted. Never for schooling or hacking, although I did very occasionally put prolites on for hacking if the ground was a bit harder and we'd be doing fast work.

Really only booted according to mood - would put boots on when jumping sometimes if we were jumping bigger or the surface was a bit suspect - and in that case would just be front tendons.

Always had prolites on all 4 for xc though, not worth the risk of a knock.

edit to say, maybe I was lucky, but in 4 years of owning horses I never had a single one injure itself when ridden.

Worst I ever really hard was a couple mystery lameness for a few weeks, one which worked through fine, and the other we just turned the pony away for a few months while I loaned another horse.
 
Old mare has woof clubs allround just because she can be a bit clumsy!
My boy and my OH's girl have clarendons XC, woof club all round hacking/flatwork, and open fronted tendon for jumping. Don't turn out in boots though!
Use them all cos they are too precious and expensive to risk any injuries if they can be avoided...clarendons saved my lad's hind leg once when he spooked after a couple of idiots cantered out of a side path, and spooked into a single strand of a broken barbed wire fence. The barbs got stuck in his boot and pulled it off when he (understandably) freaked out - imagine if that had been his leg
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Mine just wears o/r boots as when he was vetted the vet said that it looked like he had a slight scar that could possibly be from over reaching... never actaully seen him do it though and he quite happily gallops round the field withour o/R (touches wood! lol) but i put them on anyway
 
I use boots for xc, which is about once a year. But I do use my reflective and flourescent boot if I'm going on the road, purely for visibility rather than actually needing the boots though. Overreach boots rub him so never use them.
 
Hacking and schooling at home and competing SJ he has open fronted tendon boots.

XC he has boots all round

Doesn't wear any in the field but in summer sometimes has to wear over reach boots cos his feet can go bad and he has to have bigger shoes on so the over reach boot prevents him pulling his shoes off (which he did once a week at one point!!)
 
You're not cruel. Not all horses need them & sometimes I feel they're just a bit of a fashion accessory (warmbloods kitted out with fancy boots & bandages for a bit of flatwork
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My welsh cob Merlin is very straight moving & I used to do everything even XC without boots. Then I felt like you & worried that people thought I was cruel so I started using basic brushing boots in front, for XC competitons & XC lessons.

My new horse is slightly close behind so I do use brushing boots behind when schooling and I'll probably put some on his front legs for XC, he's not as neat in front as Merlin yet! He's also a bit of a nancy so do have to protect him from injuring himself!
 
Pidge has brushing boots or wraps for hacking plus flourescent ones over the top. tendon boots on the front and brushing boots on the front for jumping, will sometimes use over reach boots as well when jumping depending on where I'm jumping. Nothing for schooling, lunging, loose schooling or in the field though.
 
my horses previous owner had brushing boots on the back and tendon on the front. She doesnt brush so they came straight off, and after talking to my instructor, the tendon boots have come off too, unless we are jumping.
 
LOL!! No you aren't alone. I don't boot up any of mine either; they are not booted for travelling loose in my trailer, they don't wear any for herding cattle and they don't wear any for going out in the bush.

I personally seriously dislike horses being worked in boots for the majority of the time - weakens their legs and that's not what I want or need I'm afraid.
 
I never used to, but will be from now on after horsey walloped jumps and now has a big lump on his leg. Not for flatwork, but for jumping certainly.
 
I certainly dont think you can ever over-use boots! Surely you cant protect your horse too much?

I always use boots, well not always at home if Im just doing a tiny bit of flatwork. But Ill always jump in tendon boots and would never dream of galloping about / doing XC without a full set of decent boots. None of mine have any problems like brushing / over-reaching but they're there to prevent any injuries just in case. I have seen a horse fall on landing jumping, he over-reached into a tendon. Horse did not jump again! Had he been wearing decent tendon boots, this wouldnt have happened.

I cannot possibly see how it can "weaken their legs" - HOW? They just protect the outside of the leg from knocks!

I always use them for travelling - again, just in case. ANY horse can fall in transit - why on earth risk it.
 
jay has a old injury which the vet reccomended we keep booted up if doing fast work/jumping.

he has brushing boots on his fronts as he is a spooky horse & doesnt look after his legs
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