Booting up youngsters

Queenbee

Queenbee

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How fine a line is it... Was discussing the other day that over booting (booting for all work) will stop the limbs from strengthening. My plan is to boot for our longer ride (once a week) and our school session, but nit for our other 3-4 sessions which are about 20 mins and consist of mainly walk and a bit of trot. What does everyone else do with regards to booting newly backed youngsters? P.s. boots on fronts only
 
I always use tendon boots and fetlock boots. I have seen some horrific strike injuries that I would rather avoid. I dont think these boots harm development, its the sports boots and those offering support that can weaken horses when they stop wearing them, I dont use those boots at all
 
I'm unconvinced that any boot offers any "true" support, and therefore there is no biomechanical rational for booting preventing leg strengthening. I would be more concerned by the heating effects of boots on the tendons, and as such I don't routinely boot up for normal work.
 
JFTD said:
I'm unconvinced that any boot offers any "true" support, and therefore there is no biomechanical rational for booting preventing leg strengthening. I would be more concerned by the heating effects of boots on the tendons, and as such I don't routinely boot up for normal work.
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Yes heat is the issue really, thats why I dont bandage. I use the lightest boots shown to produce less heat. I know they will still cause heat, but the less the better. As a showjumper I dont want to risk a strike injury
 
I don't believe it makes any difference to "leg strength" whatsoever. After all, a lot of horses at this time of year are wandering/grazing/hooning around their fields roughly 22 hours out of every 24 so to put boots on for that one hour or so is not going to weaken legs.

Protection whilst riding an unbalanced youngster is very important.
 
JFTD said:
I'm unconvinced that any boot offers any "true" support, and therefore there is no biomechanical rational for booting preventing leg strengthening. I would be more concerned by the heating effects of boots on the tendons, and as such I don't routinely boot up for normal work.
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Agreed. I only boot if I think there is a chance of the horse knocking itself. That pretty much means the first couple of times I lunge and then after that they're on their own apart from XC schooling! I wouldn't get on something I thought was going to be so unbalanced by me it would start bashing its legs instantly so don't bother.

I don't think lightweight air cooled boots do any harm though so if it makes people feel better that's up to them :)
 
My newly backed ( like 2 days :) ) youngster
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The only boots I put on will be brushing boot/knee boot combo for hacking and possibly boots behind when hacking until she figures out where her legs and feet are
 
Mine wears overreach boots for all ridden work, she also wears westropp knee brushing boots for hacking. I think that is a case of better to be safe than sorry, she is easily distracted and can occasionally get her legs a bit muddled and I want to avoid injury wherever possible.

She wears brushing boots sometimes for schooling too but I tend to decide on a day to day basis depending what we are doing, how she is going, weather etc.

I prefer to boot up and avoid an injury.
 
I would, for schooling if young and unbalanced horse I think it is important to prevent cuts and strikes.

I would use vented or freeflow boots though to ensure dont get too hot in the leg/tendon area
 
I boot up for fast work, but nothing else - including XC. I figured that if I'm going to hunt (and jump) with no protection then why boot for XC
 
My mare was re-backed a few weeks ago and for her hacks she wears front brushing and over reach boots.

I used to put knee boots on her, but I found that they slipped, so gave up on them.
 
Mine even had light weight brushing boots on in the field! He isnt out long mind. My last horse got a nasty kick, the day I decide an hour without boots wont hurt (typical) and he got a nasty kick which broke his splint bone and left a nasty cut :( He did heal, but it was a lesson learned many £££s later! I know things like this happen, but when you compete I would rather avoid it! Not saying boots would have prevented the break, but they would have lessened the wound which caused most of the issues!
 
I suppose my concern is mainly that we will be schooling once a week and the sand is 'boggy' for want of a better word, I dont want him to strain himself, as he is only just working and he is 3 so still growing, for general hacking he is a good boy and he is only doing 15-20 min sessions, but once a week we do a bit longer, I worry a bit that at his age, he could do with a bit of support for a 35 min hack. The odd occasion that he spooks, he kind of spooks to the side, this is a bit of a concern that in such an instance he may get his legs in a fluff and ding himself. I suppose, I would just rather be over cautious with him than under cautious but not to the point where it could potentially harm him. As time goes on and he becomes fitter, I will use them less and less, probably only for schooling and jumping.
 
JFTD said:
I'm unconvinced that any boot offers any "true" support, and therefore there is no biomechanical rational for booting preventing leg strengthening. I would be more concerned by the heating effects of boots on the tendons, and as such I don't routinely boot up for normal work.
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I completely agree.
I don't boot my pony for anything other than XC, think that in the long run booting up on a day to day basis will create more problems in the long run. And I personally think a horse is just as likely (if not more so) to knock itself bucking and playing in the field as it is being worked. So I would rather have the horses having tougher tendons as they are exposed to work un-booted to give them a bit more of a chance should an incident happen in the field.
 
Yeah I agree re the field, my youngster plays a lot in the field and does far more possibly dangerous manoeuvres than he will with me on (hopefully anyway lol)

I will however put knee boots on for hacking
 
I only boot mine up for hunting, xc and showjumping (only tendon boots for sj). I would rather not boot him for hunting but he is a pansie about knocking his legs so for jumping anything solid, he has to have boots on for his confidence.

He is hacked out for all length hacks without boots and goes cubbing without them aswell :)
 
Same I have never booted any of my horses, other than for jumping and have yet *touch wood* never had a horse strike itself. I believe that they pretty much know where their legs go by that age, and if they do strike themselves a lot then they have a dodgy action!
 
See I do boot Buds. He does having slightly dodgy action, close in front and behind, causing him to brush. He wears brushing boots on all 4, overreach boots when jumping and xc boots for xc, hunting. He lives out 24/7 so doesn't wear them in the feild, does get the odd brushing injury but quite chilled in the feild.
Some of the boots you get now days seem insane, these sports wrap boots which incase everything :confused: We don't really do work that entails them lol.
My old horse was grabbed by a dog out hacking, it ripped straight through his brushing boot, frightens me to think if it had grabbed his leg as with the boots protection he was unscathed. Little instances like this make me think I may as well boot him!
 
Have booted for XC, bandaged for polo and did for a while use a sausage boot on one hind for M due to a dodgy right hind which has now 'settled' and doesn't cause a major problem anymore.

Other than that - no. I don't use boots for youngsters, mids or oldies. Like others have said, horses generally do far more daft things pratting around in their fields than when ridden - even hunting.
 
Have you ever watched insides natures giants were they put a dissected horses leg into full flex (as it would be when galloping or jumping) and they apply pressure from behind the same as a strike would give. Have you seen the results? We did the same at uni, it reminded me why I boot up
 
badgermyers said:
Have you ever watched insides natures giants were they put a dissected horses leg into full flex (as it would be when galloping or jumping) and they apply pressure from behind the same as a strike would give. Have you seen the results? We did the same at uni, it reminded me why I boot up
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What were the results? Do you have a link?
 
i booted up.my 3 yearold during the backing process, his legs used to go everywhere. hes 5 now and when he starts hacking and jumping he'll get lightweight boots on but any other time i tend to leave him
 
Queenbee said:
If there is a link Id be interested to see it. :D

Just seen you put it up! thank you :D
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I posted one above, here it is again http://www.putlocker.com/file/C2706D059E917880#

after doing this very same thing at uni I now make sure I have boots on for work. You only have to apply minimal pressure to achieve the result. There is no doubt a strike at this degree of flexion would cause this damage
 
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