Boots for jumping - advice needed.

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IsabelleJ

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At present, Sidney has some Woofwear brushing boots that he wears to jump in. They're looking a bit battered, and as we are planning to start going out showjumping in May, I thought that I might buy him some new ones. What would everyone recommend? Just for some unaffiliated SJ, really.

Also, I will be doing a small Hunter Trial this month. Would I be able to use normal boots for this, or will I be better off bandaging him for it? I'm not really up to speed on boots, and there seem to be so many kinds that I figured I should ask for some advice before I confuse myself to death!
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Isabelle
 
For jumping you would normally use tendon boots on the front & fetlock boots on the back. They, like many pieces of tack, can be expensive. For the level of jumping you will be doing have a look at the below link to some Masta boots. They are is a variety of colours, reasonably priced & will definately do the job....Good Luck with your jumping
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http://www.equestrianclearance.com/matchmakers/masta_open_tendon_fetlock_boots/index.html
 
For showjumping I'd buy some fetlock and tenddon boots, theres some nice ones out there... But for the huntertrial I'd just use the woof wear boots and buy some bandage tape to secure them with... so you don't lose them half way round. Over a showjump a tendon boot will let them feel the fence if they knock it, where as with cross country if they touch a fence it won't give so you want as much protection as possible.

Don't think I described it that well... sorry...
EC
 
I like the look of those purple Masta ones!

So why do we use fetlock boots for the hinds? Is it that the full length tendon boots would interfere with the legs when they tuck them up for jumping? So would I be better off wearing brushing boots in front and fetlock boots behind for cross country, or full brushing boots all round? (Those, I assume, don't interfere as much as they are softer than tendon boots.)

I'm such a noob! Thanks for the help.

Isabelle
 
The thought for SJing seems to be "less is more" - so the horse can feel when he hits a jump. Because a lot of horses hit fences with their hind legs, and obviously hind legs aren't really at risk of the tendons being hit with toes as the front limbs are (this is what tendon boots are designed for, to protect the tendons from the hind toes and not for support), all you really need behind are boots that protect the fetlock from being brushed.
The current school of thought (aka fashion) for SJing is tendon boots in front, fetlock boots behind. Fetlock boots for the reason described above, tendon boots are used because not only do they protect against brushing (depending on the strength of the boots though really, though most tendon boots are strong enough anyway) but they also, if they have a strong tendon guard, protect against the increased risk when jumping of the horse's hind toes damaging the tendons at the back of the horse's forelegs.
Although most people use bog-standard brushing boots for XC (as the protect more of the leg than open-fronted tendon boots and fetlock boots do), if you followed in the same vein as the thought behind SJ boots then you should logically arrive at the conclusion that for XC you need a cross between a tendon boot and a brushing boot. This is where the likes of the Prolite and Dalmar boots come in - a strong tendon guard in front boots, strong cannon guard in hind boots (in case the horse hits a solid XC fence with its cannons), and all-round protection from brushing and knocks. Prolites are generally considered to be almost the "gold standard" of XC boots, but this comes at a price many are not willing to pay for their pleasure horses. Fair enough really! Then it becomes a compromise between the all-round protection of a brushing boot, and the extra protection of a tendon boot. For 99% of people, brushing boots for XC win hands-down every time.
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Gosh, thank you so much for that, Silmarillion. I am rather less confused now
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So it looks like I shall be getting myself some nice tendon/fetlock boots for SJing, and use my existing brushing boots, all taped up, for XC. You have all been very helpful, thank you!

Isabelle
 
open tendon boots and fetlock boots only every use Eskadron a bit £££ but last ages jacks had his for 3 years !! but he goes get a pair of fetlock boots every year as hes close behind. (sheepskin ones are soo nice)
 
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