timefort
Well-Known Member
Do you turn out with boots - and if so, what type?
I have always been of the opinion that horses are better off turned out without boots as the benefits to booting are outweighed by boots rubbing, slipping, mud getting trapped underneath, legs getting too hot etc etc. But, J has been off games for the last 6 months due to a kick resulting in a broken splint bone. Feeling guilty (I am just about the only person at the yard who turns out unbooted) I asked the vet if booting would have prevented the injury and she suggested it may have done in that instance but obviously it would depend on where the offending horse aimed its kick.
Since apparently J has vetoed being wrapped in bubble wrap, I'm now considering turning out in boots, but what type? I'm of the age when boots were either "brushing", "over-reach" or "too expensive to contemplate and only for flash horses". Do I stick with bog-standard brushing boots, or would something like cross-country boots be more resilient and more likely to allow air flow? What are sports-boots? or exercise-boots?
Can anyone shed any light for me?
I have always been of the opinion that horses are better off turned out without boots as the benefits to booting are outweighed by boots rubbing, slipping, mud getting trapped underneath, legs getting too hot etc etc. But, J has been off games for the last 6 months due to a kick resulting in a broken splint bone. Feeling guilty (I am just about the only person at the yard who turns out unbooted) I asked the vet if booting would have prevented the injury and she suggested it may have done in that instance but obviously it would depend on where the offending horse aimed its kick.
Since apparently J has vetoed being wrapped in bubble wrap, I'm now considering turning out in boots, but what type? I'm of the age when boots were either "brushing", "over-reach" or "too expensive to contemplate and only for flash horses". Do I stick with bog-standard brushing boots, or would something like cross-country boots be more resilient and more likely to allow air flow? What are sports-boots? or exercise-boots?
Can anyone shed any light for me?