Boots out hunting?

[kdoug]

I'm looking to have a go at Autumn Hunting, but am slightly stuck about booting my horse. My horse is renound for knocks and nicks on his legs if he's not booted. (Usually wears x4 eventing boots and x4 over reach when cross country'ing.) However, I understand a days hunting is much longer than an event, and he is also very sensitive and prone to rubbing, has to have sheepskin/ soft everything, so being booted for that long could maybe cause an issue?! Any opinions on whether to boot (if so, what kind of boots) or leave his legs bare would be fantastic, thank you very much!

 

[Kat]

My mare came back badly rubbed the only time I used over reach boots hunting.

We are in stone wall country so knee boots are essential, I use the westropp combined knee and brushing boots as they don't slip down like knee boots and offer protection to the lower leg too. They have never rubbed. My friend uses brushing boots and over reach boots hunting and has never had rubs but has lost some boots, her horse is less sensitive than mine though.

 

[spacefaer]

If you can, I'd leave boots off.

Sheepskin will get wet and gritty, which will rub. The heat obviously isn't great and I've had horrible boot rubs in the past which have laid the horse up for some time.

While it's dry, you'll be fine with boots, but once it's muddy, I'd avoid them!

 

[kdoug]

Thank you! Luckily we're not in stone wall area so I can get away with no knee boots. Maybe I'll try taking him out for a few canters without boots and see how well he fares, unfortunately definitely has to have over reach boots regardless! I'll just start searching for some neoprene ones that don't rub opposed to my sheepskin ones! Thanks!

 

[MileAMinute]

I wouldn't use boots. As others have said, you can get all sorts of rubbish stuck underneath them and you can be out for hours at a time with hot, sweaty legs.

Good luck!

 

[CrazyMare]

If you use over reach boots, ensure they have Velcro as a breaking point. I've seen an awful accident where a horse stood on pull on boots.

 

[Bernster]

Have been thinking about this myself, especially whether I could use over reach boots. I have some of the more sturdy Kevlar/neoprene ones but they do have quite firm Velcro so not sure they are ideal. I was planning on using the basic shires plastic Velcro type, although they are a bit flimsy in terms of strike protection!