Boots rubbed, feel awful :(

[Lowen Ki]

My poor pony. I always turn out with bare legs, apart from when he meets new field mates etc when I turn out in brushing boots on the first day - so long as the ground isn't boggy and it isn't wet.

This week we did a big field move around so I turned out in brushers for the first day and he's come back in with patches of hair missing under his boots!

The weather was dry and the ground was dry, and it wasn't warm. They aren't new boots, he's worn them for this length of time without mishap before. They are clean and dry and didn't have any 'trapped' dirt in the neoprene... I can't understand why this has happened.

I feel awful, he must have been so unhappy

Luckily there are no wounds anywhere and he isn't sore on the bald bits, there's just random patches of bare flesh on display! Vet says the hair will grow back... but will it grow back white in the damaged areas? He has no white markings at all so he'd look awful and patchy!

Has anybody else experienced this?

I'm feeling really embarrased that I've let this happen. Poor poor pony

 

[Brandy]

It may be because it is winter and he is hairier than usual?

 

[Lowen Ki]

Possibly Brandy, maybe that's it? We did a sponsored ride before Christmas and have been doing winter pub rides taking about the same amount of time and he's been wearing the same boots. Feel terrible

 

[tonitot]

Odd, Ethel wears brushing and overreach boots everyday in the field. She has a habit of charging round, turning too quick and either falls over or whacks her legs when it's slippery. Plus she keeps annoying her field mates so theyre there for protection if one of them kicks her. Ive never had a problem with hair being rubbed off, her legs get brushed before and after wearing them and they've never rubbed.