Cross country and jumping without boots

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Hi

My horse hates wearing any kind of boot.

I have tried different types of brushing boot and he just hates them all.

It's worse if we go through water or something xc with them on. He just hates the feeling of the wet boots I think.

So i think he has to go with only over reach boots on but I am worried about this. We only jump 2ft3.

Does anyone here go bootless?
 
Well I think that depends. I would never take my TB xc without. I do the odd bout of sj (at home) without, just to make them remember to be careful cos it hurts a bit!

But if you have a horse with more bone, or a cob etc, something with a bit more substance then personally I think its fine
 
With our old Welsh we regularly used to compete him to 3'XC and 3'6 SJ without boots, he was very careful, I've never known him overreach and he just wasn't as happy wearing boots. Mind you he did only wear front shoes.
 
My arab will only wear boots in front to jump, he can't wear them behind, as if he sweats in them, or they get wet his legs get scabby and he gets on fine, he jumps up to 3'3''
 
I've used boots all my life and never known them affect a horse at all, so can only think your boots are moving

I would use a good tendon boot on the front for all jumping

If you watch the C4 program you'll know why, a strike when a tendon is under load on landing will be curtains!
 
Jen_Cots said:
I've used boots all my life and never known them affect a horse at all, so can only think your boots are moving

I would use a good tendon boot on the front for all jumping

If you watch the C4 program you'll know why, a strike when a tendon is under load on landing will be curtains!
Click to expand...
c but had they hit the

Remember that on the C4 program they did say they were using a sharp knife! Yes the effect was dramatic but had they hit the tendon with a hammer that would not have happened, however that wouldn't have made such memorable viewing.
 
When you say your horse hates wearing boots, purely out of interest what is he doing to suggest this?

I suppose you just have to weigh up what is safer, if your cob is not is not moving and jumping as well as he should be because of the boots on his legs then you are more likely to have a miss hap so go without at 2’3 there on the small side so providing he’s a straight forward jumper and not a youngster learning then he’s less likely to pick up some injuries that you would if you were jumping bigger fences.

Does your cob have feathery legs? could it be that there is something under all that hair that causes a boot to itch or rub perhaps some sensitive skin? are the boots definitely fitting correctly?
 
Hi

Kenzo in answer to your queries:
He is a hairy cob clipped out, so I'm wondering if that makes it feel uncomfortable, especially when they are wet.


Back boots were a total disaster. He couldn't stand still and kept stamping.

With the front boots he's fine till they get wet and then he's all over the place.

They don't slip at all.

He is a youngster just learning I'm afraid. Hence why I am worried!

He tends to destroy brushing boots quite often! He seems to somehow rip off the straps while we are jumping.
 
[deleted user] said:
Hi

Kenzo in answer to your queries:
He is a hairy cob clipped out, so I'm wondering if that makes it feel uncomfortable, especially when they are wet.


Back boots were a total disaster. He couldn't stand still and kept stamping.

With the front boots he's fine till they get wet and then he's all over the place.

They don't slip at all.

He is a youngster just learning I'm afraid. Hence why I am worried!

He tends to destroy brushing boots quite often! He seems to somehow rip off the straps while we are jumping.
Click to expand...

How often have you tried putting boots on him, could just be because he’s young that’s he just simply not used to them hence having a stamp about, have you tried just leaving them on and riding him out in them on a regular basis to get him used to the feel of having them on his legs? (sorry seems a daft question but had to ask)

Has he got overgrown ergots that perhaps the boots are tickling/niggling when they fit around the back of his fetlocks?
 
We never use boots on any of our lot. They are all tough native types. I did query this with the pony club instructor who trains the showjumping team, she said that she doesnt put boots on anythings wether out hunting XC or showjumping . She has competed at a very high level over the years so we didnt try and get the youngster used to them and so far so good. Mine dont have shoes on either so the risk of them doing damage to themselves is less.
 
Kenzo you're a genius! Overgrown ergots could actually be it! Cos he is supposed to have feather he has ridiculous Neanderthal ergots! I will trim them back and try again at xc in a few weeks time!
 
Jen_Cots said:
I've used boots all my life and never known them affect a horse at all, so can only think your boots are moving

I would use a good tendon boot on the front for all jumping

If you watch the C4 program you'll know why, a strike when a tendon is under load on landing will be curtains!
Click to expand...

Ditto this!!

After watching this last night it made me think about how delicate a horses tendon can be if struck from behind. I always put boots on my horse anyway, but never realised quite how thin & exposed they are.

Really interesting programme BTW if you didn't see it, worth watching on 4OD
 
I've never used boots on mine for hunting etc and a lot of hunters don't.

My mare doesn't have back shoes on though so the strike wouldn't have the same impact on tendons etc

What are your reasons for wanting to wear back boots ?? does he brush are you wearing studs ??
 
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