Do you put boots on your horse when hunting?

[blackhorse09]

When I hunt there is always a fairly equal contingent who 'boot-up' their horses and those that don't. I was wondering how many people would put boots on their horses and their reasons for using/ not using boots.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[ester]

I said no cos if he wears boots for too long at a time his legs sweat and then get scabby.

but forgot he does wear over reach!

 

[blackhorse09]

Oops, I forgot to include over reach boots! [I see a lot with just over reach boots on and they're the only boots I've ever used out hunting].
If anyone does use boots please say which =]

 

[millitiger]

yes, boots all round and overreach boots as well.
i boot because i do for all fast work/ solid fences.

 

[R2R]

I would only use boots out hunting if my horse needed them...

 

[posie_honey]

[ QUOTE ]
yes, boots all round and overreach boots as well.
i boot because i do for all fast work/ solid fences.

[/ QUOTE ]

ditto

 

[Molineux]

100% YES!
I would always have boots on my horse when hunting to protect the legs with solid fences and fast work.
You would not really go XC with no boots so why would you not go hunting with no boots?

 

[Starbucks]

No but I would consider using them on a novice.

I don’t because I have seen some fairly serious accidents from booting (wire etc.) and my horse is fairly robust and careful so I think the cons outweigh the pros. He doesn’t wear boots for XC either. Horses still manage to injure themselves when they are booted up to the eyeballs so they can’t protect that much!

I don’t really understand why people put on a set of crappy brushing boots – if I were going to put boots on you might as well put something decent on.

 

[ester]

[ QUOTE ]
100% YES!
I would always have boots on my horse when hunting to protect the legs with solid fences and fast work.
You would not really go XC with no boots so why would you not go hunting with no boots?

[/ QUOTE ]

because they are going to be wearing them all day rather than for 30 mins. so they are more likely to rub/slip/get caught etc etc.

 

[Amy_08]

Totally agree. I used to boot my horse for hunting, but having boots on for hours at a time, would cause all sorts of grit, mud to get inside them. This would 99% of the time lead to small nicks and then infection. I have tried various different types of boots, but have now decided to hunt with no boots on.

 

[ester]

also no studs to do extra damage.

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

the mare i have taken hunting her owner put tendon boots on her. But she wears these for schooling, hacking, everything.
If she didnt have them clean though she would have brushing boots on.
But doesn't put overreach on...... which I would have thought would be a good idea too.......

but only been hunting once so I was just doing what I was told and saying thank you very much!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

I use boots on all 4 legs for my youngster - he moves quite closely in front and behind so am using them as a preventative.

I also use them because he is young and not very experienced jumping all sorts of different fences yet - just in case he bashes his legs etc.

 

[simplyhunting]

Dont use any brushing type things but i use over-reach ones on the tb and the pony otherwise i would come back with a crippled horse with no foot at all :/ the rest hunt with nothing.

 

[Boxers]

I said no - but we do put over-reach boots on him because he over-reached badly in September at a cross-country event.

 

[KatB]

Yes, I use closed front tendon boots on my horses in front. This is because I dont want them tripping and hitting themselves, and I want to protect their legs from cuts/scrapes. Depends on the horse re. back boots. I did for Goddy horse, but probably wont for Lucky as when they get muddy she will kick at them.

I use prolites, and have ripped the strap off one of them before out hunting, where my horse tripped before a fence and hit it quite hard. If he hadn't of had them on, he would have ripped his leg open. He had white legs, and his legs were always still clean and white under his boots, and he never had boot rub etc. I wont use tape on them though as it wont rip if it catchs on something and as a result can bring a horse down.

 

[JoBo]

No I don’t. Bodey is a cob, has decent, hardy legs and plus I have never found any that really fit him well and don’t slip.

 

[Molineux]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
100% YES!
I would always have boots on my horse when hunting to protect the legs with solid fences and fast work.
You would not really go XC with no boots so why would you not go hunting with no boots?

[/ QUOTE ]

because they are going to be wearing them all day rather than for 30 mins. so they are more likely to rub/slip/get caught etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are wearing good boots they will not rub/slip.. I would rather get by horses boot caught than his leg and rip the skin open.

 

[skewby]

I stopped putting them on him after having to get off to sort one out. He was never booted, then I started putting on sports medicine boots after he did his suspensory and was back in work. Since that day out hunting I have not put them on at all - I was already dubious about them as had a fall XC after fluffing one fence and a boot getting moved/unfixed, then doing another without realising

I just get scared they'll get caught on something!

 

[hannahkirkhill]

Prolite boots all round and over reach boots on all horses I hunt - bar Cib as back boots make her throw her bum up ever more when jumping so think I would just get catapulted off

.
I have always booted like this and have never had a rub from them.

 

[ester]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
100% YES!
I would always have boots on my horse when hunting to protect the legs with solid fences and fast work.
You would not really go XC with no boots so why would you not go hunting with no boots?

[/ QUOTE ]

because they are going to be wearing them all day rather than for 30 mins. so they are more likely to rub/slip/get caught etc etc.

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are wearing good boots they will not rub/slip.. I would rather get by horses boot caught than his leg and rip the skin open.

[/ QUOTE ]

that depends if you have a chestnut sensitive beast

oh no sorry hardy cob

If he was finer I might worry but he isnt and he doesnt brush so is low risk. His NEW boots with the foam in are the best on him as they dont hold the moisture and dont trap dirt however it is just the fact of having them on so long with hairy sweaty legs that causes is trouble.

I'd boot the mare if we ever took her, she seems to forget where her feet are sometimes

 

[Katie__Connie]

I don't for hunting but I do for XC... don't know why actually

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

good well fitting front boots and neoprene over reach! front boots are sheepskin lined, legs clean when taken off! over reaches sometimes come back but do lose the odd one!!!

 

[cptrayes]

I boot all round on any horse who does not rub. It has saved my horse from wire cuts, hedge thorns and once probably saved a star fracture (if not worse) to the cannon bone from a kick from another horse. He was lame for five days in spite of the boot.

I use single velcro Woof boots, which pull apart if under too great a strain, so they would not bring the horse down if they get caught in anything, they just split (often!). I think the idea that boots out hunting are dangerous is probably a hangover from when brushign boots were leather with buckled straps. I certainly wouldn't use a boot that strong.

If the horse does not rub, I can't see anything but a benefit to using brushing boots. I wouldn't use overreach boots for fear of them being trodden on at a jump take-off.

 

[monkeybum13]

I remember watching a video on horsehero where an eventer (can't remember who) said they didn't use boots as they cause more damage, however I can see both sides - it makes no sense why you would boot up for xc but not hunting.