Exercise boots/bandages...any recommendations? Tad confused!

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fine_and_dandy

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I've started looking into exercise boots or bandages in preparation for when Bailey begins his ridden work and I am a little overwhelmed by the choice!

Anyone got any they recommend? I have had a look at the Premier Equine ones which appear to have a velcro strap which comes round the bottom of the fetlock which seems to be a good idea and am thinking of teaming with over reach boots on his fronts as he does have a tendency to do that from time to time.

Any help appreciated :) Oh and thoughts on knee boots? Don't want to be wrapping him in cotton wool but he is accident prone and having read a few posts on here about nasty accidents and knees, I am wondering whether it is worth investing in a pair?

Ta :D
 
If he over reaches then overeach boots could be useful. Does Bailey actually overreach or is he forging?

You could use knee boots when you hack out but make sure they are fitted correctly. Unless he has a habit of falling to his knees I personally wouldn't bother with them (years ago when the roads were very slippery where I liveried my horse I always hacked out in knee boots).

Unless you are good at bandaging I would recommend boots rather than bandages. I prefer not to use boots on my dressage horse as I can't compete him in them and do think he has to know where his feet are! I use Woof brushing boots for any horse that brushes and Eskadron x-country boots for x-c.
 
eggs said:
If he over reaches then overeach boots could be useful. Does Bailey actually overreach or is he forging?

You could use knee boots when you hack out but make sure they are fitted correctly. Unless he has a habit of falling to his knees I personally wouldn't bother with them (years ago when the roads were very slippery where I liveried my horse I always hacked out in knee boots).

Unless you are good at bandaging I would recommend boots rather than bandages. I prefer not to use boots on my dressage horse as I can't compete him in them and do think he has to know where his feet are! I use Woof brushing boots for any horse that brushes and Eskadron x-country boots for x-c.
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He does overreach from time to time - he can be a little clumsy and step on his own legs at times and cut them to b*ggery. I am ok at bandaging - would probably prefer boots for the ease of them.
 
i have the premier equine wraps and they are ace! best wraps i have come across! really light, breathable and actually stay done up when riding. good price too.
I always ride in wraps or bandages just so they offer more support to fetlock joint. with the premier equine wraps you cant fit over reach boots on with them though.
 
Boots and bandages offer no support, so I would save your money.

The best they offer is protection from knocks.

I use brushing boots and overreach boots as the mare is a clumsy oaf!
 
Persephone said:
Boots and bandages offer no support, so I would save your money.

The best they offer is protection from knocks.

I use brushing boots and overreach boots as the mare is a clumsy oaf!
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This is more what I want them for! He has a habit of knocking himself from time to time so just want to protect his legs, especially when he starts being ridden. He is clumsy as isn't always aware of where he puts his feet - bit special but there we are!
 
fine_and_dandy said:
This is more what I want them for! He has a habit of knocking himself from time to time so just want to protect his legs, especially when he starts being ridden. He is clumsy as isn't always aware of where he puts his feet - bit special but there we are!
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I just use the woof wear lightweight ones. The wrap around total neoprene jobbies cause too much heat IMO.

The SMB's actually advise to use for no more than two hours at a time, I have seen some taken off after an hour and the legs were dripping with sweat :(
 
rowy said:
I always ride in wraps or bandages just so they offer more support to fetlock joint. with the premier equine wraps you cant fit over reach boots on with them though.
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um... I do!!! mine fit on both my TB x mare and my heavier boned ISH. I have the sportswraps for hacking out when the going is sticky and schooling. Both mine brush from time to time so I find the wraps will give good protection. If your horse is quite light bone wise then you might have a problem - friend of mine gave up with hers as they wouldn't stay up! there is also a PE boot which is a wrap and over reach combined into one boot.

In terms of brushing boots generally though, there is such a huge variety. For horses that brush lightly I am lazy and like the Woof club boots - quick to put on and off. Do not bother with the (extremely expensive) flex wraps. They are supposed to be used on big moving horses but offer no protection for bumps!

As for knee boots, I don't use them very often any more as have hardly any road work (heaven after years of it!), but if it is very slippery will occasionally stick them back on. Need to put the top strap on quite tightly though!
 
i have the over reach boots off robinsons, think they are around £5 and they seem to have lasted forever, and brushing boots ive got legacy ones, and they are really good, got 2 full sets of them and a full set off woof wear ones, but much prefer the legacy ones.
 
Use boots, they are designed to fit the shape of the leg (fore or hind) without being too tight and offer protection, basically everything a bandage doesn't do, along with some bell boots.
Main thing however is to work on slowing a youngsters paces down during ridden/lunge work to prevent them doing it the first place, easier said than done though.
 
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