Hacking with tendon boots on?

Micky

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Does anyone wear boots, tendon or otherwise when hacking to help strengthen the tendons? (Walk mainly, trotting up hill, Tarmac roads, gravel roads?)
 

LeannePip

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As Charlie says, they will do nothing to help strengthen the tendons, Your best bet would be to build up road/ hill work gradually without boots to save over heating the legs

Tendon boots really only avoid damage caused by the other legs either brushing or a strike from behind
 

AShetlandBitMeOnce

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Mine always wears tendon boots, no matter what we are doing. Accidents happen and there's no detriment to wearing them (mine are vented) so why not. I also plan to get some knee boots for him to wear.
 

pansymouse

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My understand was they actually weaken tendons because the horse relies on them rather than building the underlying tendon strength. I'm sure someone, possibly a vet told me years ago. I think a good steady exercise programme is a better bet.
 

smja

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No boots, of any variety, can actually help to strengthen the leg.

Only steady, incrementally increasing work can achieve that.
 

Micky

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That's what I thought!! I've never worn boots (bar brushing on xc,) but haven't hacked on hard ground for over a year so was just wondering as some peeps have said to wear them! Knee boots I can understand and know several people who use them.. Thanks people! ��
 

pansymouse

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I use knee boots - over 20 years ago I had one trip on the road, skid on his knees and come up with the bones exposed. It took 6 months with him in 24/7 to get to heal them. I've never ridden on a hard surface without knee boots since.
 

rara007

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No boots will help strengthen but I do use over reach boots and occasionally Hi-Viz brushing boots, as protection/hi viz
 

fredders

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When my horse Injured his tendons the vet told me when I bought him back into work not to use boots on him because not relying on boots would get his leg as strong as possible. That was over 2 years ago and he still very rarely wears boots and has not had any problems.
 
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