Horse boots - what to wear for endurance...

[Gingernags]

From my reading up on Endurance before I have another go at some training rides in Spring, I need to decide what to do about boots...

Most serious endurance people don't use any boots on their horses as you can have it picked up in vet checks if they rub in any way, plus of course you don't want your horse to get sores from a welfare point of view anyway.

However, I don't like riding the ginger one without boots. I know Patches has a similar issue but maybe moreso than Asti - in that they trip quite a bit. Now there is no soundness issue behind this, and she's not lazy, its just one of her quirks that sometimes she'll trip on nothing much and her front end vanishes. She's never actually gone onto her knees though its been pretty close a few times! And rolling her toes doesn't make much of a difference.

Also she can be a bit clumsy in general and nick herself pretty easily, and the few times I've ever gone witout boots she's managed to do a bit of damage, once or twice fairly major damage.

So.... Do I boot her or not? And if I do - what boots would be best for protection but flexible or soft enough not to rub?

Usually she just has woof club boots on all four legs and I've never known them rub out hacking, but 30+ km and lots of sweat may be a different story. I was also considering the Legacy brushing boots as they are also hi-viz reflective which would be another plus point as there is always road work involved.

Or would something more fitted and soft and flexible like the stretch and flex boots be better? If anyone has them - do they rub at all? Would they be rugged enough for water and rough terrain?

Or does anyone have any recommendations that they think would be good for these circumstances?

Or last option - do I bite the bullet and go without (and worry about cuts if they happen).

Need help!!!

 

[k9h]

Tough desision. I wouldnt like to honestly say. Sorry not much help! Was think whilst I read our post either the air cooled boots say Damiar (spl) or the sarotage bandage as it is highly flexible & doesnt take in any water???
Also wont you be training up towards these distances before you actually take part so could see how you get on with your own boots at first & then take it from there??
Sorry not been much help at all!

 

[Sarah_Jane]

If your woof boots don't ub how about upgrading them to the double lock breathable boots. I have used these all day hunting and found them not to slip or rub and being breathable your horses legs won't get as hot.

 

[Gingernags]

*wanders off to look for double lock woofs*

Thankies!

 

[Chex]

I used woof boots for a pleasure ride, but had to take them off half way round. The mud and stones (tiny) underneath them was just unreal! It wasn't even a muddy route. I much prefer to use some sort of boots too, but I'm just not sure now!

 

[pottamus]

Like you say...you don't tend to see Endurance riders using boots...it is so easy for something to get inside and cause serious damage before you even know about it. Hunting is slightyl different as it is more accross country although all the hunters round here say not to wear them either.
I started endurance last year and will be doing some competitive 32km this season...I don't put boots on my horse. When I first started doing the rides he would trip and stumble over the varying ground conditions and he went down on his knees a couple of times because he was not paying attention...no harm done but he soon learn't to pick his feet up! Harsh yes, but it is the best way for them to learn.
I have to say though that even if a horse does trip and stumble they are more likely to damage a knee than further down the leg...just a thought!

 

[jellybaby]

Agree with Sarah Jane, I use Woof double closure boots for hunting and they are good. We also used to sue the pro pad ones by Woof but I think they have stopped making those. Even hunting through boggy ground they stay on and don't hold too much water!

JB xx

 

[alsxx]

I used to have a friend who did endurance and I would ride some of the horses for her/crew sometimes. They used boots on some horses (either brushing boots - fronts, or fetlock boots - on all four legs!) and they would get changed at every vet stop (i think it was every 20 miles - was about 4/5 years ago now...) on a ride, as did all numnahs, girths etc to prevent rubbing - it seemed to work and I cant remember any time there was an injury from rubbing etc. I think they used woof boots...

but as you say for tripping i would be more inclined to use knee boots...

 

[hussar]

I've been doing endurance for 10 years and have never used boots and have never had an injury that would have been avoided by using boots. Only a handful of people up here use them for longer rides; you do see them more often on horses doing pleasure rides, usually with youngsters or not yet fit horses where knocking or brushing is more likely.

 

[Gingernags]

She's just a very wierd horse in that if I went on a ride with no boots, and rode through a wood, branches would bite her - and I am not kidding!

She seems to be magnet for cuts and scrapes from bizarre things if I don't use them! They have also saved her from damage when an alsation attacked her so I'm a tad paranoid!

I think I'll stick to the woofs TBH, I'm going to do some 32k pleasure rides and nothing seems to rub on this distance so she should be OK. May have a rethink if I decide to join and do the full competitive endurances in 2008.

 

[Patches]

Funnily enough GM, I can't remember the last time that Patches tripped! Don't tempt fate!

The x-rays and then new farriery as a result have reaped HUGE rewards. My knee boots are a security blanket, metaphorically speaking, these days.

As you know, I want to do more pleasure rides this year, through Sport Endurance, with Patches and knee boots are a big issue with me.

Currently, most of our hacking is on the roads. To that end, I will not ride out without my knee boots at all. If I was off road (like when I've taken her around Somerford Park) I wouldn't dream of putting the knee boots on her. I have this issue where I can't seem to mix knee boots and cantering in my mind. Doesn't seem right somehow. I didn't put brushing boots on her either as I knew there was a stream to walk through (up to the saddle flaps....little stream my bottom!) and I was wary of them getting wet and then sand from their all weather tracks getting inside and rubbing.

It's hard to decide isn't it?

Westropp do a Dynamic knee boot which is hinged and says it's suitable for jumping. I assume that means it's aimed towards hunters.

They also do a dynamic knee/brushing boot which seems to fit more snuggly than the normal, bog standard version.

Patches usual knee boots (cheapo Westropp ones, had them years) don't rub her on 3 hour + hacks with quite an amount of trotting.