Is horse out too long for turnout , field or brushing boots

[Spangles]

From what I have read, turnout, field or brishing boots should not be left on for longer than 12hrs. Our mare is out from about 3.30pm-7.30am so I am very worried about tendons heating up etc. especially in the warm summer months. She wears over reaches on her front feet.

She has been coming in with various cuts and scrapes, nothing major (thankfully) but want to keep it that way. Theu vary in location from fetlock to higher up on the inside of her thigh. She's out with one other mare at the moment so not sure if these little cuts are caused by high jimks, rummaging in hedgerows or self inflicted.

So, my question is, what are the other options, if any ?

 

[Shay]

I would not turn out of any length of time in boots. You need to figure out what it is she is doing and deal with the cause. You also need to use boots for the purpose they were intended for - very little of which was protection from field injury. Turnout boots protect from mud - or at least that is what they were designed for. There is something of an argument about whether or not they work. But they do not protect from field injuries. There is no such thing as a field boot for horses... and brushing boots are intended to stop them from knocking the opposing leg whilst being exercised. None are designed to be left on for hours.

Over reach boots are possibly the exception as the coverage on the limb is quite small and does not extend around a tendon. I would still not be terribly keen in leaving them in over reach boots for hours simply because embedded mud can rub. But if you are careful with clean legs, clean boots etc that is going to be OK. But - does she in fact over reach or pull her shoes? It sounds like the type of injury you are trying to protect from isn't something you can boot for.

 

[Auslander]

You could try fly boots - they don't offer a lot of protection, but if she's only getting little scrapes, they may deflect some of them! They are lightweight and breathable, so won't heat the legs. I use them when the flies are bad, as I don't want Alf stamping and doing more damage to his dodgy legs

 

[Louby]

No help Im afraid but having the same issues too. I did turn out either day or night with brushing boots on but knew I shouldnt be so I have bit the bullet and dont use them for turnout anymore. She does have overreach boots on 24/7 as she is very short couped and overreaches or pulls shoes but low behold she had an overreach injury a couple of days on despite wearing the boots, so tbh Im not sure they actually do much.
I bought some breathable brushing boots recently but sent them back as they were stiff and I was sure they would rub. The joys of owning a twiggy legged Sports Horse!

 

[HighFive]

you could look at a natural fibre boot, like felt or sheepskin/woollen/canvas. These will breath much better than neoprene.