knee boots...and hunting..

[Starbucks]

We are planning to go with the four shires this Sunday - on the website it said:

"Hedges and stone walls (so knee boots necessary)"

Now i'm sorry, but having hunted for a long time, i'm sure I'm capable of knowing if my horse should wear knee boots or not!! It annoyed me a little - what do you guys think about knee boots and this kind of attitude??

 

[random_rider]

Well they say things like that to cover there back and say you were warned but i think its a personal desicion to be honest. It should say recommended rather then necisary!

 

[Zobaby]

i've always found that knee boots restrict movement and are pretty tricky to fit properly.
I agree with Night_Breeze - recommended rather than necessary.

x

 

[Orangehorse]

I've seen pictures of hunters wearing knee boots in walled areas.
Apparently if they hit a wall there is something in the stones that sets up infections - as well as the possible "broken knees" injury.

I suppose it is your own choice, but the advice is there to give warning.

 

[Starbucks]

Ok, thats cool guys, thanks.

We hunt in big wall country but it's sandstone - rather than the limestone that has something in it?

Think I'll go without but it's made me really paranoid now that I'm doing the wrong thing!

 

[beh]

I'll go with N_B on this.

But have you spoken to anyone who has hunted there before and seen if they wear knee boots?

Have fun

 

[alicedove]

I gave my horse little white scars from knee boots; surely if they hit it hard enough to wound themselves, you'r e in the doo doo anyhow, pretty badly?

 

[Starbucks]

My mum and dad have hunted there but a good few years ago, they wouldn't have been in knee boots.

Our horses are very careful and used to jumping big walls, it's a bit of a trend in our hunt but IMHO - horses in knee boots (i.e. the thick plastic ones) will continue to hit the walls and make a mess of the farmers fields! Also, it can be very dangerous for horse and rider if they get caught on wire - as our huntsman found out on boxing day!! the knee boots were quickly disregarded!

It's hard to know what to do really!

 

[Patches]

I want to ride with the 4shires next season.

If you look on their gallery, there are a few wearing knee boots. They don't have the lower strap which is supposed to restrict movement in canter. No good if you fall on the roads of course, but a help for grazes if they brush the walls. I know the schedule says "knee boots required" but if you look on the guidelines link it does simply say "Check with the Secretary if it is a stone wall day, as knee boots are advisable". I certainly don't think it's compulsory.

I won't be needing them though, I intend to follow Sally around the non-jumping route.

 

[Starbucks]

Thanks P.

We are quite experienced hunting people but it does make you think!

why don't you go out this year?

 

[piebaldsparkle]

If they have 'Blackthorn hedges' just be aware that the thorns are really poisonous and if left in tend to work in deeper, rather than work their way out.

I used to for the Blackmoor Vale and they had massive Blackthorn hedges in their country.

 

[Patches]

Not sure mine or my friend's horses are fit enough at the moment for bloodhounds as it's quite fast hunting the clean boot.

Will have to see how we go. Would love you to let me know how you get on with it though and what it's like. I know every meet is different, but I'm keen to know how many breathers the horses (and riders) get and how high the fences are....meaning are they all giant fences or are there some smaller ones (make that titchy ones hovering around the 2ft 3 mark! LOL)

I also need time to learn how to plait. I'm terrible at it and horses need to be plaited!

 

[KatB]

Yeah my cobs one and only lameness was through a blackthorn going through the coronet band and causing an abscess

Lucklily cleared up quickly though

 

[SpruceRI]

Blackthorn - horrible stuff. I've got it in my fingers before. Had to do a mini operation on myself to fish it out!