Knee Boots - Do they effect performance ?

[Zaffy]

One of our boys stumbled on a hill and fell to his front knees out hacking on the weekend. Fortunately it was very soft ground and no damage done.

Am thinking of getting knee boots but was wandering if they get in the way of the movement of the leg during faster work ?

Anyone had any experiences either good or not ?

Thanks

Z

 

[JessPickle]

I found they constantly slipped and were generally a pain! tried a few different brands but they only seemed ok on a horse that had chestnuts just in the right place to hold them up!

 

[Cop-Pop]

Mine don't get in the way at all. Besides - I'd rather have to go slower than deal with the cost of broken knees...

 

[Ezme]

How about westropp boots? They're brushing boots with a front pad that sticks up over the knee. Great protection, don't rub or slip. They're standard issue for a hack at my old riding school.

 

[dressager]

Mine did a similar thing and it took ages to heal completely. I wore him in knee boots for ages after, jumping, XC the lot! Mainly because people kept scaring me and saying if he hit his knees again that would be the finish of him. I know this probably isn't recommended but they didn't affect his performance at all.

I had a pair of Clarendon knee boots first of all (ugly looking things) but one fell off whilst hacking. Then bought a pair of Jeffries leather knee boots which were great and lasted really well. Eeek just checked them out and they now retail at £70.

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Roma knee boots which are made of neoprene are fab. They have 3 velcro straps which do up behind the knee and they fit quite tightly. I actually forgot I had them on the other night and was jumping 3'6" with them on. Didn't bother horse much!!

 

[Abbeygale]

I have 2 pairs of the jeffries knee boots - that I will not go out on the road without - just isn't worth it. My jeffries ones haven't been a problem and the only one got broken was when the boots had been put on and I had toddled off to get tack, and the wretched horse chewed them!!! Bloody thing!!

If you are getting them get the ones with the lower strap as well, as otherwise the likelyhood is if the horse goes down they will flip up if no lower strap is fitted.