Knee Boots

[Dyllymoo]

After J's little tumble onto his knees in the field when doing poles the other week I have started worrying he may slip and fall on his knees when we are out hacking. We do a lot of roadwork as that's how we get to our off road hacking and its very hilly.

Do you put knee boots on your horses for hacking?

Any recommendations? thinking leather would be better. Any tips for sizing?

 

[AFB]

I used to knee boot for hacking all the time, I don't know why I stopped tbh other than I just don't tend to boot unless we're jumping nowadays.

Westropp for me, attached to brushing boots

 

[PapaverFollis]

I use knee boots (leather or Westropp) for hacking but only successfully in walk and trot. Pretty much always had issues with them staying up in canter. But I don't like to fasten them tightly so I think that's my problem.

 

[Gloi]

remember years ago out with a friend when she was accompanying my young pony on a hack with her horse. One of her knee boots fell down and she got off. As she was adjusting it a rabbit shot out, spooked her horse and it beggared off at speed up the lane. Baby pony was a star as we chased after it and managed to catch it but I've always been wary of knee boots since.

 

[Auslander]

I always do, after ALf fell over on the road a few years ago. He tried very hard to stay up, and by some miracle, didn't break his knees when he eventually hit the deck, but I have always used knee boots since then. He has Westropp knee brshing boots, or Woof ninja turtle ones

 

[Barlow]

I always hack in knee boots, unless I’m going somewhere for a canter. Most of our hacks start or finish going up or down a steep country lane and a couple of friends who keep their horses locally have had issues with the surface and their horses going down on it.

 

[Kat]

My horse wears westropp combined knee and brushing boots for hacking, pleasure rides and hunting. The injuries from a simple stumble onto tarmac or a stony path are too horrific to take the risk of not protecting them.

 

[Kat]

I use knee boots (leather or Westropp) for hacking but only successfully in walk and trot. Pretty much always had issues with them staying up in canter. But I don't like to fasten them tightly so I think that's my problem.

Try the westropp combined knee and brushing boots for fast work, they fasten like brushing boots so don't fall down.

 

[PeterNatt]

I always have knee boots on. I use the Jefferies ones. My horse once went down on a new type zebra crossing in London so since then have always used them.

 

[Muddywellies]

Mine went down on her knees a few years ago but luckily only nicked the skin thank goodness. Won't go out hacking without them now. Its a very simple way to avoid a terrible injury. It took a heck of a lot of trialling different types to finf a pair that suit, and you need to do them up really quite tight.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Try the westropp combined knee and brushing boots for fast work, they fasten like brushing boots so don't fall down.

I've got them but Beast managed a Nora Batty in them up a stubble field. She has a high action in front when excited and again I hadn't fastened them snug enough. She still wears them though as she seems happier with those than the other sort.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Leather knee boots for DP every time he is ridden. He trots and canters in them and they have never fallen down or impeded his gait. He has even jumped in them without a problem. As long as they are fitted correctly they are fine. I use Gibsons, hard wearing and about £40.

 

[Dyllymoo]

Thanks everyone. We went out last night and because it was on my mind and the roads were wet I was so worried. He didn't even trip but I think I want to get some.

I'm fittening him though so I'm doing trot and canter work which worries me about them falling down

 

[PapaverFollis]

Honestly if you fasten the top strap tight enough and the bottom strap loose enough they'll stay up. There's something about The Beast that makes them difficult to get right but I've not had that problem on other horses.

 

[pansymouse]

I always use them. When you've seen your horses knee bones through a hold in his flesh you never take the risk of going on the road unprotected. The said horse fully recovered but was in 24/7 for six months healing. 28 years on my blood still runs cold it the slightest missed step or stumble.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

After J's little tumble onto his knees in the field when doing poles the other week I have started worrying he may slip and fall on his knees when we are out hacking. We do a lot of roadwork as that's how we get to our off road hacking and its very hilly.

Do you put knee boots on your horses for hacking?

Any recommendations? thinking leather would be better. Any tips for sizing?

Yes always now since my mare fell twice on the road. , I don't like the plastic ones at all, I like and use the old traveling knee boots like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-...733443?hash=item2f05eabf83:g:ns4AAOSwbtVZTO8i . If I have 550 kilos of horse going down i want more than a bit of plastic or vinyl on my horses knees

 

[Barlow]

Yes always now since my mare fell twice on the road. , I don't like the plastic ones at all, I like and use the old traveling knee boots like this https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-...733443?hash=item2f05eabf83:g:ns4AAOSwbtVZTO8i . If I have 550 kilos of horse going down i want more than a bit of plastic or vinyl on my horses knees

yes those are the ones I have. I’m not sure I’d trust the version without the bottom strap not to flip up during an accident.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

They are similar to mine. dillymoo if they are put on properly you can do any speed in them so don’t be put off by tales of them slipping. There is nothing better than good old fashioned leather to protect the knees. The composite plastics can have a tendency to shatter and I wouldn’t want that stuck in my horses joints either.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I'd rather have a knee boot on and very occasionally have to get off to reposition it (and if you're MrPF, not be able to get back on ?) than not have had them on when she tripped - due, we think, to less than ideal farriery - and landed on the knee boots.

I'm just really squeamish about doing the top strap up tight enough and unless the bottom strap is on the loosest it goes Beast's knee action at a canter works them off. Never had a problem with Granny horse.

I don't know what happened with the Westropp brushing boot style one but she fair pazzed up the stubble then we took a little while and a spook to pull up and it slipped down. Again I think application error rather than that being normal!

 

[Dyllymoo]

Thanks all. So what leather ones do people recommend? I don't like the idea of the brushing boots/ all in one. He is a hot horse and I think his legs would get quite hot in them (he stamps if he has boots on as his legs get hot).

Any idea on sizing? He is a 15.2hh irish cob, quite chunky.

 

[[59668]]

I use knee boots and overreach boots every time I hack. The old fashioned leather ones....could not get the Westropp ones to stay up on my cobs legs!

Have used in all paces, no issues

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have ones made by my local saddler and Ascot boots from Gibson’s but they have been out of stock for a while now. First ones were one sized, Gibson’s were cob and both fitted my slender 15hh horse with plenty of strap length for a larger animal. Jeffries boots are beautifully made but are very expensive so try the EBay ones mentioned up the thread.

 

[firstfrost]

Having seen the consequences of a horse going down on the road about 30 years ago I NEVER do roadwork without them. I use Jeffries they are expensive but my oldest pair are 25 years old and still going strong. I have 2 pairs as I have 3 horses and they sometimes hack in pairs. If fitted correctly they won't slip down , just make sure the top strap is tight.

 

[Winters100]

I don't ride on the road anymore, but I remember from hacking as a child about 40 years ago that we were never allowed on the road without kneepads on the ponies - so to me it would make sense.

 

[Dyllymoo]

Thanks all. I've posted lots of wanted ads over Facebook and have been offered a full size Jeffrey's pair brand new for £60 (so nearly half price). She is sending photos tomorrow, hopefully I can pick them up ASAP as we had 3 small trips today hacking, the last one was downhill on the road and I did think we were going down which was awful ?

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Thanks all. So what leather ones do people recommend? I don't like the idea of the brushing boots/ all in one. He is a hot horse and I think his legs would get quite hot in them (he stamps if he has boots on as his legs get hot).

Any idea on sizing? He is a 15.2hh irish cob, quite chunky.

if he is chunky then get full, you can always sell again, as the traveling ones are really getting popular now and sell easily
jeffries Knee Boots
are good just keep an eye on ebay