Leg protection

[zoon]

I normally use brushing boots all round for flatwork, but I've now started to do more lateral work and collected work with the horse now he is fitter (was out of work for a while due to illness) and want something more supportive. What do you think we should use? If you say bandages what sort woud you suggest - elastic or polo bandages?

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Boots are not designed to 'support' the leg or tendons despite what any adverts may imply. If a horse needs support for it's legs/tendons then it is in a serious condition & shouldn't be ridden anyway, not that I'm implying that is your case.

I would just carry on as you are, brushing boots are fine although there obviously are alternatives, some you have listed. The old phrase of 'If it aint broke, don't fix it' comes to mind.

 

[Silverspring]

I agree with TZ but voted for the Veredus Piaffe boots cos the look really cool

I wish I could afford (or justify) a pair!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I use fleece bandages (polo bandages) for schooling. I much prefer them to boots which can get sand under them and the horses legs tend to get hotter. I will use brushing boots if a horse brushes but if it doesn't then i prefer bandages.

 

[Nari]

Fleece bandages, nothing underneath.

 

[George123]

Hi,
I have been using Veredus Piaffe Evo boots since Jan this year - However, I have recently stopped as my horse has been badly wearing his back toes away (till there was a hole!) since around the same time...
My farrier thought it had been happening over time and the hoof had got thin which is why the hole had only appeared now.
However, when picking the horses feet up in the school to pick the rubber out of them, we noticed he was struggling to flex the fetlock, we took the boots off and he was fine....We have since removed the boots and no more wearing!
I was pretty shocked @ this as they were the correct fit and didnt appear to ristrict and it hadnt X'd my mind that it could be the boots, we were actually contemplating giving the horse time off or moving yards to a different school surface before he had no hoof left!!
pretty shocking and for nearly £90 a pair!!! also, they cant be worn with any kind of over-reach boot - I have tried almost everything (costing a fortune!), but the over-reach boots wear the underside of the Piaffe boot and very quickly wear a hole through the Piaffe boot - as I found out to my horror - so the horse had to stop wearing over-reach boots in order to keep wearing the Piaffe boot..! the Piaffe Evo over-reach boot is not yet on the market, so cant wear that either!
However, you can ignore the instruction of not machine washing the boots (interesting how else you would keep them white!), I did machine wash @ 30 degrees on a quick wash with a lot of vanish and they came up great everytime..!
So, if you do decide to go for some, there will be a cheap set of 4 appearing on ebay very soon!!! but you might prefer to keep your horses back feet in tact!

Regards,
george