over reach boots for xc? Yes or no?

[wench]

Taking someone elses horse xc tommorow, normally never wears any boots or anything, however I am a bit paranoid about bringing back lame horsey. I have some over reach boots that would fit him... is it worth putting them on?

 

[kerilli]

well, i won't jump a horse without them, ever. the last time i did (forgot to put them on xc) the mare overreached and missed her 3-day... and the time before that, guy riding my horse wouldn't put them on, horse overreached landing over first fence sj, carried on on 3 legs, and was out of work for a month... so, as long as they fit properly and snugly (not floppy so horse can stand on them), i think they're essential!

 

[miller]

Another who doesn't jump without them

also use them when introducing new dressage movements just in case.

I use the Premier Equine ones as then aren't too long and velcro means you can adjust the tightness

 

[carmenlucy123]

im not a "boot fanatic" the only time my mare wears booties is xc.

just make sure youve got some protection on the front at least and yeah put over reachers on if youve got them handy cant do any harm.

 

[Nats_uk]

I always wear boots for XC and SJ - my horse is far too accident prone to not wear them.

I know when I went to a training day recently one of the instructors sent someone away (after tearing them off a strip) for not having boots on their horse!!!

 

[wizoz]

Never jump without any kind of boots on, not worth the risk IMO!

 

[applestroodle]

I agree an over reach cut can be nasty and take so long so heal, its not worth risk!! yes

 

[Bossanova]

Always jump with them, cant risk not.

 

[kerrylou123]

yep... i too never jump without them.

 

[Nickymac]

Yep, I never go cross country without them. I got caught out at home a few months ago when I thought I would just pop a little ditch out hacking on Hector; he ballooned it, over-reached and had to have two weeks off as a result (that's why he's known as the Malingerer!)

 

[LEC]

I never xc in them have seen some horrific accidents. We hunt over ditches and nobody wears them either for this very reason.
I used them on one horse and it spent most of the time losing them or being up turned so clearly did not need them that much. If my horse had an overreach I would think about it but he never loses shoes through being clipped off.

 

[igglepiggle]

Also never jump without boots!

 

[Leg_end]

I dont jump without boots on but I dont wear over reaches. Like Lec have seen some nasty accidents all down to O/R boots and as my boy hasnt o/r'd yet i dont want to add to the risk of XC

 

[prudunce]

i would not go xc without booting up incl over-reach boots.Ive seen too many o,reach injuries down to people not putting boots on when doing fast work. I only think the horse can step on one iF its too big and floopy??as the up-to-date ones(neoprene??) with the anti-turn knob fit so snug,theres noway a horse wud step on it from behind.My mare has never over-reached BUT her boots do have very small tears in them where shes obv struck the boot when doing xc????

 

[orsemad]

Would def where boots front and back however im not totally convinced on over reach boots! I do use them on one of my horses but have seen and heard about some horific accidents where horses have stood on them and fallen - one to the extent it broke its leg. If you do use them make sure they fit snugly and they arent too long - the 'petal' over reach boots are supposed to be the safest cos if they step on them with a hind leg the petal should break and therefore reduce the risk of a fall.

 

[henryhorn]

All our horses used to wear over reach boots until Monty trod on one and did a virtual somersault almost landing on CCJ.
Since then we haven't bothered and nothing has over reached.
I think unless you do as William F P does and trim them really radically to just being long enough to cover the very top of the heel, there is too big a risk to use them.
We use boots on their legs and that seems to be fine. Even when Chocolate had his horrible fall the boot was destroyed by his studded foot but he had barely a mark underneath.

 

[SpruceRI]

I don't use them. Too scared horse will tread in one and injure herself

 

[MagicMelon]

Always always wear them for XC. Don't usually use them for anything else, although will do if show jumping on non-ideal conditions. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[lucym]

mary king trims hers down too, like WFP.
just to cover the bulbs, i think its a good idea
someone once said to me also, that if you wear them for XC, you shoul have the single velcro ones, not doulbe lock velcro, as the single will rip apart easier if needs be

 

[Skhosu]

Never wear them xc, never needed them and the one time I wore them hunting they rubbed him badly

 

[FRESHMAN]

Best advice I can give you is to get a pair of the old boots that have single petals of rubber threaded onto the strap. Should a horse tread on them they will just give way & petal will drop off. (you can buy boxes of spare petals) More importantly, they have done their job at that time. Also I would use duck tape around the bulb of heel, taking it right round the front of the hoof as many times as necessary to give good cover at the heels. Since we have done this we havent lost a shoe or had an overreach. Only once in the Hickstead Derby did the tape come loose due to horrendous conditions. It will not endanger your horse though as it snaps easily if stood on.