Over Reach Boots

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Stenners

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My horse over reaches quite badly and recently had a big over reach which is now healing and he does pull off shoes so he's now out in the basic rubber over reach boots but just wondering which ones you'd recommend for field and riding?
 
We always use the rubber ones - the ones that are quite stretchy and flexible in feel not the stiffer, harder plasticy ones. The Kadence brand from Countrywide are good, the white is softer than the black but they never have the right size in our branch. Our mare has a tendency to pull shoes so she's always in overreaches. The stretchy sort are best - daughter was riding once and she stood on one while trotting down the road, and it pinged off and flew up past her head and over a hedge into a field. Was there for months laid on the ground but we couldn't get through the hedge to get it! Another time she was standing chatting to her instructor and the mare was twitching one leg - she was stood on the over reach boot and couldn't move the leg, she kept pulling at it hence the twitch as the trapped boot wouldn't let her move the leg. Very funny!
 
I use the Mark Todd competition ones for XC as they don't move around too much and they aren't too big at the front so don't get in the way. However if they were for the field I wouldn't be as concerned about using bigger ones. As above I'd look for something soft as if they have them on for long periods they can rub (this is experience from my old full TB who was typically sensitive to anything and ended up with massive swollen legs from the tiniest rub on his heel).
 
I've just bought a pair of Husk breathable neoprene free overreach boots. I have issues with horse reacting to neoprene. And he sweats under plastic over reach boots.
 
Depends what fits, on my last horse the eskadron fake leather ones were perfect. When his work ones started looking tatty they were demoted to turnout duty. I just used them to reduce chances of pulled shoes as he was shod with heel support, he never got any over reach injuries. But somehow the thicker ones feel like they would give more protection than the rubber ones, which can feel a bit flimsy.
 
I like the neoprene decathlon ones, nice and thick, last well, don't move or spin. I also like the new LeMieux rubber ones with a fluffy top, which aren't especially expensive (£10.99 I think...) but also are fairly durable and I haven't had any problems with them flipping up. They're also great for me, as they're one of the only ones I've found that actually come in a big enough size to fit round Henry's dinner plate feet :D
 
I prefer the chunky neoprene ones, they give more protection than rubber and I find are more hard wearing, they have a break point with the velcro so come off if they need to, and are more fixable as you can stitch the velcro back on if needs be!
 
Km elite ballistic over reach are what I use. I have a pair for sale as my mare doesn't fit into them, pm me if interested. They are a lovely fit, sizes are accurate and they last forever. They have the no turn bit at the back too and double locking velcro. Always have a pair as my old mare over reached horribly and new mare is an over reacer too
 
Don't forget to check the horse's hoof balance. Long toes on the front hooves delays the breakover making it more likely that the horse will over-reach. Needing OR boots in the field can be a red flag that the balance is wrong, so I thought I'd mention it just in case. :)
 
I use cheap bright (easy to locate lost ones!) rubber ones for Turnout and bought a pair of le-meuix for riding in. I like them, they don't rub or twist unlike some I tried.
 
HI all,

Thanks for these comments - I just want to make sure they are long enough also so he doesn't take off his shoes as he over tracks and sometimes clangs his shoes when trotting or cantering along!
 
Faracat said:
Don't forget to check the horse's hoof balance. Long toes on the front hooves delays the breakover making it more likely that the horse will over-reach. Needing OR boots in the field can be a red flag that the balance is wrong, so I thought I'd mention it just in case. :)
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Ours needs them because she has one slight club foot. Always pulls the shoe off when prancing about otherwise. Has to be re-shod every 4-5 weeks maximum. Am under strict orders from our farrier to keep the boots on when turned out. We knew of the issue when we bought her, vet sucked in and tutted and said we shouldn't buy as it'd be an ongoing problem possible tendon issues etc etc, farrier took a look & was of view it wasn't going to be an issue if shod regularly and wore boots for turnout and so far he is right.
 
I have some woof wear ones which are very nice, they are no turn ones to. My horse only needs them for riding som i would suggest something like that for riding then some basic stretch rubber ones that can easily be washed for turn out.
 
I like the HKM neoprene ones. I use mine for xc and have done so for a few years. They look a bit worse for wear now but are still perfectly functional. The Velcro is really good on them. I don't like rubber ones so much as I haven't found any with reliable Velcro or rubber that doesn't break!
 
I'm going to third the decathlon ones. I had some more expensive ones which were damaged within months of owning them. The Decathlon ones lasted ages while still looking nice.
 
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