Overreach boots - yay or neigh? (Plus other numpty questions!)

[MyDogIsAnIdiot]

I've stupidly agreed that I'll go hunting on Saturday - my YO's been trying to get me to go for ages and I think it'll do me and pony good.

I've been told that the hunt we're going to doesn't care so much about immaculate turnout, but I'm not sure whether to plait or not? Horse is a cob with a neat mane, so I can do either. I'm also not sure about putting boots on - we won't be jumping much (if at all), but she can over-reach quite a lot when excited; would overreach boots be ok to hunt in? If so, which kind? (rubber, neoprene, etc).

Thanks .

 

[cupcakelaura]

If they're not that fussy about plating I wouldn't as it's a cob and would probz look better with a natural mane Whenever any of where I work go hunting they all go with rubber over reach boots and the hunt they go with are very fussy about presentation, so i'm sure rubber will be fine for yours

 

[Happy Hunter]

I would plait - if only to keep it out of the way - Can you manage a running plait or one of these clever lattice things?
Boots, in the gound we are currently hunting around here (BOG) - we are hardly getting out of trot (Understandably of course!) - So I wouldn't - but your scenario may be very different - Which is going to hurt more, the chance of an overreach or the chance of a rub?

 

[RunToEarth]

Plait - it is never incorrect following opening meet and just looks better.

It depends what type of ground you are on RE boots - we're plough and it is wet so I wouldn't use them.

 

[chesnutty]

I use overreach boots for hunting as mu horse pulls his shoes off. I use the Westropp Petal style and found them brilliant, never lose them and they never invert.

As for plaiting, I would

 

[JDH01]

Unless hogged I would always plait, better over dressed than under, if you dont pull then a running plait or just a single plait behind the bridle as natives have is fine so long as the mane is brushed and clean. If they over reach then you should use boots, just use dark ones if legs are dark or white if legs are white - no coloured ones.

 

[CrazyMare]

I sometimes use OR boots and sometimes don't - I'm more inclined to put them on my old mare on more trappy country as she gets a bit more OTT then!

I will only use rubber OR with velcro - have seen a very nasty accident involving pull on ORs where the horse stood on a boot landing over a hedge and tipped his jockey onto her head at speed. She was unconcious for 3-4mins (wearing a Gatehouse HS1) and time has never passed so slowly while waiting for the ambulance!!

 

[MyDogIsAnIdiot]

Thanks everyone for your advice! We were just on roads but I put OR boots on anyway and I'm glad I did - the one is shredded. Cob wasn't best pleased with being plaited, but we had fun. Don't think I'll be going again (due to bad behaviour by said cob - bucking, spinning, having no brakes, and rearing; sod) but it was quite good when we were going.