Protective wear for hunting horses - is it necessary?

[Leonie]

It seems only the newbies boot their horses up. I've never seen any huntsmen, whips, field master etc... with any kind of boots inc travel boots.

The only reason I can think of is either they're unnecessary or don't care? Saying that I've not seen any accidents that would of been prevented by boots.

I'd be interested to hear if you think they're a waste of money?

 

[CastleMouse]

I hunt my horse in boots all the time, and I'm certainly not a newbie! I never booted up my old pony as he was quite cobby and could take a knock, but I just can't risk my current horse taking a knock as he's quite a light type. One of my pack's whipper-ins boots up one of his horses, and a few eventers and showjumpers who hunt with my pack boot up their horses as well.

 

[Starbucks]

Me and my mum don't hunt in boots on our horses, but I have done on others, I think it just depends - takes a bit of common sense!

What I really don't understand is when people clip all there legs out to put on a pair of crappy brushing boots!! The hair would give more protection!

 

[RunToEarth]

I always think it boils down to the horse and the country. All of our huntstaff do, seen a few really nasty cuts and scrapes from dry stone walls, but when we are in wire country they can do more harm than good. Often the field have other uses for their horses, showjumpers tend to take a little more time to recovered from something my horse would bounce right back from. Huntsmen's horses are full time hunters, they know their contry and their job better than any other horse so tend to need fewer hinderances.

 

[K9Wendy]

We've only hunted a few times but booted up each time. Horse only 6 and not always sure where her legs are! I was however alarmed at how much mud, grit and even small bits of bark & grass were inside the boots when taken off at the end of the day. The boots were securely put on. I have been adviced to use fleece lined as dirt won't get inside so much.

 

[mickey]

QR: Why not? It only takes a few mins to put them on, you wouldn't go XC without? Seems sensible to me..........

 

[rooooosie]

Mickey: boots can often do more harm than good peticularly in muddy ground

the ground today was horrendous and was often knee-high in mud and going through streams and very muddy puddles - mud gets beneath boots and can rub easily

obviously as above with stone walls protection is needed

x

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

The diff with XC schooling is generally with XC schooling you are following a prepared course on good ground often with takeoffs/landings maintained, whereas in hunting you are crossing all sorts of ground, often very deep and sometimes plough too (which my horsie loves best of all being an ID mud plugger). So stuff is much more likely to work its way in and the stuff might well include thorns, brambles, mud etc.

I would always boot for XC schooling but never do for hunting unless stonewalls involved but am too chicken for them.

 

[lucym]

i used to hunt my pony in boots and never had any problems. alot of ppl around our way do hunt in boots, esp people qualifying p2p horses etc.
tbh if you hack, school and jump in boots, then take them off to randomly gallop around unknown terrain i think your mad,but thats my opinion and i do understand why ppl dont

 

[CastleMouse]

I use fleece lined brushing boots for Ali's front legs, and for his hind legs I just use regular neoprone lined brushing boots. They have never slipped or irritated him, even though we hunt through a lot of bogland and VERY deep mud...

 

[KatB]

I use prolite XC boots on mine. Never had a prob with stuff getting under them. "proper" hunting I just used to use front boots to protect against knocks to tendons. Drag hunting IMHO is like extended XC schooling, so always use all 4 boots

 

[MandyMoo]

i use tendon boots because my horse has had a tendon injury in the past so it does just give him a little more protection encase he knocks himself! it always shocks me when i have returned from hutning all the scraps and chunks out of my boots, atleast its the boots and not off his legs!!! =O LOL...i also use a sausage boot on his back fetlocks because he knocks his back fetlocks together and brushing boots dont cover the area he knocks. mandy xx

 

[christian]

people have different opinions on this. I know our field master boots his but i have never noticed any of the other hunt servants booting their horses.

I boot one of mine all round (and nope i'm not a newbie!). She is on loan to me and her owner allways booted her so its just natural that i should too...

The other horse i hunt i don't allways boot. Her owner frowns on it. Says for her its pointless becuase she is one of the most sound horses, and if she takes a knock, she'll know to pick her feet up next time. I'm cautious, and if he's not around , I tend to boot her in front. You can never be to careful.