Q:Boots or Bandages?

[tinker512]

Already posted in Stable forum but figuring I will get more replies here!
All replies would be grateful here, its for uni!!

Ok if you are going x-country, which would be your choice of leg protection boots or bandages

If bandages, why so and why not boots?

If boots, why so and why not bandages, and also, what type of boots would you use and why?(type and brand)

Thank you very much, feel free to add anything else!!

 

[Cop-Pop]

I'd always use boots in case I didn't do the bandages up properly!! All my boots are Woof Wear ones

When I used to ride XC I only used brushing boots or tendon boots with over reach boots but I never jumped very high or went very fast

 

[Weezy]

Boots - bandages could snag and are more likely to come loose or fall off altogether.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Boots.
Prolite or N.E.W. they always have good reviews. Bandages worry me.

 

[zoeshiloh]

This is a very tricky one to answer. I would say to most people that they should use boots for cross country rather than bandages, although I do use bandages on one of my horses rather than boots, so am being a hyopcrite.

The reason I say boots is this - a decent set of boots will not slip, they will not come undone - there are less thing that can go wrong.

Bandages, there are many things that can go wrong. They can be put on too tight, causing tendon damage to the horse. They can be put on too loose, and slip, causing discomfort and potential danger to the horse. They can come undone and flap about, get stood on by the horse and trip him/her up.

I'll never forget a section in Mark Todd's autobiography where he mentions that one of his horses was ruined forever because the bandages were on too tightly and caused so much damage to his horse's legs on the cross country. If him/his grooms get it wrong, what hope is there for the rest of us?!? Also, I vividly remember an incident in the Sydney olympics, where one poor rider's bandages started unravelling, his horse was trailing lengths of bandage behind, and almost tripped up on several occasions.

The boots I use for cross country are the Clarendon ones, that have the clip fastening (velcro can lose its stickyness when wet). These offer fab protection. If you are more worried about support, perhaps look at the sports medicine boots, although make sure you use tape to secure the velcro so that it doesn't come unstuck.

Going back to my earlier point (that I use bandages on one of my horses) I use the part fleece, part elastic bandages - I also hunt in them. The horse in question had a serious injury, and I only ever ride him in bandages now. I know that people say bandages do not support the horses leg, but I know when I am injurred, a tubigrip or bandage offers a lot of support to my damaged limb.

 

[Nari]

For xc I'd definately boot (not that I'd be going xc, I'm a wimp!).

Reasons:
- boots offer more protection against a blow from a fence or a hind striking into a front tendon
- there's less chance of boots coming undone in the case of a strike & if they do a boot won't tangle up in anything
- boots are quicker to put on & take off an excited horse & are less likely to be fitted incorrectly

I can't say what make I'd use as they aren't something I look at, as I sad there's no way I'd be going xc! I'd certainly look at the Prolite ones simply because I've got some of their old brushing boots that give excellent protection, fit well & are still going strong after years of use. Realistically though it would depend on what fitted my horse & wasn't going to bankrupt me.

 

[damsel]

I always use boots on my horses whether its sj or xc. I use brushing boots on the front and over reaching boots. I always use woof wear as they have always lasted me years. I wouldn't personally use bandages as i don't think they give as much protection. I also saw a woman doing xc and the bandage got caught on a fence and got tangled around the horses back leg and it paniced. It was ok but i didn't want to risk it.