Show jumping a horse without front boots?

Saratoga

Saratoga

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Would you jump a horse without front boots? Or is it too risky that they may strike into their tendon?
 
The debate now a days seems to be IF you should be using tendon boots , there was study suggesting that the over heating of the tendons can be more damaging in some cases.
 
I often too, though it depends on the way they use themselves. We had before and now have another gelding who uses themselves really well behind, so I boot up in this instance.
 
I couldn't being myself not to as am always cautious about taking care of legs and trying to avoid accidental damage. However I do take them off when the horse has jumped and is standing on the lorry so that they are on for te minimum length of time.
 
I usually do but can take it or leave it, always jump my mare in OR as she does kick herself and caused a major injury. Turned up to a lesson with a bs trainer and she almost didn't let me continue without tendon boots, which was annoying!!!
 
If I put them on my young gelding he just knocks the poles down with a big grin. Without he's tidy and he is more careful about kicking himself too. Put it this way, with boots the boots are scuffed up after every ride. Without the boots there's been no blood or bumps - TOUCH WOOD.
 
I put closed fronted tendon boots on mine for SJ, as he hates knocking things and I think this is fair on him (I have some WW ones now, ultra lite or something, had prolites before).

My sister has competed her horse in solely over reach boots for years as her horse just does not go as well in them at all (variety of boots) plus, make him less likely to knock 'em ;) He is a solid Conn x TB though, and has a steady technique so minimal chance of tendon strike imho :)
 
Only at shows, and only if its not to hot. As I go to shows on my own CBA with getting on and off to put boots on and off.
 
only if the horse was incredibly careless... or, i was at a level such as a 4* final phase where every pole down might cost me £12k or something! ;) ;)
otherwise, no... i'm more paranoid about a horse striking into itself than about it being tappy.
 
I jump sometimes without any front boots at all; imo the risk of them striking into themselves is so small that I do much riskier things with them on a day to day basis.

I also turn out without boots where, considering the shapes my horse can throw, she seems to in kore danger injuring herself out there than with me on her back.
 
My horse seems to not like the feeling of the boot digging in behind his knee when he tucks up, and is therefore not as careful with boots on. So I am toying with the idea of jumping him without front boots on.
 
Saratoga said:
My horse seems to not like the feeling of the boot digging in behind his knee when he tucks up, and is therefore not as careful with boots on. So I am toying with the idea of jumping him without front boots on.
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I think thats why my sister took hers off tbh. Although might be competing at a lower level than you (1m ish) :)
 
Have the eskadron boots at the moment. Reluctant to go with anything like fluff or bandages as I worry about heating the leg up, and also with bandages he won't feel the fences at all if he does have a rub and won't learn from it.
 
Saratoga said:
My horse seems to not like the feeling of the boot digging in behind his knee when he tucks up, and is therefore not as careful with boots on. So I am toying with the idea of jumping him without front boots on.
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Mine went through a phase of this - I jumped without boots, he was happier in his technique, and once he was more established, I stuck boots back on.
 
Good question. My horse is usually pretty careful with his jumping so for SJ I tend not to bother.

However, at our first Novice event the other week my friend asked "aren't you putting anything on his legs" and as the fences were more meaty than we usually deal with I conformed to peer pressure and put boots on.

Result? 4 fences down our worst ever! Whether this was due to boots, the size of the fences or the fact I had decided to change the way I rode (from passenger to person in charge - horse usually in charge for SJ) I can't say. Anyway, I do worry about tendons so I'm shopping for some open fronted boots.

For XC I use full armour. For dressage, bandages. Field and hacking nothing.
 
As my horse is currently on 6 weeks walking due to striking into his tendon, no. There is so much technology put into designing boots that keep the tendons cool i dont think its worth it.
 
Saratoga said:
Have the eskadron boots at the moment. Reluctant to go with anything like fluff or bandages as I worry about heating the leg up, and also with bandages he won't feel the fences at all if he does have a rub and won't learn from it.
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Have you tried to original WoofWeaf pro open fronted? They're not particularly 'snazzy' but have a soft 'v' shape at the back so it doesn't dig in....and just had a quick look at their new ones and they have the 'v' completely cut out.

Having said that all I do indeed SJ minus boots:)
 
*whispers* I SJ and go XC up to BE100 level on my chap without any boots at all! having said that am investing in a front pair for XC now but will have naked legs for SJing at all times! :)
 
I go without boots for hacking & flatwork and he wears fetlock boots with a large strike pad on the back for jumping but only coz he brushes and had marked himself once or twice. Though only difference for is that we are barefoot so it is not so bad. Plus he rarely hits a jump and I jump him far under his ability (ex novice eventer currently jumping 2-3 ft)

:)
 
I dont tend to jump taz with boots on however, i am wanting to spend the season doing mostly cross country so will have to invest in an allround set for xc which is a shame, but dont want him hurting himself, even though he's a heavy set horse who could probably fit a double decker bus through his front legs, being an irish draught ;)
 
Saratoga said:
My horse seems to not like the feeling of the boot digging in behind his knee when he tucks up, and is therefore not as careful with boots on. So I am toying with the idea of jumping him without front boots on.
Click to expand...

I had one with ultra short cannon bones and this was a huge problem for him. He could be a little loose in front anyway but the boots touching his knees made him even more so, then he tried to jump higher to compensate and it made him angry.

He went xc in FybaTack (a brand long time gone now, I think) boots as they were short and light but had a protective wrap around layer, but he often jumped without boots. He was very straight moving, wide in the chest, and careful with his legs, though. He also couldn't wear big studs - that might have made me more leery of going without.

I would generally jump in tendon boots, just in case, although I have never had a pair sustain enough damage to think it would have been disastrous if the horse hadn't had them on. And lots of people hunt without boots, so clearly it's not the end of the world.

Like everything, it's about pluses and minuses.
 
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