tendon boots

E

emilylovesotis

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 October 2007
Messages
67
Visit site
just wondering what people thought, i have a four year old who is new and as he goes out with 5 other horses in the field i put boots on him, to protect his legs. I put back brushing ones on his back legs and tendon boots on his front basically because there quite old so i don't mind if they get wrecked.. but someone from my yard has commented saying i shouldn't put tendon boots on the front..so just wondered if people know why she may have said this as i see no harm in having them on? thanks for any advice x
 
I can't see the problem! Tendon boot are designed for front legs

smile.gif
 
well lol... horses which are turned out in tendon boots are more thn likely going to stay protected other than without them on... galloping around filed snapped tendon,horse galloping round with tendon boots on then protected.... cannot see a problem with people sayin it no good... with regards to brushing boots, most of them are neoprene so not be any good for protecting tendons which emaily wants to do... x x x x x
 
I would say tendon boots offer more protection on fronts than brushing boots i know plenty of people who have turned out in tendon boots for years and not had a problem
wink.gif
 
are they open fronted? if so, more uneven pressure on extensor tendons down front of leg. They will still only protect from striking into themselves, but probably better for that than brushing boots.

Having said that if they're open fronted, I always thought they should be on for one round of jumping, and then taken off, straight away, so it all depends on the boot in question I suppose?
 
GeorginaFloppet has made the same point I was about to - I worked on a dressage yard where everything was turned out in boots - infact they don't leave the stable without boots! But one horse was turned out in open fronted tendon boots, and (now I don't know all the ins and outs) because of the pressure of the straps on the front of the boots, the horse ended up with bruising and damage to the tendon/ligament down the front of his legs. The boots were not done up too tightly, and when the vet was told he had been turned out with tendon boots on, he said that was what had caused it, and horses should only wear tendon boots for short periods of time.
 
At college I was taught that the use of boots is to protect and support the tendons/legs. And so, if your horse is supported all the time, his tendons will not be as strong as they should be, and so more at risk of injury without support. That boots were ok for ridden work when support was needed and work was hard - jumping/hunting/xc/ fast work or higher level dressage work - but if the horse did not over reach, or brush then it did not require protection. Turnout boots offer protection from cuts and scrapes without supporting the leg, so the tendons can develop their own strength - and therefore be stronger when they are protected.


That was from someone who had been working, competing and teaching about horses for over 30 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top