Travel boots - good idea or not for horse who kicks legs?

Saxon_Jasmine

Saxon_Jasmine

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 February 2010
Messages
581
Location
Suffolk
Visit site
Hi,

My TB unloaded herself (backwards) from our trailer before the bum chain was off, so ended up panicing and cutting her leg. Thankfully the she undid the chain with her bum and got out. She ended up having to have stitches, but is all better now.

My question is; would this have been prevented if she was wearing traveling boots? I don't travel her in boots as her legs got very swollen after I did once. We think she cut her leg with her hoof, so maybe boots would have provided padding, or maybe they would have made things worse if she'd pulled the boots half off.

We unload her backwards out of the trailer as she charges out if we go forwards (yes I've practised this and tried different methods, but we've concluded backwards is better).

I'm not sure why she paniced that time, but I'm worried she'll do it again, so advice please on boots/wraps/etc that won't cause her legs to swell, and won't fall off if she kicks her legs.

Thank you.
 
Ok i have two answers!!

My welsh cob stamps and kicks out at the door. He has a leg at each corner and is unshod. He travels bare and has never (touch wood) had any issues.

My TB, also stamps, gets very excited. Is a NIGHTMARE in boots and over time i worked out that it was the bits over the hock that made things worse. So I worked out a way to travel that kept him injury free. I would put on over reach boots all round (inc hinds as he will tread on his own feet and cut himself) He is shod all round btw. Then I used pads and bandages. Have them well down over the top of the over reach boots, and up to the knee/hock, but no knee or hock boots as these result in more stamping.
 
Brandy said:
My TB, also stamps, gets very excited. Is a NIGHTMARE in boots and over time i worked out that it was the bits over the hock that made things worse. So I worked out a way to travel that kept him injury free. I would put on over reach boots all round (inc hinds as he will tread on his own feet and cut himself) He is shod all round btw. Then I used pads and bandages. Have them well down over the top of the over reach boots, and up to the knee/hock, but no knee or hock boots as these result in more stamping.
Click to expand...

Thank you, that's really helpful. The only thing I'm worried about is that if she does panic again and kick her back legs, she'll pull/cut the bandages off with her hooves (she managed to slice her leg open last time).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top