Travel boots - help!

F

fools_ gold

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2011
Messages
143
Location
Back of beyond
Visit site
Hi!

I have a young horse who I need to move to a new yard in a few weeks and am having a bit of a travel boot dilemma.

When I bought him he arrived in the lorry with no boots on and was fine... But since getting to know him it's a miracle, as he is the most clumsy horse. So I wouldn't feel good about travelling him with nothing on.

Also he is not a massive fan of wearing boots, it took me a while to get him used to wearing back brushing boots, and a couple of times they have slipped when I have been lunging and he has gone crazy trying to get them off.

So am trying to figure out what to do about booting him up for travelling to the new yard, I am worried that travel boots will slip and cause him to freak out. Not sure bandaging will work for him either. I need something that's quick to put on and remove.

I think the following solution could work for him...

Neoprene turnout boots with overeach boots front and back
Then neoprene hock and knee boots

I would really appreciate opinions on this combo, do you think this will offer enough protection, and be comfortable etc? If anyone has any better suggestions would be great to hear them.

Thanks
 
I'd go with what you have suggested, but swap the turnout boots for brushing boots. If they slipped when lunging - do they fit, did you put them on securely (not to cut off blood flow obv, but they really shouldn't slip like that!).
 
Hi, thanks for your replies.
Yeh the Brushing boots fit, they only slipped when he stepped on himself having a little explosion because there was a killer pigeon in the tree... silly horse!
Any reason you think brushing boots are better than turnout - I figured they would offer a bit more protection than brushing boots. Just curious :)
 
fools_ gold said:
Hi, thanks for your replies.
Yeh the Brushing boots fit, they only slipped when he stepped on himself having a little explosion because there was a killer pigeon in the tree... silly horse!
Any reason you think brushing boots are better than turnout - I figured they would offer a bit more protection than brushing boots. Just curious :)
Click to expand...

Turnout boots tend to be longer so if he is prone to dragging boots about then I wonder if the longer boots would make this more likely? Also, they tend to be a single thickness of neoprene, whereas brushing boots are usually neoprene but have strike pads too. The length of the turnout boots isn't really a gain over brushing boots as you will be putting OR on anyway.
My reasoning anyway!!
 
Great thanks guys...

Think I will buy some hock boots anyway and just see what he makes of them... they aren't too expensive and I can just ebay them if he hates them!
Which as you say could be quite likely... he has a real thing about his back legs... I wonder if something bad happened to him in the past... Or he is just a sensitive soul.

Do any of you guys use turnout boots for turning out? I was thinking of getting some anyway as he is such a clumsy boy, and he will be getting turned out in a large field for the first time in a long time and am expecting him to have a bucking, leaping, galloping session when he first goes out. Or again would you say brushing boot, overeach boot combo would be best. Or should I stop worrying and just turn him out with nothing on and let him get on with it.

I've never worried so much with my old horses as they were toughies, but this boy is a bit special.
 
I must admit that I don't see the point in turnout boots? If you are concerned about injury then use something that offers some protection like brushing and OR? If he is prone to being rather clumsy, then perhaps while he is settling in his new place then use them, I have to admit I'm not keen on longterm use for turnout as heating the tendons worrys me terribly!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top