Turnout Boots - are they worth it?

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Ellietotz

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So since my lovely mare decided it would be a good idea to jump out of her field and break the top rail plus scratching her legs up in the process, I am now a stressed pony mum trying not to let the sores get infected with all this mud.

Are turnout boots really worth it? To me it just sounds like a great environment for bacteria to grow and keep her legs too warm as well. To be honest, she has been fine all winter in her mud swamp as I just haven't even brushed her legs unless they are bone dry but curious to know if the boots are any good just in case I may need them in the future to keep her legs dry and mud free!
 
I rate the equilibrium ones, but you need spares as they work best if you always have a dry clean set to put on. I've used them when actively treating mud fever, and just to keep white socks clean when turning out before a show etc. You need to get the sizing just right as they have to be snug around the hoof to prevent mud seeping up.
 
Not in my experience they’ve all been totally useless.

If she has scratches then I’d keep her out of the mud until they’re healed. A lot easier than dealing with any resultant infection.
 
I couldn't get turnout boots to work for me - but I do know some who have. If you happen to have a horse with the right size leg they'll fit. But most horses don't seem to be the right size. One of the liveries on yard has recently oped for polo wraps covered by "Golly Galloshes" to keep legs clean. 3 fine limbed TB Type eventers. A faff to put on and off - but do seem to work.
 
They would be a last resort for me, so last a resort that I’ve never used them on anything!

Only boots that go on a horse in a field are brushing/OR and that is only for introductions to new horses or first day after box rest
 
I have the premier equine ones. Really rate them.
My horse will find any bit of mud even if there is no mud in the field. He has always suffered with mud rash nothing like when I first bought him though.
Premier equine boots do the trick and if put on properly they do not budge.
 
I had PE ones, bought them in the sale.

They fit my lad really nicely, and another livery on my yard really rated them. But I agree with the above, they need to be taken off and cleaned, and then a clean dry pair put on before turnout. My boy got awful rubs on his legs from them, despite my cleaning them every day. I think it was the wetness of them that made it worse.

Also not helped that he was turned out at night every other day, so although they would get taken off and cleaned every day he was going 1-1.5days with them on without a decent break.

I took them off and haven't bothered since.
 
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