Weighted Boots, Pros and Cons?

[LadyRascasse]

What are the pros and cons of weighted boots for jumping?

I have a horse who is lazy with his hinds when show jumping. Our best round to date is 3 fences down all with hinds. He is up to date with everything last seen by physio and dentist in Feb and had his saddle checked 2 weeks ago. Put him in front of a XC fence and he properly flicks his rear end but show jumps he has no respect. I am considering them for him, would they be of help in this situation? I am not rushing into anything just musing over things that might help he be more aware of his rear end because it can't be comfy hitting fences with his feet!

Any advice/suggestions?

 

[bonny]

I'm hardly a show jumping expert but I think some horses learn that poles fall easily and just don't bother to jump high enough whereas they respect XC jumps. I would try and find some heavier wooden poles. Never posted in here before, feel free to ignore me !

 

[LadyRascasse]

Thanks we have tried heavier jumps, he does the same. :/

 

[sam-b]

They do make a difference but if you then miss they do hand stands over as fence, you need to be able to hit your fence accurately

 

[Jnhuk]

Likewise I am not expert but ensure you use heavy poles and no boots behind. Lots of pole/gridwork. Make certain you are 100% straight to a fence.

Suggest you maybe get a friend to take multiple serial/burst (sorry cant remember the setting for it on my camera) photos of you over jumps (I find that more useful than video) so you can analyse what is happening when he touches poles behind. Is it you or him? Are you doing too much for him? What happens is you dare him or go on a shorter approach or walk up to a placing pole in walk then leg on and pop the jump (kept it small)

One of my lads will always know which poles are plastic and which are wooden and would knock the plastic one down everytime. In the end, almost became a challenge between him and the instructor to see if he could find the plastic pole during gridwork!

There have been many threads on the past on this topic so i am sure if you google, you will find them

Tbh a horse has to have some responsibility to jump the jump and if they don't have that care, it is so frustrating. I think you can do a lot to improve them but I think they may always have that tendency.

 

[LEC]

I have used weighted boots to great success. I think now though I would be looking at Doda type boots instead rather than weighted as think they are better for the joints. I never had anyone to help me in the warm up so they went on to warm up in. My preferred choice would have been to put them on just before going in the ring.

On current horse I do not jump with any boots on at all and find that works pretty well. For some reason he just makes a better shape with nothing on. He is not careless enough to need additional help.

 

[TheoryX1]

We have used them for 4 years or so on Mini TX's eventer, who is inclined to be lazy behind. I invested in a pair of Doda boots and they go on just before she goes into showjump and are never used at home. They have made a difference, but the comment about being accurate into a fence does apply. However, I would say if you used them all the time to jump then the effect would be lessened. We love our mare to pieces and would never hurt her, but these dont seem to cause any distress, and are definitely BE legal.