Westropp petal over reach boot??

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franlottie

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Opinions on westropp over reach boots with the petals on? I am looking for some over reach boots to do xc in when eventing. I have heard lots about neoprene falling apart, and rubber ones being long and more of a hazard for horse to trip on.
Thanks!
 
I have the neoprene petal version on my baby horse for turnout as he is a numpty and can over reach sometimes. I think they are great but he isn't shod so can't give a full review protection wise. They aren't overly long so there is the possibility the horse could still pull off a shoe but overall I am pleased with them. They wash up nice and don't cause any rubs which was my main concern as he wears them a lot. He hasn't lost one yet either which is a bonus.

I tried the ballistic material ones, but they did just fall apart after a few uses and the 'no turn bulb' was useless on my mare so it meant they were constantly twirling around which drove me mad.

I just use bog standard rubber ones for competing with the velcro closing. If you find the are too long you can always cut them down to size. If they tread on them they tend to just break. Mine did this the other day galloping. The big plus is that they are cheap as chips to replace.

With the plastic version of the petal boots, just be aware that some horses are not so keen on the noise they make.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/3704...rlsatarget=pla-181484356146&adtype=pla&crdt=0 - these are the ones I have.
 
I used to use them and thought they were good. They never rubbed or over turned.
The noise didn't bother that horse but suspect some it might (maybe turnout in them for s while?)
The only issue I had was I went through a lot of straps! Luckily I lived near a saddlery who sold them for £1 each!
 
They were very fashionable when I was a teenager back in the 90s. Everybody else used to swap petals to create multi-coloured versions but I was far too classy for that so had plain white ones to blend with his spectacular feathers (he was a black Sec D with white socks) I thought we were the bees knees. In reality we must have looked ridiculous with feathers sprouting out all around them and he didn't need them for what we did.

They did perform very well though and the good thing is if they break, you can just replace the broken petal (or more likely strap) rather than the whole boot. The strap can be fiddly, particularly if the buckle's clogged with mud. I often had to wash them down before I could take them off. They're also quite noisy. I have an old video of me and my boy show jumping (videos were rare I those days!) and all you can hear is the overreach boots flapping!
 
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annagain said:
They were very fashionable when I was a teenager back in the 90s. Everybody else used to swap petals to create multi-coloured versions but I was far too classy for that so had plain white ones to blend with his spectacular feathers (he was a black Sec D with white socks) I thought we were the bees knees. In reality we must have looked ridiculous with feathers sprouting out all around them and he didn't need them for what we did.

They did perform very well though and the good thing is if they break, you can just replace the broken petal (or more likely strap) rather than the whole boot. The strap can be fiddly, particularly if the buckle's clogged with mud. I often had to wash them down before I could take them off. They're also quite noisy. I have an old video of me and my boy show jumping (videos were rare I those days!) and all you can hear is the overreach boots flapping!
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😳 Erm yes this is why I had them! Mine were green and black alternating.
The faster you went the louder the flap.

They probably are quieter now yes :)
 
I use them, I find other types don't last 5 minutes with my mare. Yes they are a little noisy but my sensitive hoss doesn't seem to mind.
 
I used to love them, they stayed in place well and didn't rub, I loved the noise too they used to give my lazy pony a bit more umph lol
 
Gosh, do they still make them? I remember when they first came on the market. Never used them myself but I was a big fan of Westropp combined knee and brushing boots and found those to be tough, excellent value and did exactly what it said on the tin.
 
I loved the noise of the petal boots!!
The main issue I could see is putting them on. I sometimes used to find it awkward getting the strap through the final petal to do them up.
No problem on my pony who stands still but would never manage to get them on the ex racer who dances around
 
They used to be all the fashion in the 80's but not many people use them these days, the straps are too flimsy. Also the 'clack, clack, clacking' noise that they make drive a lot of horses mad in the collecting rings!
 
I have some from a few years ago (maybe 5 / 6 years) and the strap is much wider than I remember from my childhood - so much less fiddly. The images I have seen of new ones now look to have a very much wider strap again - which I guess would help with reduced noise also.

I put them on my young arab recently - totally forgetting how much noise they make when you are cantering. She had one little spook at them when we started cantering - but soon got over it ;)
 
fatpiggy said:
Gosh, do they still make them? I remember when they first came on the market. Never used them myself but I was a big fan of Westropp combined knee and brushing boots and found those to be tough, excellent value and did exactly what it said on the tin.
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I have NEVER hacked out without these on my horse and never would. They are excellent, and stopped my horse breaking his leg when kicked in the knee by an unshod pony; the kick left a cut on my horses knee but the boot saved him.
 
applecart14 said:
I have NEVER hacked out without these on my horse and never would. They are excellent, and stopped my horse breaking his leg when kicked in the knee by an unshod pony; the kick left a cut on my horses knee but the boot saved him.
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I used to turn out my mare in them on frosty days too as she had really bad knee arthritis and was at considerable risk of tripping and falling onto her knees as a result. A good traveller could wear them instead of travel boots, with a pair of overreach boots at the bottom to protect the heels. They wash up brilliantly and are ready to go again.
 
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