Why Do People Turn Horses Out In Brushing Boots, Help!?

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FrankieBoy

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Hi, Sorry if I sound stupid - I understand the purpose of brushing boots, But never imagined a horse knocking himself when just grazing in the field would warrent him wearing a full set of brushing boots? Yet many people at my yard seem to turn their horses out in them ALL the time.
I ride mine in them, as He does come quite close behind, and has a tendancie to knock every now and then, but am now worrying that I should be turning him out in them too?

On the other hand are they turning their horses out in boots to protect the legs from mud etc, and I am just over annalysing everything?!

Any Advice would be appreciated!
 
i turn out in boots to help prevent mud fever and also injuries in the field as my field is very slippy in the winter and also she shares a field with horses that can kick and should she be stupid enough to get kicked the boots prevent most damage that may occur

ss.
 
I turn mine out in back brushing boots as he is very close behind and tends to knock himself plus all the geldings in the field do tend to play about a lot!

I know a lot of people are against it because mud and grit etc can get stuck down inside them and irritate the horse if they are on for long periods of time
 
I turn our lot out in boots IF new horse going into field,mainly just as extra protection.Usually take them off again once field arte settled.One of our lot got a kick in field and broke splint bone.Vet said if she hadn't been wearing boots leg would have been shatttered and pony pts.
 
Loads of people used to do this when I kept my horse at livery (now got them at home) and I really didn't get it with most of them. Their were a couple that did have awful conformation and were forever knocking themselves behind, but most were fine.

Mine goes out in over reach boots purely because he has a big stride and is forever pulling shoes off, and my farrier isn't that easy to get hold of in a hurry
 
You can buy gaiters that prevent mud from coming in to contact with the skin, hence, theyhelp prevent mudfever. They are called turnout socks.

Some people give their horses so little turn out that when they do the horse goes nuts and injures itself.

Some horses have very poor conformation and the horse 'interferes' with itself
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Some people just buy them because everyone else does and they think it shows they care/ they have money to burn.

However, they are best avoided unless there is a specific need for them.

You don't want tendons kept hot.
Mud and gritcan get down them and make the horse sore.
Providing constant support can weaken the tendons.
Horses can have accidents *because* they are wearing boots.
 
The only time ever turn out in boots is when in new field with new horses. Then they are on for literally 20mins whilst they settle. Would never leave them on as sweating tendons can cause all sorts of problems.
 
He doesnt seem to 'suffer' from Mud Fever, although I do understand prevention is better than cure, And although he's turned out with another gelding and has been seen chucking himself around on the odd occasion no drastic bangs, cuts, scabs etc have been found as yet - & I'd much prefere NOT to have to stick boots on him every minute of the day.
I just wondered if there was something I had been missing!

Thanks for all the replies.
 
I only ever leave my boy in boots in the field if he has moved home,then it only for the 1st half hour(settled down by then)!!Can cause huge problems with tendons,check ligaments(these being the main concern as overheating can cause a whole lot of damage)!!Even if i go to a show he dosnt have his boots on for longer than a few hours!!
 
I don't think we have ever turned our horses out in boots.

I wouldn't even think to TBH. I don't use boots very much at all, but can understand why people do, but I think horses should take some responsibility for their own safety sometimes - i.e. when in the field!
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Nope, dont like to turn out in boots unless they are specifically designed for turn-out use, to much crap gets inbetween the boot and the leg in my opinion. I used to know a girl that turned her FAT pony out in brushing boots as well as over-reach boots, the pony for one did neither of these things and two was to fat and lazy to go anywhere at any speed in the field anyway!
 
A girl at my yard turns out in stable bandages! eek- aside from the obvious dangers of getting unravelled and tripping pony- they get very wet and soggy and have rotted the skin from the back of its legs!
 
I'll turn my horse out in brushing boots for a couple of days if we have a new arrival (She only goes out in the day) Other than that I don't feel it's necessary for my horse. She wears one over reach boot on one hind as her shoe is seated out to improve a shunted heel and she kept catching it and a prolite pastern wrap on the other as she would catch herself with the shoe. I did think about getting some hardy chaps when I first got her, but I think they would probably make a lot of work, drying and washing etc.
 
I used to turn my SJ out in one back boot in the summer. He had a big lumpy scar on the inside of his back leg and in the summer it could get dry and then if he caught it, it would crumble and get scabby. Never turned any of my others out with boots though because of the hot legs issues
 
personal preference - i'll turn mine out in brushing boots if a new horse is going out etc. he always goes out in over-reach boots as he pulls shoes while playing which gets expensive.

just on the boots causing tendon damage - this is rubbish. they do not damage tendons due to heat retention nor do they provide constant support which can weaken tendons (they simply protect against knocks/brushing). they can though rub and cause sores and the horse may sweat under them, again causing skin issues etc.
 
I haven't ever turned out in boots, but that's because i've never felt I needed to...
I suppose it depends on the horse (or maybe the owner by the sounds of it!
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