why dont...

[MiCsarah]

racehorses wear boots? every other kind of sport all horses wear boots but not with racehorses and just wondered why this is

 

[Toffee44]

Because they done need them.

Good hunters dont wear boots.

We over boot to be honest.

 

[MiCsarah]

I personally dont boot mine either, its just dressage, showjumping, eventing, driving. Everything is booted or bandaged to the max but not racehorses

 

[Jesstickle]

Some national hunt horses do wear boots but ultimately they don't often need them. They don't jump anything solid like eventers so unlikely to damage themselves on the fences and they so rarely cut into themselves it isn't worth the risk of a boot slipping etc to put them on.

 

[Fools Motto]

I was once told, that if racehorses wore boots, it would hinder their speed due to the extra weight the horse physically has to move with each stride. May seem like only ounces, but it makes a difference.
How true this is, I don't know!
I also guess, it must be quite tricky to get boots on properly if said 'hot head TB' is being a bit prancy at the races!
(BTW, TB's do cut themselves often racing, mainly 'speedy cutting', but as previous poster has said, too risky to boot if not done correctly)


We do, in general over boot. I only do for XC.

 

[ladyt25]

Some do wear boots if they are doing NH/Hurdles etc. I don't put much on mine boot wise as he doesn't really like boots on at all. I will put on overreach and open-fronted tendon boots for xc.

 

[Oberon]

Because over heating the tendons when they're at maximum capacity of stretch (gallop) is more dangerous than anything.