Your views on your horse wearing boots please?

Demolition_Derby

Demolition_Derby

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I had an interesting conversation with a few friends and it got me thinking...

I have never put boots on my horse because she simply doesn't need them. She doesn't brush, overreach or anything like that but if she did I wouldn't have a problem using them. Plus I do a lot of hunting and I found with previous horses that they slip/come off etc.

One of points raised was that my friend believes that by putting boots on everyday (especially tendon boots) you are softening the leg and actually weaking the tendons in the long run? I have never though about this before so wondered your views.

Another point was that by not wearing any boots you are damaging the leg especially if you do roadwork. There is nothing to provide a shock absorber from the impact, particularly in trot.

I had never really though about any of these points before so wondered what everyone else's view was?
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I put boots on my horse to protect against impact injuries. be they from striking into itself jumping or brushing. One of mine does brush - in the fields I leave him in sausage boots all the time. Hacking out I put on brushing boots and for XC and SJ i put on boots with kevlar protection down the tendons on the front legs and down the canons on the back. I add over reach boots when doing lunging, fast work and jumping. I never use tendon support boots or any that come over the fetlock as I believe they cause additional tension in teh tendon and can increase the likelihood of damage. I am also wary of overheating his tendons.

On my two other horses I don't bother with boots for flatwork and hacking, but add them for jumping lunging and hunting
 
Boots cannot act as a shock absorber for concussion, only against knocks abd bangs.

The leg is suspended via a system of internal tendons and ligaments, wrapping a boot round the outside will not help that.
 
I agree with that, wraping boots around cant offer support!!! I also got taught in ex-phys at uni, that when a horse gallops the temp of the tendon goes up to 40+ Degrees a tendo breaks down at 45 degrees so you can see how close it is!!!
I use tendon boots for SJ, and fetlock boots on the back!!!! (as he is close behind) only put brushing boots on XC or when ground soft in case he kicks himself!!!!
its all very complicated
 
i put brushing boots on in front for lunging, hacking sometimes, jumping and flatwork sometimes, and then overreach boots on when i put his brushing boots on just for extra protection, for xc i will but brushing boots on hinds, i might think about getting some tendon boots for his fronts when jumping
x
 
it is proven (i read a very long recent vet report) that boots actually reduced the leg's natural shock-absorbing capabilities, believe it or not. they kind of stop the shockwaves from disippating outwards, iirc.
i don't think having boots on for exercise is detrimental, as it's not usually for long.
fwiw, i now:
never put boots on for turnout, only over-reach boots if shod long.
always hack out in front boots with tendon guards (lots of scary pheasants around our way, and a bashed tendon or splint would really screw things for the season!)
always jump with open-fronted tendon boots, and overreach boots.
never use "hot" boots, e.g. fleece lined.
take boots off immediately after exercise, especially xc, they're the first thing off the horse after me!
i sometimes use Back On Track front boots at night in the stable, to improve circulation and help heal any micro-tears etc from the day's work. they are on from 10pm to 8am.
i like the legs naked as much as possible so i can see and feel what's going on.
no boot or bandage can support the tendons... unless it's the dalmar special type, which isn't even on the market yet.
 
I have heard a about tendon boots "cooking" horses tendons, and as my chap is a very careful irish bog baby I tend not to use boots for showjumping. XC he is booted up to the eyeballs, and he has a set of everyday boots for canter work, but I don't use them for showjumping. A lot of people in the pony club are amazed by this fact and often, during tack checks, question my reasoning.
P.s... the other day i bought some anky wrap around boots, cost me an arm and a leg, what do you guys think?
 
[ QUOTE ]
I agree with that, wraping boots around cant offer support!!! I also got taught in ex-phys at uni, that when a horse gallops the temp of the tendon goes up to 40+ Degrees a tendo breaks down at 45 degrees so you can see how close it is!!!
I use tendon boots for SJ, and fetlock boots on the back!!!! (as he is close behind) only put brushing boots on XC or when ground soft in case he kicks himself!!!!
its all very complicated

[/ QUOTE ]

A degree of internal temperature is actually a very big difference...

My horse moves close on all legs so have her in SMBs on the front and Woof wraps on the back...
According to everything I've read on this forum, this is pretty much the worst combo possible BUT I bought her brushing boots originally which rubbed & slipped all over the place so wanted something more flexible.
 
I don't use boots for the same reason as you - my horse doesn't need them.

He doesn't over-reach, well, he did once in the field but it healed fine, I'm not about to start booting him to go out, lol. He doesn't knock himself jumping and we only jump 3' courses max at the moment (though he jumps things like they're 4') so it's not like he's jumping enormous courses.

He's very careful x-country so I don't need them. Showjumping he can get a bit lazy as he knows the jumps will come down so I think he might be worse if he had boots on!
I don't boot for hunting as I don't want rubs or mud to get stuck under them or for them to get caught in something.

I've not studied biology so will stand corrected but I can't imagine why boots will make any difference shock absorbance wise. Although I would say the same goes for the theory that they'll weaken the leg. If you put bandages on every day that might effect them but even then I can't see how?
 
I only use boots when needed. On my ponies and arab never did for anything.

First TB - after she fractured her fetlock I found I needed sports medicine boots on front - she was a daft old bag and jogged and bounced everywhere and would occasionally knock herself. If doing jumping or XC would add hind boots.

2nd TB - boots for XC and jumps over 2'6 but not for anything else.

WB - she did wear boots as she was a daft bag and prone to hitting herself. Eventually when she calmed not for hacking.

Hairy cobs and clydesdale - never. They have natural protection against scrapes and on the whole are sure footed and not daft.

Chancer has never worn boots for lunging or anything and unless I do some jumping over 2'6 or XC will not use them.

Apart from Cairo due to old age and Breeze due to a field accident, I have been very lucky with not having leg problems and this may be due to not wrapping them up or very good luck.
 
My mare brushes really bad behind (you should see the state of her boots) hence why she wears boots behind.
She over reaches when we jump/fast work and looks a bloody mess...which is why I wear over reach boots for those!
 
Very good point, because I've always thought about this too, so many boots/wraps/bandages on the market today.

Ok, my rule of thumb is, Yes if I'm trying to soften the blow and help prevent the horse from any pain from knocks, in disciplines such as SJ/XC or hunting etc etc, I think that's pretty much common sense because at the end of the day it is you that is asking your horse to risk banging his legs.

Horses are born with all the equipment they need to lead pretty much a normal way of life, its only if we take this to the extreme and put their legs under a lot of pressure they break down with tendon problems or other similar problems etc, I'm sure if they required extra support then they'd be born with exercise wraps on!

However, I do not knock anyone that goes out of there way to protect their horses legs.

Some people will argue and say that a dressage horse's legs are put under far more pressure than a show jumpers legs for instance, which again if you think about it you can understand.

Also some people will start their youngsters off under saddle covered in over reach boots and brushing boots and god knows what, I personally think the horse should discover to balance, track up and place his feet correctly by his own mistakes, but again if the horse is constantly striking itself and causing damage then yes, bandage away and slap them boots on.

Each to their own I'd say.
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I've had one horse that wore brushing boots on her hinds only, she did need them. My view is, if the risk of a strike type injury is greater than the risk of wearing them unecessarily, then put them on (i.e. xc or whatever). I wouldn't use them for support purposes at all unless it was for veterinary reasons. Think about human runners: they don't go out togged up in neoprene supports, tubigrips and so on unless they have an injury.

I think there are a fair few people who use boots like they use flash nosebands, martingales and so on - for appearance. It's just a case of weighing whether they are actually needed or not I suppose.
 
Bigger Welsh - who I've just agreed to sell!! - doesn't normally wear boots, he's very agile and careful and not normally shod at the back. He jumps 3' XC and 3'6 SJ without them.

The two big horses are both very close behind and need to wear brushing boots, they also wear over reach boots fore and aft as I've had problems.
 
I boot Star whenever I ride as she has been known to do a spectacular shy almost on the spot and crack one of her legs with another one. Must admit I use fluffy boots in the winter and lightweights in the summer. She always wears overreach boots and the state of the current pair prove that she needs them. She has tendon/fetlock boots for jumping as well. My last horse never wore any but Star does seem to have a penchant for self harm!

Jo x
 
I only use brushing boots for hacking.

I bandage at least behind for schooling - fluffy polo ones, and xc I bandage all 4s with elasticated ones and wraps underneath with overreach boots on.

Jumping he has tendon boots and fetlock boots on.

ETS I never usually would if he didnt need them - but his supermodel legs are his best asset...
 
One lady at my yard puts over-reach boots and polo bandages on for gentle exercise (which is all he can do now, he's 19), stable bandages at night and boots on in the field! It is rare to see his legs naked lol. This seriously can't be good.

I always school and lunge mine in bandages, and would always jump with brushing/tendon boots and over-reach boots.
 
George wears overreach boots for exercise and in the field because he is shod long at the front, he wears brushing boots because he does have a tendency to brush esp at the back and if he's being lazy.
 
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