Leg protectors?

Question

so I only do hunter jumping. I am not planning on going big in anything, but just staying in the lower levels. Anyways, I might do some small local cross country competitions eventually. What are some things I can use to help protect my horses legs? Could you please include some pictures of the brand and all? I am just wanting to do it for fun but still be safe. I wont be going any higher than like 3'3, maybe in a few years I might work up to 4ft. So, do you think I will need any protectors for the back legs too?

Answer 1

you need to use either splint boots or smb boots they make them for the front or back legs. also if you havent jumped a lot u need to take lessons as it is very easy for you or you horse to get hurt or ruined....check out statelinetack.com of jeffersequine.com for lots of boots

Answer 2

Hey there.

I always use boots on my horse when i'm schooling just to be safe. If you are doing cross country it is very important that you protect your horses legs. A few things can be done in order to acheive that. First off, if your horse has shoes, which it should if you are showing some cross country (Minimum front shoes with corks), you can use bell boots in order to ensure your horse does not pull a shoe or clip its heels while attacking the course. You can get slip ons, or velcrow, for you I suggest the slip ons for the event and the velcrow for schooling at home. The slip ons ensure that they will not ever fall off while you are doing your course whereas the velcrow tend to break down and the horse cn rip the velcrow open with its' stride or tear them off on a fence or by clipping theirself.

http://www.runningfox.com/productgroupde...  Here are some bell boots, slip ons and the velcrow.

Another suggestion you should go with would be front and back tendon boots. Their are special boots in particular for eventing that ensure your horses tendons are as protected as much as possible. But I am a hunter/jumper aswell and I use Eskadron gel-tec front and hint tendon boots. They are amazing. Nice hard shell with solft gel on the inside for the horses comfort and they are waterproof. Whereas some of the really nice leather and sheepskin Hadfield or Gygax boots are very very expensive and break down in water, those are meant for the jumpers for the most part.

Get your horse or pony used to items being on its' legs too if you are going to begin using some protection. I suggest starting to use some polos (Leg wraps) or some flexi-stretch schooling boots, the schooling boots are cheap, about $15.00 and are made out of fabric to prevent rubbing of the inside of the horses fetlocks, those are great to start because they are very comfortable for the horse, easy to adjust to, and inexpensive. I do not suggest Neoprene boots for cross country because they do retain water, the eventing boots are all the way around protection whereas most from the site I am giving you are open front for the hunter/jumpers. I heard of a brand for eventing called Woof that should should check out, they have lots of types and prices for eventing. Here is a site on that brand too: http://www.tds-saddlers.com/woof_wear.ht...

Here is the site you can surf to check out some various  boots for your horse as well as other tack for you and your horse. Keep in mind you have to stay protected if you are eventing as well, i.e. protective vest.

http://www.runningfox.com/productgroupde...

Ignore the top two brand of boots if you are not doing the jumpers, plus they are ery expensive aswell.

Email me if you have any specific questions, I am glad to help you out, it is hard to confine this all in one short blurb. Good luck!

-Jessie

Answer 3

For hunters you need to use open front boots:

Leather: http://www.beval.com/Products/Beval-Ital...

Other: http://www.beval.com/Products/Eskadron-O...

For cross country you need to protect the horses legs from brushing and hitting the fences. Do not use open fronts for cross country, because they don't offer protection to the front of the leg.

As for different styles look at these websites:

http://www.newequinewear.co.uk/index.htm...

http://www.simviation.com/dalmar/eventer...

http://www.woofwear.com/

http://www.nunnfiner.com/Boots-Horse-s/3...

http://www.boogalooboots.com/catalog.htm

Answer 4

Splint Boots are good.  They protect the legs when jumping

Answer 5

Cross country, at that hight, should have front and hind leg protections. Currently, I use Woof Brushing Boots for when I do my cross-country competitions for eventing. They have specific boots made for cross country that are light and flexible, but I found that they rip and don't have as much padding as the brushing boots.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/woof-double...

Link. Hope this helps! :) Enjoy!

Answer 6

personally i think you should always wear leg protection on your horse when jumping or any competition cinch has some great  boots for your horse sorry can't get any pics for u.

Answer 7

Usually for hunters, the preferred boots are the open front jumping style, in leather or leather like material, with straps that buckle instead of velcro. Some have neoprene linings and some have fleece linings. You can get matching fetlock boots for the rear legs, but some people skip the back legs. (Personally, I think the buckles take way to long to do up, but they do look good once they are on.)

For cross country, you need protection on all four legs. And it needs to go all the way around the leg, and not have the open front like hunter boots since our obstacles are solid. The favorite boots among all the eventers that I know are the Woof boots. They have several styles and price ranges. They are all made of material that will not hold water when you go through the water jump. Velcro closures go on more quickly, but can come open more easily than buckles which is why some people choose to duct tape their boots closed.

Neoprene boots are not good for cross country because they will retain water after the water jump.

Answer 8

for stadium jumping my barn uses use polo wraps:

http://www.stcroixsaddlery.com/Equine_Te...

and for cross-country, Saratogas:

http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductCla...

and splint boots:

http://www.smartpakequine.com/productcla...

Answer 9

I put them on both my horse's front legs and his back legs during cross country. Even with small jumps the logs always scare me. They make me think he will cut himself open. Better to be safe then sorry! I use splints for both back and front and sometimes bell boots too. For nice, waterproof, non-slippery splints get these; http://www.statelinetack.com/itemdy00.as... They are also pretty breathable if you ask me. I use them in the front and back if we are jumping any higher then 2'. You can also get Davis splints cheaper then most which is good when you are on a budget.

Another good brand are these, http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp... The only problem I see with those are that the splint pads on the inside are really big and I think they could defect their jumping. If you have a big horse though, I think it would be okay. If you get bell boots too then go with Davis brand for sure. They are no-rub and cheap!