Anything you put on the hooves will change
the way of going to some degree. With shoes, they are worn 24x7 and the
horse will adjust to them (most of the time). With boots, they’re
only worn a short time when conditioning or competing, so the horse has to try
to adjust each time they’re applied. And, there are so many
variables that can affect how a horse will travel in boots (or shoes for that
matter).
I have used boots this whole year to
condition and compete. But, I am having similar problems to you.
Part of the problem (my opinion) is that the boots add so much width and bulk
to the hoof that it is difficult for some horses to adjust. Also,
if they have a different way of breaking over they may need to have the boot
rasped to compliment their particular way of breaking over. Until the
boot is well worn in, it may be difficult for them to adjust to the boot
forcing them to load and breakover in a dramatically different pattern. I
know that a lot of people will tell you that the boots have breakover built all
the way around the boot, but it may still not be what your horse is accustomed
to. In addition, since there is no hind hoof patterned boot, I
think it’s harder on some horses to adjust to the rounder front pattern
when put on their hind hooves. I was hoping that with more time in
the boots (more miles and more conditioning) my horse would figure out how to
handle himself with the boots on. But, it’s not happening and after
our training ride yesterday he has about 4 new marks on both his legs (we use 4
boots).
I have to say……..on my younger
horse I have no problems with the boots. I think some of it is the horse’s
hoof conformation as well as their way of going. The horse I have the
boot troubles with is a big, powerful mover and has very forward growing
hooves. The horse that has no troubles prefers flatter trails, doesn’t
move nearly as big, has a steady 7 mph trot and has great, upright hooves.
I’ve talked with lots of people both
at rides and on the trail. What a lot of us are seeing is that many
horses really, really need a hind pattern boot instead of putting the rounder,
front pattern boots on the hind hooves. I think this would help a lot of
horses go better in boots. For myself, it is looking like I’ll have
to give up on boots on the one horse (my main horse) and go back to shoeing.
I’m sure you’ll get differing
opinions from different people. These are just my experiences and
opinions on the subject.
On my last competition ride, I put
interference boots on my horse and he was happy. He would move out big
again and galloped a lot more than he usually does when booted. He is
also gaited at the walk and wouldn’t gait until I put the interference
boots on. Since he’s not whacking himself hard enough to bruise
anything, I think this will get us through a couple more rides.
Karen
When I trotted her out for the vet, she said my mare brings her hind
legs inwards a little when she trots and it seemed it was the screws on the
boots catching her fetlock. Do the boots change a horse's way of going? I guess
if she is barefoot normally, she doesn't really have anything to catch herself
with...
Lysane
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