Re: Sport Medicine Boots

Samm C Bartee (bartesc@mail.auburn.edu)
Wed, 9 Oct 1996 10:14:02 -0500 (CDT)

Hey! A couple of years ago, I was interested in the SMB mainly for
support. I did not know if they would be a good idea or not. In asking
around, I found out that my equine vet knew the vet who did a good bit of
initial research on the boots. So, I called him. He is no longer with
the school that did the research, does not own stock in the company, and
has nothing to gain or lose by telling me about his research.
he has a DVM, and a degree in engineering. He also used to play pro
football!! Very wide ranging interests!! Anyway, he is currently in
Canada practicing vet medicine.
He told me that the boots are designed for support. He said that they
will retain heat and should never under any circumstances be used as
standing wraps, trailering, etc. If you are not riding, don't have the
boots on!! Otherwise, under normal working load, they did not find the
boots to cause heat build up.
I have found that they can cause rubbing, but a bit of vaseline ususally
does the trick. I have had rides where I did not remove them and my
horse who has horrible recoveries anyway did not have any problems
recovering even with the boots on---I did this only at a trot through
type check, where there was no extra time or water to remove and wash the
boots.
Generally, I remove the boots at every check and wash them out. It does
not take that much extra time.

Dr. Crawford also told me that there is no validity to the myth that
horses get dependent on them. I was especially worried about that aspect
of it, and did not want a problem just in trying to prevent a problem!
the horse will be out in normal conditions, without the boots anyway, and
unless you wear something all the time, the muscles do not get dependant
on them.

Please, I am only passing on what this research Vet said to me, I use the
boots and am happy for the most part. He told me that for a horse that
has had any tendon or fetlock type injury, they are advantageous to use
in endurance--from the research they did. Just never use them if the
horse is standing around.

I condition without them some, and with them some. I ride in competition
with them most of the time now. I have yet to have any problems occur
because of the boots, but of course since I use them, I can't say that I
have had any problems because I did not use them either!! I have
competed with or without them, and cannot honestly say if there is a
problem one way or the other.
I would go with what you use and unless you have a problem, don't change
it.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER:
I am not suggesting that anyone go out and purchase this product. Only
giving a different side of the story. I use the boot, and I like the
boot, but I don't think I will use them on all my horses. I have an
older guy with arthritis, and I use them to give him every advantage that
I can. I use them on my older mare for the same reason, but will
probably not use them on my youngster that is coming along.

samm c. bartee