Knee Boots

[zara]

^{Does anyone regularly use knee boots and if so do you have any recommendations? Tordi does trip from time to time particularly when he's got his lazy head on and I'm paranoid about him falling and breaking his knees. Thanks Zara}

[zara]

What has happened to the font??

[brigadier]

Used to use them on the workhorses regularly, the old fashioned leather type and they were fine. Things have moved on a long way since then so there will be something more current Im sure. What i would do though is check his hoof balance and ask the farrier. Some horses do grow a long toe and only a couple of weeks post shoeing can become a bit unbalanced, the farrier can also round the toes of the shoes to encourage breakover.

[haffyfan]

You can't get them for love nor money but i swear by porter knee boots. I'm down to my last two pairs though now so once they go i'm not sure what i'll do. I bought a copy cat pair (no longer made) but they were naff. I've heard the proffesionals choice ones are supposed to be quite good (but pricy) so they may be my next ones when these die. Tried to buy a second hand pair on ebay recently but didn't win them.

And in answer to your first question, i always use them out hacking...lesson from a nasty injury a horse on the yard i was at occured about 20 years ago, damage would have been severly lessoned had he had on his usual knee boots (loaner too lazy to put on that day, think she learned a nasty lesson too!). The porters, although not pretty, are the only ones that stay put if you go fast/jump etc. I find the other types slide down the legs.

[racaille]

Lol Zara I'm beginning to think Tordi and Paco are clones! Paco too will fall over his feet given half the chance particularly, as Brig says, if his feet are long. Frankly it's my fault, it only happens if I allow him to slouch along. Obviously a fall on the knees here is bad, given the rocks. If I wake him up he's fine.

I've always feared knee boots would fall down and be a hell of a faff.

[zara]

It must be the Spanish blood Rac! I've never used knee boots although I bought a pair for my old mare years ago but they weren't very successful and fell down I'll have a look for some Porter's or failing that I may get some of the brushing boots with the knee extension.