Best boots for support

[dawnb]

Hi Guys!
Wondering if anyone has any recommendations for horse boots for support? Rog had a check ligament injury and is being brought back into work, we're only hacking and 20 mins schooling in walk & trot at the moment but I cant help feeling that he'd be better with support.
Does anyone have an experience of any boots suitable ? Many thanks in advance

[touchstone]

I think that the sports medecine boots are supposed to be good, I have the weatherbeeta sports boots but have never used them so can't comment really!

[boz]

you have to be careful about this as there is one school of thought that says sports medicine boots and the like can cause over heating and as such further damage to a healing area. Also some of the support boots actually restrict movement causing an increase in pressure in that area forcing joints and muscles to work harder. If you look at the top class horses in all sports the do not wear support boots, they only wear boots to prevent bangs and strikes.

[dawnb]

Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll just leave it for a while and re assess as needsbe

[poppyandbea]

sports medicine boots support but at the same time i know of a horse who wore them for every thing and her had to always wear them as her became too reliant on the supoport.
but if you just use them for eventing sj canter work they are fine

[naria]

Hi Dawn

I think that if you're looking for support then correctly fitted exercise bandages are better than boots. They're also a lot cheaper to buy! I like to use prolite pads underneath but I know other people use fibergee or gamgee.

Naria

[dawnb]

Thanks for that I guess Im just being paranoid, with Roger only being on loan to me I would hate anything to happen and its always in the back of my mind. As we're getting a bit more active now and the hacks are getting longer with some little uphills Im just a bit worried that it will give way. Probably me just being a wuss as usual, Maria you're probably right about the bandages as at least they'll "give" to allow him freedom of movement - Horses eh, who'd have em!! Thanks again for the replies

[pip]

I always use boots for fast work, jumping etc. but my vet said that boots and bandages could only every provide protection, not support, as they are trying to support a 500 kg horse. If you do bandages too tight then that can cause damage.

[boz]

Dawn ,

the more you ride him and the more you do the more strength you will give his tendons, muscles etc. not fast work but slow work, hills and distance. these will help him far more than bandaging. Forcing his blood to move pumping his muscles without any restriction. You may want to get a magnetic boot to put on him after you have finished riding to help the healing process. not to be ridden in but brilliant after. Good luck. I know once you have had an injury you always treat that area with caution

[dawnb]

Thanks Boz, hes currently being worked everyday except Sundays
Usually do 20 minutes in the school either ridden work in walk & trot or groundwork/longreining then this is usually followed by 1/2 hour hack on the common. If I dont school, I usually just hack and then the times increased for upto an hour sometimes a little more. Hes definately not doing any fast work, although sometimes he does insist on jogging past scary things! Will have a look into the magnatherapy boots as if they do help they'll be worth investing in for him. Thanks again, I've never been in this situation before so appreciate the advice cheers

[Nettie]

I had the Sports Medicine Boots for Chelsea when she was getting over her ligament injury, they were excellent. We only ever used them if the ground was particularly hard, or in heavy going. The rest of the time we went without - so we had the best of both worlds.