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Veteran
Posts: 185
 
| I use the pro choice ventech elites on all fours when competing/running or when praticing runs or hard maneuvers. If I'm just out for a ride, keeping them fit and not doing any hard turns, stops...I don't wear them. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
 
Location: North Dakota | For daily riding, I typically do not put anything on their legs.
For barrel work, they get Professional's Choice SMB 3 boots on all 4 legs and Classic Equine Dyno-Turn Bell Boots on the front legs. The boots never get left on longer than 2 hours when I am at all-day gaming shows. I make sure to give those legs time to breathe because the neoprene holds heat. At a jackpot, they only get put on right before a run and taken off right after. |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | I'm always torn on just how much support boots actually offer. I haven't found any I like. Most of them are too bulky, too hot, let too much dirt in, seem to actually impede movements. I love my polos.
I'm trying to come up with a plan for my good horse. I use polos on all four. He will kick himself up high in the rear and I fear that even though the polos protect him from breaking the skin, they don't offer enough cushion for when he does it. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas | I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;)
I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear.
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear.
Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. So it helps. And they also help for horses that run down. It's all personal preference is all. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:10 PM
grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear.
Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Â Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. Â So it helps. Â And they also help for horses that run down. Â It's all personal preference is all.
Does he get those little "speed cuts" on the inside of his rear cannon bones when he runs?
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:15 PM missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:10 PM grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear. Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. So it helps. And they also help for horses that run down. It's all personal preference is all. Does he get those little "speed cuts" on the inside of his rear cannon bones when he runs?
I've never heard of them called that, but he will kick himself and have blood running down his legs coming out of the arena. The marks are usually up high and not down low, on the inside. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 448
Location: lone star state | My vet advised me on proper wrapping using polo wraps. When done correctly they do offer more tendon support than sport boots. Very very few people actually apply them correctly. You may cause more harm than protection if not wrapping correctly.
I like classic equine support boots and over reach boots. They offer the most support and are very easy to apply correctly. Their over reach boots do not cause burns on any of my horses.
I always use over reach boots no matter what I am doing. I only use protective support boots when working fast or making a run. I put on about 10 to 20 runners before my run. I take off immediately after running so that my horses legs cool down ASAP. Heat also causes damage to tendons.
Talk with your vet. They can explain how the leg works during performance and advise you on what is best for your horse based on conformation conditions and all the variables that go into leg protection. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:55 PM
I'm always torn on just how much support boots actually offer. Â I haven't found any I like. Â Most of them are too bulky, too hot, let too much dirt in, seem to actually impede movements. Â I love my polos. Â
I'm trying to come up with a plan for my good horse. Â I use polos on all four. Â He will kick himself up high in the rear and I fear that even though the polos protect him from breaking the skin, they don't offer enough cushion for when he does it.Â
Try SPLINT boots. They're not bulky. Not hot. And provide legit protection. They are what I use at home and when the arena is nasty. I'm going to try polos this season. I finally found some that fit my short cannon horse.
These are the exact boots I use:: http://www.resboot.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=5
They're actually on clearance right now. RES is awesome. You can choose whatever color straps you want (Or even order custom vinyl design ones from certain dealers) since the velcro straps are replaceable. LOVE them.
Here's an action shot of how they look on the horse.
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 Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273
Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon! | I only boot for competitions and our serious practicing.
I have a few sets of CE and I don't like how they fit. I use them to try to wear them out. I use them at practices.
For competition I prefer the Elites.
I bought a set of polo wraps but haven't used them yet. My good mare doesn't like rear boots so I thought I would try wrapping her backs instead.
My husband got the RES boots and I like them a lot on his gelding. I really, really like their bell boots. We've won a couple pair and I prefer them over all our others. |
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Go For It!
Location: Texas | missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:25 PM
grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:15 PM missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:10 PM grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear. Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Â Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. Â So it helps. Â And they also help for horses that run down. Â It's all personal preference is all. Does he get those little "speed cuts" on the inside of his rear cannon bones when he runs?
I had a super nice mare many years ago that was all cow bred. She did that almost every time I made a run on her. She wasn't the fastest horse in the pen, but she would eat up those barrels. She was a turning machine. But she would always get those speed cuts.
I started buying those big rolls of cotton and padding the inside of her cannon bones and then wrapping them with polos. She always did it up high too. I would just save the cotton and reuse it the next time - it would be form fitting, lol.
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Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:50 PM missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:25 PM grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:15 PM missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:10 PM grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear. Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. So it helps. And they also help for horses that run down. It's all personal preference is all. Does he get those little "speed cuts" on the inside of his rear cannon bones when he runs? I had a super nice mare many years ago that was all cow bred. She did that almost every time I made a run on her. She wasn't the fastest horse in the pen, but she would eat up those barrels. She was a turning machine. But she would always get those speed cuts. I started buying those big rolls of cotton and padding the inside of her cannon bones and then wrapping them with polos. She always did it up high too. I would just save the cotton and reuse it the next time - it would be form fitting, lol.
That's exactly what I have been thinking of doing. He's just so carn athletic. We used to call him Gumby because he can makes moves with his legs that just seem unatural :) He used to make a few runs where he turned the barrels on the wrong lead and you couldn't even fell it. He quit doing that when he started getting faster though |
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 It's not my fault I'm perfect
Posts: 13739
Location: Where the long tails flow, ND | When dealing with a tendon injury my vet told me split boots are better for everyday work to strengthen otherwise the soft tissue depends on that extra support . So daily work I use bells or splits. Running usually polos and bells, depends on the horse |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Mine get bell boots on every time we ride. I don't boot or wrap unless I'm going to do some serious fast work which is really rare for me.
When I run, I use polos all the way around on Chance, Clifford and Streak. Joker sets too hard for polos on the back so I use Professionals Choice neoprene skid boots on there and polos on the front.
I like polos because they aren't as hot as boots and they fit closer so I don't get so much dirt in them. I don't usually wrap my horses' legs until I'm ready to get on and start warming up and I pull wraps as soon as I get back to the trailer. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 237
Location: Ava, Missouri | I ride my gelding in Classic Equine sport boots and Dyno-Turn bell boots during competition. After every run he makes, I take them off to let his legs cool and if there is any dirt (usually not much, if any) I brush them off of the boots/legs.
When working at home, I don't usually put much on them, usually just bell boots or some splint/skid boots, depending on what we are doing. If we work more though, I usually put my sport boots on him.
I ride my pony in the same, except I use polo wraps on the hind legs, just because he is hard to fit.
I like sport boots better than polo wraps, since I feel they give them more support during the runs and turns that they make. Polo wraps do have more protection, but not enough support. Just my opinion, though.  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I use Iconoclast.
I put them on for runs only. Dry work and trail riding I will on put bells on only. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 223
Location: Idaho | missroselee - 2014-03-25 6:25 PM
grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:15 PM missroselee - 2014-03-25 8:10 PM grinandbareit - 2014-03-25 9:07 PM I run my horses in bell boots and splint boots on the front only. If I'm just exercising them then I won't put anything on them. But they aren't shod either. I just can't see how polos can offer any actual protection. Double wrap a polo on your shin and hit a barrel, let me know if it helps absorb any of that impact. ;) I don't use the big boots because they just seem too bulky to me. They are hot and look uncomfortable. If I have a butt dragger and I'm running on hard ground, I'll use skid boots on the back. Otherwise I won't put anything on the rear. Becuase no polos, he breaks the skin and bleeds. Â Polos on, he doens't break the skin and bleed. Â So it helps. Â And they also help for horses that run down. Â It's all personal preference is all. Does he get those little "speed cuts" on the inside of his rear cannon bones when he runs?
Race horse supply stores sell patches to protect from speed cuts. Speed cuts are tough because they are usually above regular sport boots. Polos do seem to help some. Thankfully for me, my gelding usually only does it when breezing. |
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