I do barrel racing/gymkhana and was wondering if I should start using bell boots. I currently use sports medicine boots to provide extra support and prevent my horse from hyperextending anything. I know a lot of people do use bell boots, but should you use them or are they optional? My horse does not have a problem (I haven’t really started pushing him yet though) with over reaching or anything similar to that that could damage the back of the foot.
If you want to use them there really is no reason not to, but if there’s no over-reaching problem I wouldn’t waste the money. They aren’t a necessity.
Just because overreaching isn’t a constant problem doesn’t mean your horse won’t do it once or twice when giving a big effort. You don’t want him to clip himself and then be too afraid to go hard again. They’re not that expensive and would be a good preventative action
Myself personally, YES, bell boots are a necessity for doing barrel racing and gymkhana. My horses don’t normally overreach either, but I’d much rather replace a torn bell boot than wait for a flesh injury to heal. Anything can happen when you ask a horse to make fast hard moves with speed.
Too many things can happen in the pen. Bell boots can be cheap insurance at times.
