Cross country hind boot question

[somanyhorses]

Hi everyone, I am after some recommendations for xc hind boots.

One of my horses suffered an awful hind leg injury a year ago, partially degloving a hind leg after kicking through a fence. He has now healed, however the scar is sizeable and unfortunately not all of it is covered by my hind xc boots, as it sits quite high on the front of his lower leg. A standard stable bandage only just covers the top of it, however I am struggling to find a boot in Australia that will cover the whole scar. I want to cover it as it is still a bit weak and possibly always will be.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, particularly from saddleries that ship internationally! Thanks in advance.

[Gotzon]

I had the Premier airflow xc boots and they were too high for my gelding… Maybe they will fit yours just right? They go quite high up to the hock area.

[somanyhorses]

Thanks for that suggestion! Do you know if they are longer than the dalmar hinds? Years ago I had dalmars but they were too long for my UL horse and I never really liked the fit (love and use dalmar fronts though!) so I sold them.

Also, what is the sizing like on the premiers? This horse is a 16.1hh typical tb, ie reasonably fine. I have found with many brands, a horse of this size and build is borderline as to whether the medium or full size will fit best. Thanks!

[Highflyer]

Probably your best bet would be to measure your horse’s legs and then we can all measure our boots I would be concerned that the stiff tendon guard on the front of some xc boots might irritate a scar depending on where it is located. You might have to do something like the Porter boots with Saratoga wraps.

[Gotzon]

Sorry I don’t have a measurement. I had mediums on my also 16.1 typical TB. When he would flex his hocks though, the boot was high enough that it would push the boot down and end up further down on his pastern and rub him. Premier is really good to deal with service wise though and I’m certain they could tell you measurements if someone on here can’t.

Here’s a pic, sorry best one I had, that shows how high they go up.
https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151699600111047&id=500981046&set=a.10151586778411047.1073741826.500981046&source=43

[cobiemurphy]

I’d suggest Premier Equine as well. I used mediums on my 16.1 and 16.3hh TBs.
Ashbree Saddlery and Valley Horsewear are probably the most affordable places to order them from in Aus

[somanyhorses]

Thanks everyone! I have a few friends with the premier boots, so I think I will borrow a pair and test ride, my gut feel is that they would not quite be long enough. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction to get them locally cobiemurphy, I haven’t shopped from either of those saddleries yet but they look great.

I would love to get my hands on some porter boots as I agree that would probably be best, but I thought Mr Porter had retired and I am not aware of any similar products on the market. Would love it if there are any imitation products?!

A friend who events and is a vet recommended using a normal boot and then covering the exposed part of the scar with some padding and wrapping it in place with some vet wrap… But I don’t love the idea of wrapping a leg to go xc, due to the expansion and heat.

[asterix]

I tried padding at one point when I had a wound to deal with and could never get it to stick properly for xc, but perhaps that was my wrapping technique :lol:

I also have the premiers and found the med to fit up front just fine but be very long behind. I have a 16.2 perch cross and he actually goes in the smalls behind. They are not quite wide enough but workable, and the length is better. I’d borrow some if I were you and see.

[Highflyer]

There are these knockoffs of the Porters: http://www.bitofbritain.com/Richland_Boot_p/0040.htm

I haven’t used them, though.

[bornfreenowexpensive]

I like my Kentucky XC boots. The guard is a bit more flexible then in the Premiers. After I had one of the Dalmer ones fracture (and have a sharp edge)…I’ve been pretty careful what brand I use. http://www.kentucky-horseshop.com/en/eventing-boots.html

But I agree that you are going to need to have some measurements to see what will work for your boy.

Several people have been saying these are quite good…

http://www.fourstarbrand.com/product/cross-country-horse-boots/boyd-martin-cross-country-boots-by-majyk-equipe/

Bugs me to have a rider’s name on them…especially one I know. No idea why…just does But they are affordable and seem a nicely made.

[purplnurpl]

I would go with Bit Of Britain’s porter knock offs.
Especially if you have a scar to cover…possible that the leg is a little bigger than the other? Porters and Saratogas will allow for this difference…

I still use porters and saratogas all the way around for anything over Novice.

[event_ryder]

I’ve got real (uncut) porters, as well as a pair of large
Dalmar hinds and I would say the dalmars cover more. I would agree that if you have to cover the additional scar then perhaps using vet wrap and Elastoplast/Tensoplast to cover remainder above the boot is your answer. We have a horse with a very similar sounding injury (kicked through fence and took down through hock and cannon bone) and we are able to ride/jump as well as turn him out with the wrap and it flexes with him but does not slip at all.

[somanyhorses]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations and links! I now think I might have to get new xc boots for my other horse… Just cos they all look so nice!

Today I measured my existing boots and they are about 10.5 inches at the longest point, and would need to be another 3 inches to cover the scar. Having looked at all the brands you have shown me and the dalmars, I don’t think any will fully cover the scar, so for now I will just wrap above the boot with vet wrap and try on friends’ pairs so I can see if anything out there will do the trick.

And bornfreenowexpensive I have the same dislike for wearing other peoples’ names on my gear! It could be worse though… I remember reading a quote from Calvin Klein’s daughter: “the worst thing about having a father in the fashion industry is that every time I am about to go to bed with a man, I have to see my father’s name all over his underwear”.

[somanyhorses]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations and links! I now think I might have to get new xc boots for my other horse… Just cos they all look so nice!

Today I measured my existing boots and they are about 10.5 inches at the longest point, and would need to be another 3 inches to cover the scar. Having looked at all the brands you have shown me and the dalmars, I don’t think any will fully cover the scar, so for now I will just wrap above the boot with vet wrap and try on friends’ pairs so I can see if anything out there will do the trick.

And bornfreenowexpensive I have the same dislike for wearing other peoples’ names on my gear! It could be worse though… I remember reading a quote from Calvin Klein’s daughter: “the worst thing about having a father in the fashion industry is that every time I am about to go to bed with a man, I have to see my father’s name all over his underwear”.