Hind Interference: What boots do you use, if any?

[shadedingray]

Hey guys. It’s starting to look like spring on the east coast.

As soon as the footing is good, I want to get my OTTB mare back out on the trails for conditioning and a mental break from the indoor arena. My mare interferes behind and I typically use wraps or fetlock boots with a sausage boot on one pastern for ring work.

I’m not sure that I’m comfortable using the sausage boot out on trails. I’ve been looking into pastern wraps and extended hind boots as options.

What do you guys use for your horses that interfere behind? My mare tends to whack her left hind pastern area, not necessarily her fetlocks or above. She is barefoot, just FYI.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

First, check hocks. Arthritis can change the flight path of the hind legs and cause interference.

My late OTTB gelding wore a rubber pastern ring for years, 24/7. We did a lot of trail riding and it never caused a problem.

Trail riding in boots can cause problems, usually due to crud getting up under the boots and causing rubs.

[WNT]

I picked up the rubber pastern ring from a foxhunter. A lot of foxhunters I know avoid boots due to possible slipping and related problems; I found the ring to work very well. Doesn’t pick up seeds/stickers, hold water, or slip.

[shadedingray]

Interesting, thanks guys! Maybe I will give the rubber ring a shot for trails.

Melissa.Van Doren, I’m hesitant to check hocks right away as this is for a 5 year old OTTB mare that only raced 3 times. She doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on her.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

[QUOTE=shadedingray;8543045]
Melissa.Van Doren, I’m hesitant to check hocks right away as this is for a 5 year old OTTB mare that only raced 3 times. She doesn’t have a lot of wear and tear on her.[/QUOTE]

Sometimes they stop racing early due to physical issues. And race training is hard on young bodies, whether they make it to the gate or not. A 5 year old OTTB has had a lot more wear and tear than many other 5 year olds.

[Palm_Beach]

^^ Yes. Sound horses run more often than ones with issues. Although I will not say that she interferes because of her hocks. It’s conformation, shoeing, or a physical problem or a combination of the 3.

But glad to hear that you are having fun with a tb and hope you work it out.

[Foxtrot_s]

A very small adjustment by your farrier can make a big difference in the flight of the foot. Not enough to cause any major damage to joints by a big alteration.

[chicamux]

Barefoot horses often wear their hoof walls unevenly, IMO this may be even more common with the hind feet. This can then change the flight or movement forward of the feet/legs. I’ve had a couple of horses that interfered behind when I got them. With shoes the uneven wear was prevented and a very slight straightening of the outside shoe branch (heel) changed the hoof flight just enough so there was no more interference. The shoe change was VERY slight.

My current horse wears his outer hind walls off badly because he is base narrow behind which causes a twist of his hoof against the ground as he pushes forward with his hind legs. This is a confirmation fault and can’t be changed. He simply has to wear shoes behind to keep his hooves level. I suggest having someone lead your horse away while you and your farrier watch her hind leg movement. Do it before and after her trim.

I know you asked about boots and some of us instead talked about trims and shoes. Guess we hope you can “fix” the interference.

[shadedingray]

Even though I originally asked about boots, this info is very helpful. Thank you guys for all your input! I’m exploring my options here and am seriously considering when I can get the vet to potentially x-ray her hocks.

Not going to lie, the potential of having a just turning 6 year old horse with hock issues scares me. Especially since my older gelding has/had his share of hock issues, but he’s 15.

[shadedingray]

Just a quick update for you all. I’m going to have my vet flex her when he comes out to do spring shots/coggins in a few weeks. Will then potentially x-ray her based on the findings of the lameness exam.

Thanks again for all your input!