Lamaze disqualified after winning Aachen Youngsters Cup - use of hind boots

[Blugal]

COTH story here.

Can someone explain the reasoning behind the rules on hind boots for these young jumper classes?

All hind leg protections must have a maximum interior length of 16 centimetres; the width of the fastener must be at least five centimeters.

The inside of the protection must be smooth. Only non-elastic Velcro-type fasteners are permitted; no hooks, buckles, clips or other methods of attaching the fasteners may be used; the rounded rigid part of the protection must be placed around the inside of the fetlock; no additional elements may be used in conjunction with the protection."

I was thinking about all the hind boots I have in my barn (I’m an eventer) and none of them would fulfill these criteria (wrong size; and most of them have elastic in the straps). Then I thought, no big deal, I’m not in these classes - but the horse I’m riding is 7 and aiming for FEI competition this fall, so wouldn’t the same principles apply?

[DoubleTwistedWire]

Huh. I’d be interested in seeing what boots he was using. I’d also be curious as to what incident caused them to pass such an oddly specific rule–essentially velcro fetlock boots only. And a width of 16cm is roughly 6", which seems pretty small for fetlock boots on a big horse.

[Blugal]

Yes, that is exactly what I was thinking.

I know some top eventers got caught on this rule last year - William Fox-Pitt in an 8/9 year old class (hardly young horses at this point, I would say).

[faraway46]

Specifications are to limit boots “enhancing” the back end…

I think the purpose of the specifications are due to some type of fetlock boots that were allowed a few years ago, which “enhanced” the back end by having some bulge on the inside of the boot that sat on the tendons, plus tight elastics. They pinched the tendons during take off and made the back end flip higher over the jumps. Before that, there were weighted back end boots. All this, at least as far as I know, were limited during Young Horse competitions. Apparently, Fox-Pitt was eliminated also during a Young Horse trial. I think they are still allowed in bigger jumper competitions, though.

[vineyridge]

Not young horse boots, but there is (or was) an FEI jumper rule limiting the weight of boots. Phillip Dutton was disqualified in eventing at the Hong Kong Olympics under that rule which came over from Jumpers.

[dani0303]

I know the rule was put into place to prevent Doda boots and pinch boots from being used in the show ring. It does sound like it’s overly specific though. My leather fetlock boots wouldn’t be appropriate because they have buckles instead of velcro? That seems a little excessive.

[hoopoe]

I am far removed from the over fences scene. My puzzlement is the non-elastic part

Particularly in the hind leg, there is so much dimensional change as a horse places and flexes during a foot fall, let alone a deep jump. Non-elastic, in my mind equals non-yielding.

Must non-elastic boots be places slightly looser to compensate for the lack of give? Does that not present more risk? Does that not allow foreign body entrapment?

I can remember all leather fetlock protection, with strap and buckle, in the pre-velcro days. Healthy leather straps have give.

I cannot envision the item the rule designs. It sounds small and unyielding

[Pennywell_Bay]

Is it a safety issue?

[Addison]

It is a horse welfare issue. The rule and subsequent new rule regarding the steward’s authority to inspect the application of the boots prior to competing, is to prevent the abuse that some trainer/riders have been relying upon to get a horse to use its’ hind end better.

Velcro will give way when overly stressed which is why it is used in breakaway halters and cross ties. Leather and elastic will eventually break but only after considerably more stress is applied.

[BEARCAT]

The last line of the article has me puzzled: “New regulations regarding hind boots, which state hind boots must be removed and then replaced in the presence of a steward in the warm-up arena before entering the competition ring, became effective July 1.”

Wouldn’t the steward have noticed that type of boots weren’t allowed?
Shouldn’t he/she have notified the rider?
(I don’t know how this works, so I am truly asking those 2 questions.)

[Denzel]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;7672074]
The last line of the article has me puzzled: “New regulations regarding hind boots, which state hind boots must be removed and then replaced in the presence of a steward in the warm-up arena before entering the competition ring, became effective July 1.”

Wouldn’t the steward have noticed that type of boots weren’t allowed?
Shouldn’t he/she have notified the rider?
(I don’t know how this works, so I am truly asking those 2 questions.)[/QUOTE]

It is my understanding that the rule permits for the boots to be checked after the competition if the horse is unruly and they cannot safely do the boot check at the in gate. So they may have not checked the boots until after his round, and it may not have reached the officials before placings were announced? That is my assumption, but I could be way off.

Based on their description, pretty well the only legal boots are the Eskadron type hind boots, I know none of the boots I have would qualify either. My horse is a hunter so moot point, but at his size, the Eskadron boots and the knock-offs just DON’T fit, they look comically small on him. Seems a little too restrictive IMO.

[pattnic]

Can someone post an example of a hind boot permitted under these rules? I understand a velcro-fastening fetlock boot would meet the criteria… but who makes one without elastic?

[ParadoxFarm]

I don’t keep up with the rules because I don’t show at that level. But people who earn their income and livelyhoods I would expect to know the rules. Even new rules. Do you think pros just don’t keep up with rule changes? I can see an ammy missing a rule, but would think pros are up on those things. Or is just the bad dissemination of rules?

[ybiaw]

Here is an example of a legal hind boot for “young horses” per FEI rules.

https://www.equi-ads.com/fei-approve-veredus-young-jump-boots/

[Jealoushe]

This rule is ridiculous.

[nutmeg]

I would call it a step in the right direction. I’d like to see pinch boots or Doda boots completely disallowed. The horse has no way to escape the constriction of its back tendons. Not much different than soring in my book. At least with old-fashioned poling, the horse has the option of throwing the schmuck off. And with old fashioned bottlecaps in the boots the groom has at least a refreshing beverage to ease their tormented conscience.

[findeight]

[QUOTE=BEARCAT;7672074]
The last line of the article has me puzzled: “New regulations regarding hind boots, which state hind boots must be removed and then replaced in the presence of a steward in the warm-up arena before entering the competition ring, became effective July 1.”

Wouldn’t the steward have noticed that type of boots weren’t allowed?
Shouldn’t he/she have notified the rider?
(I don’t know how this works, so I am truly asking those 2 questions.)[/QUOTE]

I think that refers to the presence of foreign objects or substances inside the boots or straps. Not the dimensions.

[findeight]

@nutmeg;7672267

…At least with old-fashioned poling, the horse has the option of throwing the schmuck off. And with old fashioned bottlecaps in the boots the groom has at least a refreshing beverage to ease their tormented conscience.

Excuse me while I go wipe the yuppie flavored fizzy water I just spewed on my screen off…:lol:

[faraway46]

[QUOTE=vineyridge;7671666]
Not young horse boots, but there is (or was) an FEI jumper rule limiting the weight of boots. Phillip Dutton was disqualified in eventing at the Hong Kong Olympics under that rule which came over from Jumpers.[/QUOTE]
Yes. I mentioned that earlier. Before the “Doda” type boots were weighted. That has been banned about 5 or 6 years ago, give or take. Then came the pinch type and now those are banned too, but only for Young Jumper classes. I might think that the directions this is going to is total ban of these type of boots in the future.

[Blugal]

Ok, I see the point of not having harmful boots; but it really seems to limit the options (if there are any?). Traditional brushing boots are out (too long); traditional ankle boots are out (leather buckled straps); would this rule mean I couldn’t even use polo wraps? (I know, it’s not “done” - but I have used those on an eventer who kept whacking an old scar on his ankle and then missing competitions as a result.)