Open front boots on CDE horses, why?

[Quelah]

I’ve noticed quite a few times recently, both in magazines and at competitions, open front boots on upper level CDE horses. Does anyone know if there is a logic behind this, or are people just getting open fronts on sale and using them?

Having spent a lot of years managing h/j barns, and having seen the occasional extensor tendon bow from open fronts, it would be my last choice (after polos or some such) of leg protection for a horse that’s going to be working for a long period of time, and not going over fences.

What’s the deal folks? Clearance bucket finds, or is there a reason?

[sk_pacer]

If there is water to drive through, the LAST thing you want are polos or boots with any kind of liner that soaks up water - water adds weight, a lot of weight and weight changes gait, sometimes drastically and tires the horse. You also want something with a smooth liner so it doesn’t pick up every bit of rubbish and grind it into the legs. Additionally open fronts are cooler than the average regular shin boot.

[Quelah]

sk, agreed that polos are not a good choice, that’s why I said open fronts would be my last choice after polos or some such-I think you took that to mean I would use polos in that situation. No, I’m managed my share of eventers too, I’d send them out naked legged before polos on x country.

I don’t think the difference between having the cannon bone covered by a strip of velcro or leather straps vs a solid front boot is significant temperature-wise.

I would expect to see (and generally do) horses going out marathon in xcountry appropriate boots. My question is why would people use open front boots on horses that are not jumping?

[sk_pacer]

There are open fronted boots made specifically for driving (harness racing tack suppliers carry them) and they are pretty commonly used in bad racing weather. These only resemble jumping boots in shape but not lining and fastening is more precise and they leave more of the front of the leg exposed. As to why they are used other than foul conditions, ill gaited horses that strike the each front leg everywhere with the other three feet, and in a team situation, the hard shell on those make sense to me.

I did misread the polo part…sorry, I do that sometimes

[equinedriver]

I use open front boots on the marathon. I have several pairs of SMB type boots and need to list them all on ebay. I like the hard shell of the open front boots, I like the way they are molded and are easy to place correctly and stay in place. I got tired of coming in from a marathon with wet HEAVY SMB’s that were about 50% of the time, out of position at the end, including the time I had a company rep that happened to be at the event put them on for me, so, no I wasn’t putting them on wrong.

I also thought you meant Polo’s were your first choice LOL. So what do you think I/we should be using? I have competed now for 17 years and have tried a lot of different kinds of boots over the years. I’ve been using the molded open front boots now about 5 years and can’t imagine that I will find anything I like better, but who knows what new fangled thing might appear in the future, so never say never…Keep in mind that the protection we are looking for is to protect the leg from hitting a post or another leg, think side to side not hitting something straight on like a jump pole.

[CDE_Driver]

Really not sure… maybe folks assume the fronts of the legs won’t get bonked so they don’t need protection or support… but you would think that the upper level competitors would be savvy.

I have a horse that won’t tolerate neoprene so I have to be careful in my choices for him. I have a pair of Eskadron cross country boots that are closed front. I like them because they are rigid and if a hoof with a stud in it comes in contact with the other leg I feel like they will offer the most protection, but alas the lining is neoprene so they are a no go for that guy. His pair mate doesn’t care so he gets them. I am liking the Mr. Stockings boots, they are not rigid but seem to offer good full coverage protection.

Oh, wait… you weren’t asking what I did like

[equinedriver]

No, I was interested in what you liked, which I assumed was what you thought we should be using LOL. I drive a single and although I started a new young horse in the last couple years, I have driven advanced in the past. I have never had a horse come in with an injury to the front cannon bone of a leg. If I have had something they have grabbed a heal where a bell boot got torn off, and I have seen marks on the hard shell of the sides of the boots, but I honestly have never found a mark or injury on the 1" space or so on the front of the leg with the boots I am using.

FWIW, I NEVER train with any kind of boots at home, and for years I used borium drive in studs that stayed in all the time. I think the use of boots on a continuous basis actually leads to a weakening of the legs and leads to more injuries if anything, and the vets I have used agree. Also, in my 17 years, knock on wood, I have never had a horse injury of any significance with any of the horses I have driven, so I guess I have tendency to think if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it… The only time my horse wears boots now is on a marathon at a CDE. I put on the hard shell boots and bell boots all around and head on out.

[pegasusmom]

Have a set of pony sized NEW XC boots I use for marathon - same as my UL eventer. My guy still tends to scramble around a bit and I like the protection they offer. Hate SMBs

[Ashemont]

Small ponies, no shoes, and very quick and agile - so we’ve gone naked and have never had a problem. I’ve tried some boots but didn’t see any advantage.

BTW I do like SMBs for their intended purposes. I won the first Leg Up contest and thus have lots of them. Their ice boot, hock boot and regular front boots helped various horses recover well from injuries. don’t like them for dressage, though, as they do interfere with movement

[system]

mr stockings boots

CDE driver – where did you find these? I’ve only seen one source in the US.

[NRB]

I have to admit as an eventer I don’t see the logic in open front boots for anything BUT cones. The safety issue bugs me. A stick or other debris can get jammed into the open front of the boot. Have heard of it happening. Now an open front on a harness horse makes snese, they are running an a groomed track after all, so they are not running over twigs, sticks and debris.

I no not like SMZ and personally see no use in them for anything. They are too hot imo. I prefer the NEW XC boots, lightweight, breathable (esp the newer ones) and they have a thin metal plate to protect the legs. I have a vague recollection of some research done on tendon/ligiment injuries and the findings showed that breakdown occured during times of excessive heat. Moral of the story was you don’t want to cook the legs under the protective boot. So find something as breathable as possible. And the NEW boots fit that bill the best.

[CDE_Driver]

[QUOTE=TLP;5816464]
CDE driver – where did you find these? I’ve only seen one source in the US.[/QUOTE]

Advanced Equine has them but Wendy Ying, sportcobs.com told me she could get them as well. I didn’t find out the price from her though. I would like another set if she would beat their price.

[CDE_Driver]

[QUOTE=NRB;5816603]
I have to admit as an eventer I don’t see the logic in open front boots for anything BUT cones. The safety issue bugs me. A stick or other debris can get jammed into the open front of the boot. Have heard of it happening. Now an open front on a harness horse makes snese, they are running an a groomed track after all, so they are not running over twigs, sticks and debris.

I no not like SMZ and personally see no use in them for anything. They are too hot imo. I prefer the NEW XC boots, lightweight, breathable (esp the newer ones) and they have a thin metal plate to protect the legs. I have a vague recollection of some research done on tendon/ligiment injuries and the findings showed that breakdown occured during times of excessive heat. Moral of the story was you don’t want to cook the legs under the protective boot. So find something as breathable as possible. And the NEW boots fit that bill the best.[/QUOTE]

I have read that as well, that heat is the biggest issue. I have given a casual glance at the NEW boots but need to take a closer look at them.

[Quelah]

Just home from a fun but exhausting weekend at Shady Oaks, getting up at 4:30 AM everyday is for the birds (and why I’ve never had any interest in showing halter horses), but when you’re commuting to a show, that’s what ya gotta do.

Re why you shouldn’t use open front boots…in addition to the possibility of extensor tendon damage (why risk it if you’re not jumping?), just because you’re not jumping doesn’t mean you don’t need to protect the front of the leg. I watched a very well known and seasoned Advanced horse hit one of the upright posts with his front leg in the Fort hazard so hard people gasped, turned away, and he moved the post slightly. That horse finished, passed the jog the next morning, and went on to do cones.

Why? Because he had really nice solid boots on all 4 legs. Yes, CDE horses can and do hit the fronts of their legs on things.