Outdoor horses wearing splint/bell boots

[djnadeau]

I’m considering retiring my draft cross jumper into a field, but he requires special shoeing to stay sound, loses shoes easily, and his hind fetlocks rub when he’s trotting. For turnout usually, since he’s clumsy, he wears waterproof Thinline splint boots all around and bell boots but I don’t really feel comfortable leaving all that on him if he’s living outside permanently. I’ve had friends leave just bells on horses that live out but still show to protect the shoes, but most end up with rubbing issues unless they use fleece lines ones, but in Canada you can use those without the risk of scratches probably one week a year lol.

Has anyone else gone through this, or could offer me advice?

[GraceLikeRain]

I have seen a lot of skin conditions and injuries resulting from boots left on for an extended period of time. I would and have felt comfortable leaving on bell boots 24/7 but not boots

[Toaster]

In my experience most horses that live out 24/7 tend to play/run less (no pent up energy when they first go out or “dinner time shenanigans”), therefore tend to have fewer injuries.

Would you be open to a 30-60 day trial period of no boots at all?

[Clair2014]

[QUOTE=Toaster;8400350]
In my experience most horses that live out 24/7 tend to play/run less (no pent up energy when they first go out or “dinner time shenanigans”), therefore tend to have fewer injuries.[/QUOTE]

I’ve actually found the same thing. Maybe you could use boots for a few days to a week to transition him into the new turnout routine and then try going without and see how he does? Just a thought…

[TheJenners]

Nary a rub, my horse has been in regular ole gum bells since…this past spring? Thru wet and dry weather.

[Simbalism]

I occasionally have used flexible rubber bell boots when shoeing has been an issue. Both of my horses live out 24/7. I have never needed to use splint boots. I think most horses that live out all the time, don’t feel the need to cut up quite as much as a horse that is only out part time.

[burnedout]

agree with gum bell boots. My guy lives in them and have never had any rubs, which he did get with all others, even fleece. Also agree with hind boots for a few days to adjust, but then try without.

[Hawks_Nest]

Yup, pull on bell boots are far less likely to rub. Just keep an eye out for scratches/skin scurf. My guy lived in them all summer in the mud without a single problem (as a shoe puller and one that gets rubs easily, the only times he wasn’t wearing bell boots when directly before a show).

For leg protection you can also try fly boots, they don’t hold moisture in quite so much but still can provide some protection.

[yourcolorfuladdictio]

[QUOTE=djnadeau;8400321]
I’m considering retiring my draft cross jumper into a field, but he requires special shoeing to stay sound, loses shoes easily, and his hind fetlocks rub when he’s trotting. For turnout usually, since he’s clumsy, he wears waterproof Thinline splint boots all around and bell boots but I don’t really feel comfortable leaving all that on him if he’s living outside permanently. I’ve had friends leave just bells on horses that live out but still show to protect the shoes, but most end up with rubbing issues unless they use fleece lines ones, but in Canada you can use those without the risk of scratches probably one week a year lol.

Has anyone else gone through this, or could offer me advice?[/QUOTE]

First, fetlocks don’t generally rub together, he most likely strikes one hind fetlock with the other hind hoof (paddles inward). When combine with “loses shoes easily” and “requires special shoes”, I’m a bit skeptical of your farrier.

http://www.equipodiatry.com/hindlimb.htm

How many shoes does your horse need to wear? Two? All four? If the horse already has special shoes on, why aren’t the gait abnormalities being addressed? Is the hoof quality itself the issue for the shoe loss? Have you considered mineral deficiencies (they are fairly common in the shoe-sucking red clay of NC, so bad feet + shoe loss= need more of something, good feet + shoe loss= bad farrier).

Anyway, back to the question at hand:

Any horse wearing boots outside needs to have the boots removed and the legs and boots cleaned, dried, and inspected daily. If you cannot provide this for your horse, do not leave boots on. Even bell boots need to be lifted up a few times a week and cleaned and dried underneath or scratches and thrush can fester.

So yes, it can be done, but you have to be willing to PAY for the service to have the extra care provided, or be willing to provide it yourself. You also have to have that type of retirement facility available, not all retirement facilities are capable of dealing with the extra hours a day to wash and dry your horse’s muddy legs for you. So expect to pay well for daily boot washing/rotating and leg washing & drying. A few times a week wouldn’t cost nearly as much for washing under the bell boots and letting it dry.

I would expect, though, that your intent was to decrease your output (both time and money wise) towards your draft-cross jumper that may no longer be able to do what you want. In that regard, booting will either cut into one or the other.

[Sansena]

I would NEVER keep shin boots on a horse 24/7.
The skin would slough off. Especially with neoprene boots.

[djnadeau]

Thank you for your input, but his fetlocks do actually rub. Because of arthritic changes in his hocks it has changed his leg confirmation and it’s no longer safe for him to be ridden competitively. Secondly, the shoe loss has been a challenge for the 11 years I’ve owned him, he naturally over-reaches. Third, he has a hard time hardening his feet up without shoes, and has always gotten foot-sore when we try to pull any of his shoes, which is why we keep all 4 on. Fourth, my farrier is extremely competent, vet recommended, and has apprentices move to work with him from all over the world, but thank you for insinuating that I would have an incompetent farrier shoe my horse, and don’t actually fully understand my horse’s problems. I also understand the responsibilities that come with turning a horse out permanently, and I simply have not had the experience of wanting to turn a horse out 24/7 that has been benefitted as much as he has from boot use, hence why I asked if anyone had opinions regarding the boot use. Additionally, my jumper will be staying at an A rated hunter-jumper barn where I have another horse and will have the care he needs, I’m not completely inept, and I wasn’t asking for anyone’s opinion on how much time or money I’d have to spend to keep him happy and comfortable. So thank you for your opinion, but unless you have experience with horses living 24/7 outside and wearing boots, I don’t believe any of the other assumptions or scolding are at all necessary.

[djnadeau]

[QUOTE=yourcolorfuladdiction;8401082]
First, fetlocks don’t generally rub together, he most likely strikes one hind fetlock with the other hind hoof (paddles inward). When combine with “loses shoes easily” and “requires special shoes”, I’m a bit skeptical of your farrier.

http://www.equipodiatry.com/hindlimb.htm

How many shoes does your horse need to wear? Two? All four? If the horse already has special shoes on, why aren’t the gait abnormalities being addressed? Is the hoof quality itself the issue for the shoe loss? Have you considered mineral deficiencies (they are fairly common in the shoe-sucking red clay of NC, so bad feet + shoe loss= need more of something, good feet + shoe loss= bad farrier).

Anyway, back to the question at hand:

Any horse wearing boots outside needs to have the boots removed and the legs and boots cleaned, dried, and inspected daily. If you cannot provide this for your horse, do not leave boots on. Even bell boots need to be lifted up a few times a week and cleaned and dried underneath or scratches and thrush can fester.

So yes, it can be done, but you have to be willing to PAY for the service to have the extra care provided, or be willing to provide it yourself. You also have to have that type of retirement facility available, not all retirement facilities are capable of dealing with the extra hours a day to wash and dry your horse’s muddy legs for you. So expect to pay well for daily boot washing/rotating and leg washing & drying. A few times a week wouldn’t cost nearly as much for washing under the bell boots and letting it dry.

I would expect, though, that your intent was to decrease your output (both time and money wise) towards your draft-cross jumper that may no longer be able to do what you want. In that regard, booting will either cut into one or the other.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for your input, but his fetlocks do actually rub. Because of arthritic changes in his hocks it has changed his leg confirmation and it’s no longer safe for him to be ridden competitively. Secondly, the shoe loss has been a challenge for the 11 years I’ve owned him, he naturally over-reaches. Third, he has a hard time hardening his feet up without shoes, and has always gotten foot-sore when we try to pull any of his shoes, which is why we keep all 4 on. Fourth, my farrier is extremely competent, vet recommended, and has apprentices move to work with him from all over the world, but thank you for insinuating that I would have an incompetent farrier shoe my horse, and don’t actually fully understand my horse’s problems. I also understand the responsibilities that come with turning a horse out permanently, and I simply have not had the experience of wanting to turn a horse out 24/7 that has been benefitted as much as he has from boot use, hence why I asked if anyone had opinions regarding the boot use. Additionally, my jumper will be staying at an A rated hunter-jumper barn where I have another horse and will have the care he needs, I’m not completely inept, and I wasn’t asking for anyone’s opinion on how much time or money I’d have to spend to keep him happy and comfortable. So thank you for your opinion, but unless you have experience with horses living 24/7 outside and wearing boots, I don’t believe any of the other assumptions or scolding are at all necessary.

[djnadeau]

Thanks for the gum bell boot suggestions! I think that could work really well for him.

[djnadeau]

[QUOTE=Toaster;8400350]
In my experience most horses that live out 24/7 tend to play/run less (no pent up energy when they first go out or “dinner time shenanigans”), therefore tend to have fewer injuries.

Would you be open to a 30-60 day trial period of no boots at all?[/QUOTE]

Ya, that’s a great idea! He is also more prone to being silly in certain weather conditions so I suppose if I see him being silly after he’s adjusted I could also put them on just for a few days at a time too

[asterix]

I have had at least one horse living out 24-7 in Davis bells for years now. No issues although they only last 2 months or so…

[SAcres]

Perhaps you could try compression socks instead of boots? They should help with rubbing, can be left on 24/7, and are quite a bit more breathable than splints.

[yellowbritches]

I’ve had plenty of turnout horses wear bell boots, but I definitely would not have them in any kind of brushing boot. Just too many things that can go wrong. I don’t even like to turn out for a few hours in them (though I have, but I consider it the occasions necessary evil).

Does he only get foot sore, or does he go straight up lame without shoes? If he is truly retiring and his life will consist of eating, pooping, and sleeping, I would consider pulling his shoes as long as he is comfortable to move around the pasture. Will save you some headaches and eliminate the need for boots. Obviously, if he is so uncomfortable he won’t move around, then that won’t work, but he doesn’t need to be as sound for life as a pasture puff.

[beau159]

[QUOTE=djnadeau;8402957]
Because of arthritic changes in his hocks it has changed his leg confirmation and it’s no longer safe for him to be ridden competitively. [/QUOTE]

Can you further explain what you mean when you say his leg confirmation has “changed”?

What are you currently doing to manage the arthritis?

A horse who has pain in the hind end can make them much more prone to “scrambling” and very easy to catch a shoe.

[QUOTE=djnadeau;8402957]
Secondly, the shoe loss has been a challenge for the 11 years I’ve owned him, he naturally over-reaches. [/QUOTE]

For the amount of FORCE it requires to actually bend or pull a shoe, I personally do not believe that an over-reach boot is going to prevent it. My farrier has the same viewpoint. Especially if you are using a pull-on rubber bell boot, how can that thin little layer of rubber prevent a shoe from getting pulled? If the horse is over-reaching that bad, they’ll rip the bell boot and still pull/bend the shoe. IMO.

@djnadeau;8402957

Third, he has a hard time hardening his feet up without shoes, and has always gotten foot-sore when we try to pull any of his shoes, which is why we keep all 4 on.

I agree with the other poster: Is he simply foot-sore during a normal adaptation to going barefoot, or does he truly need them?

Have you thought about trying hoof boots to help him with the transition? Or simply make sure you can keep him on soft ground while he adjusts?

How long of time period have you tried going without shoes for him before?

@djnadeau;8402957

Fourth, my farrier is extremely competent, vet recommended, and has apprentices move to work with him from all over the world, but thank you for insinuating that I would have an incompetent farrier shoe my horse, and don’t actually fully understand my horse’s problems. I also understand the responsibilities that come with turning a horse out permanently, and I simply have not had the experience of wanting to turn a horse out 24/7 that has been benefitted as much as he has from boot use, hence why I asked if anyone had opinions regarding the boot use.

I would encourage you to further examine what you can do for his hind end problems, as you state he does have arthritis in his hocks.

My Red was pulling shoes like crazy one summer. Then after a few months of weekly visits to the farrier to reset or replace them, we found out he had a fusing hock and catching stifle on the right side. Since I’ve been treating those things, he RARELY pulls a shoe anymore.

Often times a horse that is in pain somewhere will “scramble” much more often, and catch a shoe.

[Montanas_Girl]

[QUOTE=djnadeau;8402957]
Thank you for your input, but his fetlocks do actually rub. Because of arthritic changes in his hocks it has changed his leg confirmation and it’s no longer safe for him to be ridden competitively.[/QUOTE]

I second the request for more information about this. Do you have a video, by any chance? I’m having a hard time imagining any physical way for a horse (without EXTREMELY odd conformation, and such a horse would never be even pasture sound) to regularly rub his fetlocks together while moving.

[J-Lu]

Dear OP,

I have a horse who also overreaches, pulls of front shoes, lives outside, needs shoes all around, has both a competent farrier and vet, and has to wear bell boots. I feel your pain.

For MY horse, the gum bellboots didn’t work because they didn’t go low enough. I have him now in Centaur bell boots in front and they go to the ground. He’s been in them for about 6 months now and he’s not rubbed anything raw, and hasn’t noticibly rubbed fur. He does not need them checked daily and he lives happily in them. his bulbs rub when it is consistently wet outside and sometimes I’ll take them off for a day or two.

It’s not true that horses who live outside run less. It depends on their nature and their pasture-mates, fence-mates. In fact, my horse used to run the fenceline with the neighbor’s dogs to play, and he ran ALOT with former, younger pasturemates. He’s alone now and doesn’t run much, except if there is change on the property (which happens frequently - training horses come and go) and then he runs.