And I don’t think that’s an ASTM/SEI-approved helmet, either. 
I don’t ride on a lot of rough trails, but mine all go bare-legged, as do the horses of avid trail riders I know. There is more concern about the irritants (burrs, dirt, sand, etc) that get in under the protection, than the random scratches or even more random serious injuries.
Not that A2 was really looking for our opinion or experience, Beverly. :lol:
This morning I watched Chip and Toppy race around their pasture, jumping downed trees ( I leave a pine or two down, they love to jump them), racing tiny laps around the others who were at the RB feeder, then stopping to spar, rearing and biting and playing…at some point Toppy came down fast and snaked 'round as he tried to bite Chippy’s tummy…so Chippy ended up with both fores over Topp’s back, perpendicular to Toppy, while Toppy twisted around to bite his tormentor. Maybe they need full body armor, full time?
Yes they do.
:eek: Geeze! I was just curious what everyone else does, for the sake of conversation and curiosity. My feelings on boots and what I feel most comfortable with on my personal horse isn’t really up for debate. I was curious what OTHER people do, and why. For a long time I didn’t use boots for trail riding, except when the youngster was dumb and clumsy. Now I’ve seen enough and heard enough stories that I feel more comfortable booting for trails.
It’s really not a big deal. I was just curious what others do. Pardon me for asking the question. :rolleyes:
I used to do splint boots of SMB’s on the fronts always- saved my butt big time once. Was riding my mare along a trail, had to trail blaze a bit to skip around a fallen tree and got caught up in some low strung barb wire that had been completely covered in leaves (this was totally not a place barb wire should have ever been). It was loose enough to wrap around one of her front legs and thank god the boot was there because it tore the heck out of the boot.
I’ve gotten lazy lately but maybe I should go back to the boots…
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;5097750]
:eek: Geeze! I was just curious what everyone else does, for the sake of conversation and curiosity. My feelings on boots and what I feel most comfortable with on my personal horse isn’t really up for debate. I was curious what OTHER people do, and why. For a long time I didn’t use boots for trail riding, except when the youngster was dumb and clumsy. Now I’ve seen enough and heard enough stories that I feel more comfortable booting for trails.
It’s really not a big deal. I was just curious what others do. Pardon me for asking the question. :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]
Now, now: Keep your hair on!!
EVERYONE who posted told you what they do.
If you merely want an answer to a question then you might want to contain yourself to just asking a question.
That way you’ll likely not receive commentary (debate!??!) on what you post.
Seems to me that on the basis of a couple of freak incidents you’ve made your mind up and I’m wondering why the heck you’re even bothering to ask what other people do but hey ho that’s the internet for you!
<Parapharsing the OP here so no one confuses it with the above posts:> It is a good idea to use extra protection on the horse’s legs while trail riding, even if the horse has no need otherwise for any structural deficiencies that would necessitate leg boots?
I would suggest that if the terrain warrants it - ie: nasty rocks, pricker scrub, bushes, unmarked trail, tangled vines, etc - that it probably won’t hurt to add leg protection designed for the trail (please note the emphasis). Personally, I would not use anything lined in fleece or neoprene due to the greater possibility of trail debris accumulation under the boot. I have found less damage to hair and skin using the old fashioned leather lined boots.
It the terrain is more “civilized” - nice dirt or sand paths - I personally wouldn’t worry about leg protection.
If it makes you feel better to boot the legs regardless of the trail conditions, then go ahead and do so. After all, it is your personal peace of mind that you want in order to have a relaxing, fun ride without the worry of your horse being accidentally hurt by that trail. 
I don’t use any leg protection on my endurance pony. I do use pads on all four for competition - kneeling in homage to “better safe than sorry”. Those pads have saved my skin (and his feet) several times on nasty trails. Also early training is done with Easyboots over the shoes (shod without pads) on both front and back feet. I take very seriously the old adage “no foot no horse”.
But leg protection? No. Pony has no need and in 10 years of endurance (and 30+ for foxhunting on various horses/ponies including my endurance pony mentioned above) I haven’t come across any need that warranted leg boots. I often notice other riders (in both sports) using leg protection, but I never ask. Just suppose either the horse needs them for brushing …or the rider wants them on for peace of mind.
On my younger horse I use 100% leather ankle boots in the back because he does need them.
[QUOTE=Trakehner;5090931]
There are always odd accidents with horses…it’s just what they do. I think the simpler they can be kept and ridden, the less the have to try and kill themselves.[/QUOTE]
Sorry, I am re-reading this thread looking for some answers to my questions, and this quote struck me as A PERFECT DESCRIPTION of my horse!
:lol: Well put!
Hay
My horse wears Epics on the front feet and then he has to wear hing leg protection as he hits himself pretty badly. (A bit cow hocked.) I like the plastic coated boots, they are hot but he does himself that badly that there will be large carvings and ruts in the boots after even one outing.
I know when I’ve chosen not to wear hind leg protection, he’ll stock up overnight from hitting himself so hard.
Yeah, I know lovely conformation…
The mare is shod all around and wears rubber bell boots in front 24/7.
When working in the arena or out on the trail, which can be steep and always rocky, I don’t boot or wrap her. She has no interference problems, so I’m content to let her be in those conditions.
However, while hunting, I do put open front boots all around. They’re the kind with the hard shell on the outside. I’ve heard a few too many stories of horses around here managing to get cactus spines and other things through their tendon sheaths.
She really hates having boots; she doesn’t even like having them put on her. Once they’re on, she will stomp around a bit/chicken dance and then settle down about it. But, she is valuable enough to me to make her wear them when we tear around in the desert after the beagles.
I don’t find too much sand in them afterward and only once in two years has she gotten a bit of a rub.
I don’t put shoes on my mare - ever. I used the Original Old Mac boots on her - all four feet. I swear by them. Her feet are in great shape (no shoes mean no nails) and the boots have saved me hundreds of dollars in farrier costs. They have never come off while riding and they have never made her sore. We have logged hundreds of trail miles with them and depending on how hard/much you ride, you can get 3 or 4 yrs of use out of one set.
hmmm, depends on the trail. If I’m gonna heat up the horse with a lot of trot and canter I stay on clear easy trails and wear nothing but Gloves on the front hooves. However, if for some reason my horse has less calluss on the frog or sole (some fungus trimming or whatever) I place a boot on that hoof too.
If however I intend to go “bush crossing” where I can’t see anything below my knees sometimes, I avoid heating up the horse so I can wear complete leg protection. I’ve gone so far as using knee protectors on some trails that we practically swam through the bush with spiky undergrowth and branches everywhere. A fellow vet that’s a veteran on these problems says she’s had to treat some very nasty infections from simple plant spikes that where left in the skin. My horse is preety tough but I didn’t like the sound of that so preffer not to risk it.
I’ve found the common dressage protectors to be the ones that never get tangled on anything, don’t come off, don’t slip down and keep the shape even if soakin wet. They never did any rubbing either. I do take them off and stuff them in the saddlebag if I know I’ll be on easy treks later or if we stop for lunch.
here’s a pic of one: http://images.productserve.com/preview/2102/45850200.jpg
avoid those that are stiff and solid. You should see transparent wholes through the entire boot if you turn it to the light and they should have a little elasticity. Avoid the ones that don’t have stiching around the entire border and they’ll be destroyed preety fast with the trail’s undergrowth. And lastly, thick velcros with a cute rubber cover may be very handy and easy to handle but the branches will thing the same and take them off for you, LOL. plain old thin velcro straps that are a pain to get off are the best!
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