Why do barrel horses wear boots

You are logged in as a guest. Logon or register an account to access more features. Moderators: luluwhit , gotothewhip , cindyt , crossspur , ForumAdmin. Extreme Veteran. Namesless in BHW. Elite Veteran. A Lady with Fight. Zanadoo88 - PM Ok I personally really like polos because I feel like I can get a better fit with them than I can with boots. I always wonder if the boots are too tight when I do them and I hate how they fill with dirt.

I think of when I get dirt in my shoes while running and it is super uncomfortable so I would figure its got to be similar for our horses. My question is am I missing something? I find with my experience that I like polos the best but overall would it be better to use boots? I usually wrap all four legs with polos but I want to do what is best for my horses so if I need to switch I will : I posted this in the product research section but I'm not getting any responses.

Undercover Amish Mafia Member. Hopper at Rood and Riddle told me to throw my polos out and go with a sport boot he recommended iconoclast.

He told me to get the boots off as soon as we were done running. He also told me not to wrap with polos when trailering they create too much heat on the leg and their are better options now.

Keep those crap slapping tails away! It may "seem" like they do but they don't. They're mostly benefitting our conscience. Let's just get that out of the way.

Boots are more rigid so provide more protection from bumps and scrapes. Polos will provide some protection, but just think if you wraps some fleece around your arm and hit it with something hard like a horse shoe, then put a boot over your arm and do the same. The boot is going to protect it better. Also, every time I'm at a barrel race I see many people with their polos put on way wrong, so if you use them make sure you actually know how and tape the top.

Am I really the Weirdo? View previous thread :: View next thread. Polos or Sports Medicine Boots? Moderators: luluwhit , gotothewhip , cindyt , crossspur , ForumAdmin Jump to page : 1 2. Last activity PM 22 replies, views View previous thread :: View next thread. Flat Threaded Nested. Zanadoo88 Reg. Sep There are several types of boots available, each designed to protect or support in a slightly different way.

Below we have listed the most popular type of boot and the key characteristics of each to help you decide which is best suited to your horse and their needs. We live in Calgary and there are a number of tack stores in Calgary you can get boots from. You can also order from Amazon, which is my favourite past time. If you are a beginner and just starting out riding we also have an article that outlines the best boots for beginners. Splint boots are a very popular option. The boots are designed to wrap around the leg from under the hock to the fetlock in order to act as protection, they mostly protect the splint bone but also provide some level of support to the cannon bone, tendons and ligaments.

You can also get boots with linings made from fleece which increase comfort and provide additional support. These boots are also known as sports medicine boots.

Up next, the importance of slow work and drills that will help members and their horses learn the pattern and work as a team. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. Barrel Racing Selecting the proper equipment. Did you find this article useful? Please tell us why Submit. Ready to grow with 4-H? Sign up today! Join 4-H. Youth animal science: Ethology. Exciting schedule changes to Michigan 4-H horse events in spring Wild horses are not subject to work in different arenas were footing may be inconsistent.

They were not worked on circles or arcs and certainly did not perform complex and repetitive movements such as the sliding stop or a western riding pattern. Your horse, probably spends a portion of his day in a 12 x 12 stall, standing around waiting for his next meal. The show horse is often worked times a week for a set amount of time before returning to his stall or paddock. Most show horses can benefit from some well fitted boots.

You can provide protection from strains, tears, scrapes and even hyperextension with proper equine leg wear, but the question remains — what is best for my horse. Choosing the best option for your horse is not a simple decision. You must look at a many factors before spending your hard earned money on boots or wraps. What type of event do you show in? A barrel horse will need extra protection from brushing and hyperextension from galloping and sharp turns and may benefit from a supportive sport boot.

While working your hunter you may prefer to use an open front boot to ensure they remain careful and your pleasure or all-around horse will benefit from a boot that provides support and protection such as a sports boot as they work in circles and in patterns.

Many Sports Boots are made from neoprene, but all are not created equal. Some less expensive options only provide two way stretch which limits their ability to protect and support the tendons. If you are going to invest in a new set of wraps or boots for your horse, lets be honest the details count. Options such as color and the opportunity to showcase your style can be a factor in everything we purchase for our horse.