Leg Protection

[Excess]

Curious as to what everyone uses for leg protection on thier horses and even if they do use leg protection. I own a pair of fronts and backs Professional Choice Elite boots. I only use them when I go for an extra long or strenuous trail ride or I ride in a clinic. But I know a few fellows here are working cowboys and I am curious to hear what people use and if they use them at all. And if you do use something, what do you use and why? And if you don't, why don't you? I can understand if you're out packing elks you probably don't want polos or too much on your horse's legs! So many people say leg protection is necessary. Anyway, I have used my boots once...ever. Lol.

[RockinCircleC]

Back when I endurance rode my NSH mare Ariel, I used interference boots. it was early on in our relationship and she really didn't know where her feet were, even at 6, 7 and 8 years old. I ditched all boots after a while. I figured they weren't helping her much, just making it easier for her to keep doing it instead learning not to hurt herself. Only took about a year or so and she quit. Of course my horsemanship improved and I could get out of her way or feel when she needed a little guidance.

[lmullen]

Long hauls in trailer-full wraps.
Arena roping-Polos
Outside-nothing.
Arena cow work or hard performance-Full boots.

All it takes is once!
Look at the damage some boots have, think of the foot.

[JRW]

Lmullen,
I am curious about why you do polos and full boots for different purposes. When you say polos are you talking about wrapping long bandages? Do you use those fleece ones or just knitted material? Do you use a cloth layer beneath the wrap?

Yrs,
JRW

[lmullen]

Polos, fleece, nothing under them. With bell boots. For arena roping, or just warm up and training. Pretty straight forward movements. Padding under the fleece is for trailering, when horse may be standing for a long time. i guess that's why they're called standing wraps.
Full neoprene for hard movements, cow work. Lots of crossovers and hard stops.
Nothing when outside the arena.

Polos breathe better than Neoprene. Neoprene protects better than Polos. Unfortunately you can scald the hair from you horses legs with full neoprene if it is warm and wet.

[JRW]

Lmullen,
Thanks for the details. I had seen those fleece bandages at the saddle shop but had not seen anyone use them.

Yrs,
JRW

[Weebonilass]

I use to use Polos every time I rode, but I've gotten lazy in my old age. I do drag them out when I trailer along with bell boots. It seemed to stop the little scraps he would get on trips.

Probably part of why I quit was because no one else in the area was using anything.

[JRW]

I was looking at leg protection for ponying the mustang Cisco. He has really pretty long legs that might get tangled with just about anything. If I ask someone to pony me, I figured I should provide them with some polo wraps. Thats how I happened to find them in the tack store. I thought they might be better than boots with buckles, etc.

Bell boots would probably be a good idea too.

I am hoping it will be pretty much a non-event when it happens, but having the right equipment incase things get dicey is a good idea. LIKE riding with a helmet!!! Heard there was a lady flat-hatter up in northern California that died of equestrian induced brain injury last week. She wasn't wearing a helmet, but do you imagine her horse was wearing leg protection????

Be safe,
JRW