Hind leg interference

[CrystalO]

It was noticed in a recent lesson that my horse is interfeing quite a bit behind. You can hear his shoes hitting and the past couple of weeks I have been noticing small cuts/scrapes on his fetlocks and the front of his hind legs right above the hoof. He currently doesn't wear any boots/wraps as he has never needed them. Ankle boots don't protect the area of the leg being affected, neither do cross country boots. My question is what have others used ? I know bell boots are designed for the front legs, but are they ever used on the hind? They are the only boot I can think of that could protect this area of the leg. Right now we are doing lots of leg yielding and bending-lots of dressage work so there is a lot of action happening in the hind end. Thanks.

[kedwards]

I used bell boots behind when I had this problem, but people on this board suggested "sausage boots," which are like a donut that rests along the top of the hoof. To be honest, I never tried them and never found them from US sources, but perhaps someone here could post a link to a source for you.

[casey]

Have you changed your farrier recently? If your pony has never done this, it may be wise to ask why.
I find forging or overreaching, sometimes occurs in horses that have dropped onto the forehand.

I too know of people that have used bell boots on the hind legs.

:)

[RachelEvent]

My horse has always moved like this behind, because of poor conformation, despite good shoeing.

I went for a while just using fetlock (ankle) boots or brushing boots, but after he cut into his coronet band, I've been using a single bell boot on one hind leg, which seems to have stopped the injuries for now! I've ordered a sausage boot, which will hopefully look a bit neater.

Rachel xx

[CrystalO]

Thanks. I think i'm going to give bell boots a try, before he accidently injuries himself. He's had the same farrier just about his entire life and conformationaly he is very correct. He is very fit right now and the level of work being asked has really been upped, I think it may just be a matter of him not being used to using his hind end as much in this manner.