knee boots and hacking out

Zimba

Zimba

New Member
Feb 17, 2007
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My pony Zimba tripped on his knees while walking on the road af ew weeks ago. Luckily, the damage was no more than a graze, but I have now purchased knee boots for hacking out. The problem is that you can't canter in knee boots - what do other people do? Do you jump off and remove the knee boots at every canter opportunity? or do you risk your pony's knees and hack without boots? or do you not canter? If I don't canter, I spoil the hack for the friends I ride with.

Advice please.
 
Do you know WHY your pony tripped?

I am afraid that I would want to know why he or she had tripped before even considering a canter, knee boots or no knee boots. Knee boots only minimise damage to the knees if a fall occurs; they do not prevent the fall from occurring in the first place. You really need to find the reason for the tripping and tackle it before you are riding out again.

if it was 'just one of those things', rest assured that once you've found knee boots which fit securely and comfortably (a challenge in itself) you can leave them in place for fast work, jumping etc without any problem, even if it not specifically recommended.
 
I use the all in one knee and brushing boots for mine. I dont like normal knee boots as I have never quite figured why they wouldnt get pushed out of the way if the horse fell:confused:
 
my friend has roma one's and they're f;exible and solid like some knee boots, so you would be able to canter in them.....but i would defo try and find out why your horse tripped.....was it just laziness? does he/she do it often? Tripping is sometimes a sign of navicular i think.....rolled toe shoes help with tripping:)
 
We always hack out in knee boots, have done for many years and never had any problem cantering, you can even jump in skeleton ones.

I would never take any horse or pony out on a road without knee boots, knee damage is often serious. Think how easily you can trip on foot on an uneven surface.
 
Id very miuch agree that you must be very sure why your mare tripped. My mare triped today. She tripped about 6 weeks ago as well. Today we were in the school at walk, last time it was at trot in a field in the carriage. Shes now not driving AT ALL, its to risky for her, and riden only in walk. She is on a fitness program to see if its weight/sluggish issues, and is off to the vet oon Monday for xrays.
 
I've got some really nice leather knee boots and they stay up fine in canter, though some horses do seem to be better than others at keeping their knee boots on in canter. I wouldn't want to ride a horse that's shod on roads without them, or a clumsy one either shod or not. I've seen some nasty injuries from slipping on hills on roads.
 
Brychen said:
I use the all in one knee and brushing boots for mine. I dont like normal knee boots as I have never quite figured why they wouldnt get pushed out of the way if the horse fell:confused:
Click to expand...

I have got some nice leather ones that fasten top and bottom so i know they will stay in place ;)

As others have said if they fit well you should be able to canter no probs :)
 
I have the all in one boots as well, because the ordinary knee boots tended to slip down on my mare (she has very slim knees). I started using them after she spent 4 weeks in Leahurst following a nasty fall (I wasn't riding her when it happened, just leading her in from the field!) which really opened my eyes to the dangers of knee injuries. She was very lucky not to lose any joint oil. I'd really recommend the all in one boots, because the act as bvrushing boots too and you can definitely canter around in them.
 
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