Over Reach Boot recommendations?

[Bodshi]

Can anyone recommend me an over reach boot for a sensitive, fine skinned Arab? They need to be tough as he does give himself a nasty clunk sometimes, but also not rub.

At the moment he's wearing Tri-zone impact over-reach boots which have a strike pad at the back and although he's worn them probably 5 times he's already cut into the strike pad. But the main problem is that when I took them off yesterday I found they'd rubbed the hair away above his coronet band.

The trouble is that if we go through mud (which we can't avoid atm), it works it's way inside the boot and sticks to the seams around the rim and the anti-swivel 'button' on the back and I'm sure that's contributing to the rubbing.

I thought about the sheepskin or fleece lined ones, but can't imagine they'd do very well in mud or water.

Next month I'm booked to go on a jumping/x country clinic so will need some good boots that can stand up to getting wet/muddy.

Oh and the other problem is that he wears training wraps that completely cover his fetlock joint, with the supporting strap going underneath the joint (because he knocks himself with the opposite foot), which doesn't leave much room to fit the over reach boot around the pastern, if you see what I mean.

Aaarrggh, that's why you should always choose a horse with good strong straight legs! (Not that I'd swap Raf for anything).

 

[sjp1]

I like Professional Choice boots a lot.

You could get the sport medicine combo boots which are an entire boot - expensive, but I had the sport medicine boots for my TB which were very comfy and long lasting, and he had the separate over reach boots - the MOST peculiar conformation he had!!

But, I would think for x-country, the combo would be better.

 

[Dannii5691]

June has some premier equine neoprene type ones which are great and dont seem to swivel. Also they havent rubbed yet and we have been on some major adventures with them on

 

[Bodshi]

Thanks ladies - I am very tempted by the combo boots. Both PC and PE do them. However the PE ones appear to be made out of the same material that their sports boots are made of - I have some of those and although they're a great boot they're no good for wet conditions. Went through some floodwater in them a few weeks ago and they just held the water (and Raf ended up with an mud fever type infection, swollen hot fetlock and needing antibiotics).

Not sure about the PC ones, but they say something about the over reach boot part being on a hinge, so as not to obstruct the movement of the joint. I'm not sure in that case whether there's any advantage to having the full combo. I really need to see them in the flesh to decide before I spend that much money, so will have to go on a search.

In the meantime I've decided to try a pair of the PE EZ wraps, as they don't seem to be as bulky as what I've got now.

Thanks again!

 

[carthorse]

The Woof Wear Kevlar ones are very good, though not cheap. They also don't have that annoying anti-spin button that rubs!

Jim can trash over-reaches (ID, so if he catches them there's a lot of force) but these have stood up remarkably well. The only real damage has occassionally been to the stitching holding the velcro on & I just clean them up & get that repaired. They don't rub him either, despite wearing 24/7 at times.

 

[Dannii5691]

I saw something yesterday in a tack shop. I actually picked them up but forgot to look at the make (they would be no good for our heavy cob dinner plates so put them down and played with saddles instead) but they looked like they moulded round the bulbs of the heel, so wouldn't slip.

Totally pointless since I cant give you a make OR tell you exactly what they were called!

 

[OdyPony]

Would a neoprene pastern wrap help? Just thinking of ways to stop the rubbing problem. Neoprene is pretty waterproof.

Xxx

 

[carthorse]

Also, & this may be a silly question, could you lead him through the worst of the mud & then put his overreach boots on?

 

[Bodshi]

Dannii - they might be similar to what I've already got, with a 'button' that sits in the heel groove and allegedly stops the boot spinning. Or maybe it was those gel boots that mould to the horse's feet? I really fancied those but then I read they weren't suitable for mud.

OdyPony - no, I don't think so as the exercise wraps I use come right below the fetlock joint so not much room left for additional wraps!

Carthorse - on my last hack I had to get off after we'd been through some mud which was far worse than I was expecting, remove the boots as one had twisted round anyway, and clean the mud out. However we're going away on this cross country clinic in April and I don't think it's going to be really practical to keep getting off. I think everyone will think I'm a bit silly anyway, turning up on an Arab when they're probably all going to be on posh event-style horses. I think I'd rather keep quiet and not draw any further attention to myself!

Thanks guys x