I keep getting the same question over and over again.  Should I put boots on my horse.  My simple answer is “It depends.”  Then the next question is do you use boots?  My simple answer again is “It depends.” That’s when you get the really squirrelly faces from people.  You know what I mean, the one that says “This person is crazy, why did I ask.”

So once again it depends on

• What you are about to do with your horse?
• Your horses conditioning
• Your horses soundness
• What are you trying to accomplish by using them?
• Are you going to get into more trouble with them or without them
• Ground conditions
• Can it be accomplished another way?

Skid boots if you are doing a sliding stop are a necessity.  If you don’t use them and the horse burns his heels or fetlocks, he won’t slide anymore.

Bell boots.  Is there a different way of trimming or shoeing that will keep him from over reaching.  Hunting in deep mud a horse will get his feet stuck and over reach and pull the boots off, then the shoe.  It gets very expensive buying bell boots weekly, and forget about finding them in the deep mud.  Buy the same type and color all the time because you are going to have a lot of just one of the pair.

Tendon boots.  I have had more trouble with boots than without them.  Hunting or trail riding you stand the chance of getting sticks, mud, sand, and leaves up under the boots and it can rub them raw.  If you condition you horse well you won’t really need them.

If you are using them to protect his legs when he hits a rail think about that fact that if it hurts he’ll pick his legs up higher next time.  If you pad them, he may not.

Some people feel that if they put all this fancy stuff on a horse that other people will think they are professional and be impressed.  Most times people who really know what they are doing will assess your performance and decide whether you are a good knowledgeable horse person trying to protect your horse or just someone who is out to impress, or have beautifully matching color coordinating equipment.

I’m a firm believer in a proper trim, shoeing, and conditioning of my horses to the point of not worrying about them.  I have boots in the barn, but that’s where they will stay unless I have a problem horse.  They do get injured sometimes, but if you do everything right, they should not.

Most people neglect the conditioning of their horses.  They go for the preventative measures.  I tried that and in the long run it doesn’t pay.

This is the last time I’m writing about boots.