I’m taking my horse to his first hunter pace. Should he wear protective boots?
This is truly a question of personal preference. When you look at horses who foxhunt, they almost always gallop and jump out in the field with no leg protection. But eventing horses wear boots all around on the cross-country course. Luckily, there’s no pressure in a situation like a hunter pace. You won’t be penalized for boots or no boots. But there are a few factors to keep in mind:
Hunter paces are generally long, leisurely rides. You may cross some water and parts of the trail may be muddy or sandy. If your horse is wearing boots, it’s best to choose a pair of brushing or cross-country types that will stand up to the elements you may find on the trail and won’t cause rubs overtime.
Also consider the weather – it may be hot out there. If your horse doesn’t truly need leg protection, (the fences you may encounter on a hunter pace tend to be small and inviting – definitely safe enough to jump without boots) is it worth adding the extra weight of boots and the heat that comes with wearing them? Research shows that boots and wraps heat the horses legs, which makes them more prone to soft-issue related injuries. Some have conformation challenges where they may strike themselves when traveling in specific gaits, warranting a pair of boots. So it’s up to you determine what’s best for your specific horse.
Got a question? Our staff will find the answer and publish it on Mondays in the Heels Down Spark. Get more conversation starters in your inbox every weekday morning by subscribing to the Spark now.
