When Bellboots attack!

[mandalea]

Does anybody else's bellboots rub on their horses pasterns? Mine only rub on the outside edge of his pastern.

What have you done/do to fix this?

[myhorsecouldeatyours]

my horse use to wear bell boots, but i got him a size large and he is 16 2 so yours are probably too small.

good luck :)

[abbyby]

The velcro type used to always give rubs to my mare, even the fleece lined velcro. The best ones were the super ugly No-Turn neoprene things. I came up with a compromise and found that sufficiently large pull on bell boots did not giver her rubs. I would have tot have a couple spares on hand because she would pull them off a lot more often, but it seemed to work well. (I prefer the gum color because they are always stretchier, ie easier to pull on, than the black or white)

[mandalea]

i tried the large on him, and they just about fell off, so I went with the medium.

I think its because they twist around his legs, and move around.

[myhorsecouldeatyours]

oh, i also had the pull on bell boots as well and they didnt rub as well, again in size Large, but you could try the medium pull ons i bet they would work!! :)

[mandalea]

I found some scrap pieces of sheepskin from those seatbelt thingos that my um had cut up for her horses leg straps on his rugs.

Anywho, i folded them over the top, so there is some on the outside, and inside, and glued it down.

Its seems to be doing its job, as they don't even turn anymore, because they have gotten a little tighter.

This is them when the glue dried:
http://s177.photobucket.com/albums/w222/mandaleacalico/random/

[mkmallory]

the dy-no-turns or the pull ons solved the problem for me. mine wear bell boots whenever they are ridden or turned out so rubbing was a problem with all the regular velcro ones, no matter what size. but i have been using the no-turns for a year now and still no rubs!! same for the pull ons, but those got shredded, the no turns have held up however,

[pooh]

I only use Davis bell boots - they are the only ones that don't rub my horse. Keep the legs clean, wash bell boots when they get muddy. Put some Vaseline or protective barrier on the pasterns.

[mandalea]

the dy-no-turns or the pull ons solved the problem for me. mine wear bell boots whenever they are ridden or turned out so rubbing was a problem with all the regular velcro ones, no matter what size. but i have been using the no-turns for a year now and still no rubs!! same for the pull ons, but those got shredded, the no turns have held up however,

I would try pull ons etc, but my produce store doesn't sell them, and the ones I got were on sale ($10!) so I grabbed them then, otherwise I would have to wait until I had run out of feed.

But when these ones have had it, I might get some, and try them out =]

[mandalea]

I only use Davis bell boots - they are the only ones that don't rub my horse. Keep the legs clean, wash bell boots when they get muddy. Put some Vaseline or protective barrier on the pasterns.

Was going to get some originally, but I didn't have enough cash on me, so I had to get the rubber ones.

I make sure I give his legs a good brush with a stiff body brush to get all the dirt out, just to make sure there will be less chance of rubbing. And I will have to make sure the boots are clean, because of the sheepskin :D

And I would definitely put Vaseline or something on his legs, but it'll make the fleece go all yucky, so I'll probably out it on the places that had already been rubbed, to make sure it doesn't happen again =]

Thanks a bunch peoples :D:D

[pooh]

I'm in the mud pit of PA - which is now a frozen mud pit so I tend to stay away from fleece , cloth oriented stuff. When they get dirty they can really cause issues with rubs.
PS - I know people say the pull ons are the best - they drive me mcrazy since I have such a hard time pulling them on!! I usually end up giving up and giving them to the dogs to use as toys!

[enjoytheride]

You said this in an earlier thread, why do you need bellboots if he isn't wearing shoes?

"And I am NOT going to shoe my horse, because he doesn't need it. If you read it properly, you would see I said the place I went had lots of rocks, and he is a Chestnut with white socks. And those horses have to worst feet. If you don't believe me, ask my farrier!

And I don't intend on riding on rocks all the time, so I see no need for him to be shod, and seeing as he has had laminitis, it is quite painful for HIM to have shoes on, because it damages his lamini wall, which is weakened from the laminitis.

And if anybody else tries to make it out that either me or my horse are stupid or incapable, you can expect a big rant in your inbox, and I will keep badgering YOU."

[mandalea]

You said this in an earlier thread, why do you need bellboots if he isn't wearing shoes?

"And I am NOT going to shoe my horse, because he doesn't need it. If you read it properly, you would see I said the place I went had lots of rocks, and he is a Chestnut with white socks. And those horses have to worst feet. If you don't believe me, ask my farrier!

And I don't intend on riding on rocks all the time, so I see no need for him to be shod, and seeing as he has had laminitis, it is quite painful for HIM to have shoes on, because it damages his lamini wall, which is weakened from the laminitis.

And if anybody else tries to make it out that either me or my horse are stupid or incapable, you can expect a big rant in your inbox, and I will keep badgering YOU."

Because he overreaches. That's what they're for.

Just because he doesn't have shoes, doesn't mean he doesn't need bellboots.

They're not just for horses who clip, and could potentially pull their shoes off, barefoot horses can need them to.

[enjoytheride]

ok, never heard of a barefoot horse needing them.

[Jazzy Lady]

If he's barefoot and consistently over-reaching, ask your farrier to look and see if he can change up the trim he gets just a bit.

I have a chestnut with 4 white legs and 4 white feet. He's shod year round. If I didn't shoe him, his feet would fall apart. But he's on a supplement called Hoof Power. It's not nearly as expensive as Farrier's formula, and I think it does a better job. If you have trouble with feet, this hardens them nicely.

I got these for my beastie: http://www.greenhawk.ca/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BOB0013.html?L+scstore+ncvt8261ffd1c8d1+1231128017 when he had a little cut that I needed to protect. Except they don't come big enough for his feet... so he looked kinda ridiculous with his fairy feet, but they did the job and didn't rub him, and he's the most sensitive horse I've ever known.

[mandalea]

He USED to have shoes on, for his laminitis, but they were making his feet weaker.

He developed this habit of overreaching at events, when he had shoes, and his old owners had to put bellboots on.

Now that he's started eventing again, his habit has surfaced again, and there is nothing we can do about it except protect him from hurting himself.

It's a really annoying cycle.

He does it during dressage comps too, but because he has white socks, we have some cream that helps protect his legs from scrapes etc, which is white, so it's easy to cover :D

But I sorta wish he didn't overreach, because when he had his boots and bandages on as well, he looks like he has really stumpy legs, because you cant see them :lol:

[Jazzy Lady]

Oh, if you just needs something for competitions and occasional riding, check out the classic equine no turn bell boots. They are great and don't rub at ALL. Plus they last forever. My one pair is 4 years old.

[mandalea]

If he's barefoot and consistently over-reaching, ask your farrier to look and see if he can change up the trim he gets just a bit.

I have a chestnut with 4 white legs and 4 white feet. He's shod year round. If I didn't shoe him, his feet would fall apart. But he's on a supplement called Hoof Power. It's not nearly as expensive as Farrier's formula, and I think it does a better job. If you have trouble with feet, this hardens them nicely.

I got these for my beastie: http://www.greenhawk.ca/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/scstore/p-BOB0013.html?L+scstore+ncvt8261ffd1c8d1+1231128017 when he had a little cut that I needed to protect. Except they don't come big enough for his feet... so he looked kinda ridiculous with his fairy feet, but they did the job and didn't rub him, and he's the most sensitive horse I've ever known.

We've tried a lot of different trims, but the one he has now, balances him the best.

I think it's just him getting all show off-y, and working too far under himself. :lol:

He WAS on Biotin, but the quantity he needed meant he had to have it twice a day, and he's to fat to be fed twice a day, so he only got it once every morning. But I think once he gets into serious work, he will slim down a bit, so I can buy it again.

[pinkdiamondracing]

The velcro type used to always give rubs to my mare, even the fleece lined velcro. The best ones were the super ugly No-Turn neoprene things. I came up with a compromise and found that sufficiently large pull on bell boots did not giver her rubs. I would have tot have a couple spares on hand because she would pull them off a lot more often, but it seemed to work well. (I prefer the gum color because they are always stretchier, ie easier to pull on, than the black or white)

Ditto!!!!:yes::yes::yes: