Anyone use weighted hind boots for horses?

[cswoodlandfairy]

So I have a horse in rehab that is doing really well. We originally thought that Forrest had some severe pain in his hip but as we are working him and getting him back on track it seems more like a muscle fatigue issue then pain. He drags his hind end. Now before ya'll go on a its the hocks issue, it isn't. all checked out and okay. he lifts his legs high and is very animated with his hind end he just doesn't do it unless he has to.

We are looking at using some physical therapy with weighted boots to help him build muscle in the hind end as he works. Has anyone used these? I have found some weighted inserts that can be used under an open front boot and am thinking of getting them...

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-04386&ids=695345839&bhcd2=1247104853

Anyone know anything about these? used them? success?

Thanks so much! Anything I can do to build that hind end. We are unable at the moment to do hills as they stress his hip out since he has no muscle (he was a neglect case and also underweight)

[BearWithMe]

i might be totally off track here and i would love if someone could confirm or deny this. I always heard they were used for jumpers in practice to get a little more snap in their back legs and then taken off right before showing because the horse was less likely to knock a rail because they lifted their back legs higher without the weight.

As for your horse, i dont know about the boots but without them i would make sure you bring him back slowly and not rush his recovery. work over poles and cavalettis and do hill work

[cswoodlandfairy]

i might be totally off track here and i would love if someone could confirm or deny this. I always heard they were used for jumpers in practice to get a little more snap in their back legs and then taken off right before showing because the horse was less likely to knock a rail because they lifted their back legs higher without the weight.

As for your horse, i dont know about the boots but without them i would make sure you bring him back slowly and not rush his recovery. work over poles and cavalettis and do hill work

We are def taking it slow. We really let him call the shots so he trots and when hes ready to walk I let him walk. All of his work is over ground poles ones side of his circle are canter pole length and the other side we move to various lengths to get him to trust his movement more. I cant ride him due to weight so this is all lunge work.

As for hills we are going to do that once he gets more strength but we aren't at that point yet. We only walk trot in various repititions to build both basic strength and stamina right now. But we have notices a less reaction to weight on his lower back and hip area after one week of trot work which leads us to believe muscle fatigue.

[MissKatie]

I am bringing back an underweight, neglect horse too. I would not even think about weighted hind boots if he can not be ridden/hill work yet. I would strengthen him up and put weight on first. Once he is in better condition it may be an option to help him along, but not at this point.

I feel like it could do more damage than good to and under weight/condition horse. It sounds like simply working him is enough for him right now.