Tack Boots Large
Splint Boots?
I just bought new splint boots for about $10.00 at a tack store swap thing. They are Toklat Neoprene Font Splint Boots. I didn't look at the size when I bought then because I thought they where average horse but they are Large. They fit about 2 1/2 fingers into them when I put my fingers in them. It their any way I can get them to fit a little snugger. I know they are not supposed to be tight but can I possibly get them to fit a little tighter. Thanks!
Unfortunately there really is no way to tighten those types up when you have that much of a descrepency oin leg size vs boot size. To even try could cause over tightening and there fore damage to tthe horse such as a bowed tendon. on the bright side you only spent 10.00 on them. you could put them up for sale on ebay or in a local forum. possily even make some money off of them which you could then in turn use to buy the correct size. If you board at a barn maybe se eif some one there could use them on their bigger horse. If none of those seem to be an option you can always hang onto them incase you get another larger horse, start riding a larger horse or have them for "in case of emergency" for when friends with large boned horses come to ride and forget their boots. Or maybe check back with the tack store you purchased them form and see if they won't swap them for the correct size. I know most places have a pretty good exchange policy. I will exchange anythign at my store so long as it is not heavily soiled, except for bits that is.
Shadow 6H Living Quarter Trailer with two slides
Opinions on type of boots for a barrel racing horse?
So, I just bought a new horse for barrel racing, as I retired my other, and want to get into some serious competition. I am considering getting her front, maybe rear, boots as a pro-cautionary measure, to help prevent injury. She doesn't seem to over-reach, or rub her legs together, but I have also only been doing rail work and large cantering figure-8s with her. I have never used boots on my horses, as I just showed 4-H in the past and never really 'pushed' them, or had one with a problem with gait. I just want to get some opinions on type of boot, should I get front and rear, and your reasoning behind it. I do have a pair of splint boots I picked up at a tack swap, but never used them. Please only answer if you have experience in speed events, thanks!
For barrels you do not want Splint Boots. Splint boots are used more for jumping and such so the horses legs dont rub together. Sport boots are used to keep tendons and ligaments in place and to protect them so the horse doesnt have a leg injury. I use SMB (Sports medicine boot) II and theyre black (my mom had them so its just want I used because its the only thing I had at the time) I would suggest SMB Elite and/ or Classic Equine (<----- this one perferablely) the Classic Equine boots have more protection I think. Heres a link that has both.
Heres the classic equine and they have front/back/ and bell boots. Good sport boots will be costly so you will pay good money for them. For barrels I recommend using both front and hind boots:
http://classicequine.com/en/_HS/CategoryList.aspx?C=Equine&PC=301
Heres some SMB Elite boots:
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-04161&bhcd2=1267046754
Theres better SMB Elite (or SMB, SMB I, SMB II, SMB III, and SMB Elite) sites that have cool 2 tone colors but heres one of the many ones. Big Dees (Bigdweb.com) Have the 2 toned boots. Heres a picture of the whole colors of the SMB Elite boots:
http://www.huckleberrytack.com/images/SMBEF_group.jpg
Hope this helps! 
