Are overreach boots safe?

[Dirtywashingevrywhere]

They were used all the time in the 90s, I recall. I've not really encountered them much since (hacking). However, I'm about to take on a loan horse (🥳) who wears them. Her owner just uses them because her previous owners did - she's not sure how necessary they are.

i recall seeing a video by Lucinda Green showing how dangerous they can be as the horse can step on them and trip. But I'm wondering if I should put them on when she first arrives in case she charges around.

I think my question is, are they risky or, if so, are they worth a minimal risk for the protection they offer? I've just not used them for decades so not sure of the current position on them. ThanK you.

When my TB was shod he wore overreach boots ALL the time to prevent injury. They were the basic rubber boots with a velcro strap at the top, they didn't last long - he would lose them in the field or chop chunks out of them with another hoof - but that's what they were for - rather he trash them than his legs/feet! I never saw him trip himself up on them and just bought replacement boots when they got too tatty to be giving any protection. The fact is he can fall over hooning about now with no shoes and no over reach boots is neither here nor there. If you think she might be unsettled at first I'd be booting her up as much as poss initially - prevention is always better than cure!

My mare wears over reach boots all the time. Purely to stop her pulling shoes off. The best ones I’ve found are the rubber Arma ones with Velcro. Cheap and stay on and last the longest. If she hoons around they break anyhow, not always but she’s been wearing them two years now (not the same pair) and never been injured. Of course you need the right size.

Brilliant, thank you! I was haunted by this video I saw of a horse stepping on one and falling (with rider) but the boots must have been too big or too unbreakable. I'll pop them on before turning her out then. Thanks so much

I don’t ride whilst my horse has these on but I put them on him for turn out on grass to hopefully prevent dropping shoes ( use the rubber bell style ones)

I use them for turnout and ridden. Turnout because she has a habit of pulling shoes off and ridden because when she's on the tired side she can clip herself when schooling, upset herself and go hollow. Arma rubber ones for turnout and neoprene ones for ridden.

That's very helpful, thank you

My big warmblood wears them all the time. Touch wood never had an issue with them, but without he’d regularly pull shoes and clonk himself 🤦🏽‍♀️

safe - and safer than the alternative of not wearing them.

The number of ORB my horse has gotten through because he’s stood on them (lost count). They tear fairly easily or come off if stood on. Much rather replace the ORB than have deal with heel injuries from overreach and farrier call out fees to replace shoes.