Leg wraps for trail riding?

First of all I put this here as this only applies to when I will be trail riding.

My mare has very sensitive skin on her legs, especially to bugs. We went on our first trail ride a few days ago and I realized that we go through a lot of brush and areas with a lot of bugs. I would like to get some protection for her legs from any scrapes and bugs we might encounter.

I am looking for advise on what type of boots/wraps you might use and also the easiest to put on. I will say that for wraps I will need to learn how to put them on properly first but I think boots, like SMBs, would hold up better. Also I do not want to spend a ton. I eventually plan on being able to ride for hours so something that wont trap a ton of heat or cause rubbing issues.

Thank you.

Interested in this answer as well :)
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't believe in wraps while trail riding.
Too much of a chance to trap mud, sand, plant matter etc that can rub and cause bigger problems.

Wild mustangs do just fine wth bare legs and mine have also. They do get the occassional rock bite, nicks and scrapes on their pasterns. But when I work with my hands, I also get the occassional blister, sliver, and cut on my hands. Natures seems to deal with it and it's a expected event.

I suspect a lot of my belief comes from my early years of competing in Comptetive Trail Rides where leg protections is illegal and trail horses are expected to take care of their own legs. I realize others will have differing views. But I've just never had a problem.

My horses scramble thru rocks


Scrub Oak covered hills sides


They wade rivers


And find their way thru tangles of blow down

All our trail horses are bare legged, in fact you can't have anything on their legs for compeditive trail. Be EXTREMELY careful with wraps, its easy for them to get snagged by branches and wetted out causing them to unravel. Seen a bad wreck caused by that.

I'm sure if you really wanted to you could get some sort of protective boot that is one peice and velcros on, But if at all possible I would go without.

All our mares go barelegged, too. In my experience riding off trail, they're more likely to get pokes and stuff on the chest rather than the legs.

Ooo I wish our trails looked like that. Is there anything to maybe put on the legs to help soothe the skin perhaps. One fly bite and she's got blood running down her leg. I do put fly spray on before we go out. Her skin is very sensitive. If all I can do is hose down her legs after that's fine I'm just looking for something that might make her more comfortable.

I'm not a huge fan of putting any wraps or boots on but I've never come across a horse with such sensitive skin before.

I have always wondered this too! Good question OP!!! I thought, hum if my guy had wraps or guards he would not have gotten hurt last year when my FIL took him out to check out hunting spots! Guess now I know its not what we should be doing! Thanks!

Once, my mom wrapped her horse's legs for a trail ride, and they fell in a sink hole. Set of four ridiculously expensive support boots and bells sucked right off. I often wonder if it would have been easier for them to get him out of the mud if the boots hadn't been sucking him down more.

Polos a definite no, too much to snag.

THe only boot I would EVER use, in the DRY summer, would be maybe some front splint boots, adjusted snugly, and not to go anywhere but on a clear trail....I'm too paranoid something will happen.

I use aton ofboots wrapscome off with my horse I like legacy but perfesionals choice full splint boots are cheap andwork just as well cover more. :)
Posted via Mobile Device

Ok no boots for trails. I have never used anything but splint boots and that was a lease horse and owner wanted them on. I am always worried about them starting to come off. I guess I should have said just boots instead of wraps but when I say boots I just think of hoof boots. Anyways so for the skin do they make like horsey aloe lotion or something? I'm really just trying to prevent issues as mud, sand, anything makes her skin irritated (it's quite pinkish red).