[shadowanne]

The previous owner always polo wrapped my horse's legs and I'm thinking I'd like to use boots for support while learning dressage (boots will be faster/easier for me I think). However, she has daily turnout and this time of year the area at the gate of her paddock is ankle deep in mud - which she tends to stand in most of the time.

Can I use boots on her with brushed off dried mud and or wet legs (for hosing off mud)? I was thinking to hose down her legs - but then she'd be wet or the very least damp from towel dry. I wouldn't want to be rubbing in grit while wearing boots. What's the general guidelines?

Also at what point should she wear boots? I'm fairly a beginner so for a while it'll just be walk/trot/canter transitions/speed/steering with no complicated work. Also riding approx 30-60mins at this point w/ most of that at a walk

My horse is 19yo and I was looking at SMB Elites.

 

[sillybunny11486]

There is no specific point you use boots. I never use them for my mare.

 

[Romantic Lyric]

I'd say if her legs are dry and clean (or could be with a few minutes of work), sure, go ahead and use some boots. If you need to go through 15 minutes of work to clean them, it's not worth it. You're not jumping, and you're not doing upper-level dressage work, while your mare is older, and boots would be nice, they are definitely not necessary - in my opinion.