Travel Boots for Normandy Cobs

[erika]

Can anybody recommend what size travel boots a 15.3hh Normandy Cob would need? I am hoping to do a few more sponsored rides this year, including next week at Windsor and I think perhaps I should have some protection for the lad with big feet.
Erika & George

[liz]

I'm sorry I can't suggest any but just to say I gave up using boots a long time ago as they caused more problems than they solved! I do hope the weather improves before next week or it will be such a soggy ride. I'm wondering if Badminton HT will go ahead if the rain doesn't ease up. :-(

[anakin14]

I'd go for full size or large definitely, I bought a set for anakin last year in medium and they are almost too small and he is a fair bit finer!x

[gillybou]

I haven't tried travel boots but my instructor tried some boots on Coco for lungeing and they just about met on the velcro. As Coco starting to trot, each one in turn popped off and flew across the school. I would therefore recommend large one with good velcro!!

Although we always think Normandy cobs are huge (and at 16.1, Coco is certainly quite big), their legs seems less chunky to me than some other cobs on the yard who have much thicker 'ankles'.

Gilly

[angelac]

I have been advised by a number of knowledgeable horsey folk that the heavier type of horses generally travel better without boots.
When my Highland travelled up here , a lorry journey of several hours and then a ferry journey , his trainer felt he would be much better off going without.
He arrived in perfect condition and I have since reviewed my use of boots.
I used to always use the really full type that cover the hocks, but I no longer do this.

[anakin14]

I never travel anakin in travel boots, I always use brushing boots! I did buy him travel boots with every intent to use them but they caused him so much distress that I felt he would travel better without. He has travelled lots of times in just brushing boots and I've never had a problem

[nellie]

What fun, Erika! I hope we're going to get to see more photographs?

Angela, your comment was very interesting. When I travelled Mina from Avril's to her new home, the transporter (sadly not Jason Statham ), recommended I travelled her bootless saying that she would be happier without boots.

I'm currently one of a group studying towards the BHS's Horse Owner's Stable Management Stage 3 exam and we did travelling the other week. Because Mina has quite sturdy legs, the question of what to do if you can't get boots big enough came up. Our instructor agreed that travelling without is one option but he also said that you could resort to traditional fibregee-type stuff and bandages and/or knee and hock boots. I believe he also said that you can get them made to fit... but I may have remembered that wrong!

Good luck, have fun and don't forget to let us know how you get on... are you going to let your husband have another go?

[picasso]

Just my two pennorth:
You may need large to go round, but the length is difficult because cobs often have short cannon bones.
Cassie wears boots, which he has totally wrecked recently, but we often use just fleece bandages, no fybagee, on our other horse.
Cass was shod by a different farrier this weekn, who said the shoes were a bit longer and recommended turning him out in over reach boots. I bought Large, thinking about the circumference of his legs, but the bell did not cover the hoof, now have size XL (and size L for sale) and they still aren't great.

Jane

[huntingcharliehunting]

Altho' mine are just ordinary cobs, not the Normandy, I never use travelling boots. If your horse hasn't done much travelling lately, you might find the boots slip down which can lead to the horse kicking out, just trying to get rid of them, which can be a nightmare.
I do hope the ride isn't cancelled and that you have a lovely time.
Angela

[anakin14]

That's what anakin does, he will wear front ones but he gets himself in such a state trying to kick the back ones off that it is safer for us just to use brushing boots

[erika]

Hi,
Interesting posts. I only decided on travel boots because my friend went hunting recently and one of the horses in the main box fell over during transit. They reckon his boots saved him from breaking a leg.
George is still a bit green travelling in the box and last time out he did manage to skin his back leg shuffling about.
He hasn't been in the box for nearly a year so we took him out for a trip around the block last night and he was surprisingly quiet. Normally we can feel him re-adjusting his feet as we go around the corners, but he was a steady as a rock. I think he has discovered he can sit on the bar behind his backside ;D
Bad news which I have just picked up is that the ride is cancelled tomorrow. Gutted is an understatement though I have done no training. The only jumping we have done this year was yesterday in the woods in terrible conditions. Thick mud and floods in front and behind the jumps. George only had one "you must be kidding" moment but otherwise just got on with the job. Came back and even my hat was covered in mud.
So off to bed in a grump as I have the box loaded and all ready to go.
Erika & George

[anakin14]

Oh no! That's such a shame x

[angelac]

Oh no !!
It is indeed horrible weather. We have snow again in the Northern Isles

[nellie]

What a disappointment Erika, are they going to reschedule?

I had volunteered to help out at the stables' Hunter Trials on Monday and was a bit concerned about having to sit at a fence all day in the wet and cold so I have to admit to being quite relieved that they were postponed!

There were a couple of pictures in Horse and Hound this week that really said it all: a lake a Badminton that was nothing to do with the famous Lake; horses racing in Ireland through what looked like fairly deep standing water, I'm amazed the meeting wasn't cancelled.

I so hope it cheers-up soon. I knew it was tempting fate when we bought a new hosepipe this year - first along came the hosepipe ban and now a record-breakingly wet spring!!

[erika]

Hi folks,
Windsor ride is rescheduled for some time in October. On a plus point this gives me ample time to prepare and get some jumping lessons in. I'm afraid I am a bit of a aim, point and hang on person at the moment but George is honest enough to keep going.
Also, did get a good ride in today. We decided that as the box was already stocked that we would go off to Ashridge forest (about 20 mins from here). There are a couple of huge open areas where you can let them have a good blast which they thoroughly enjoy. The going was very good and both George and Murphy were very eager but well behaved. It is really good to be able to give them a really good fast canter and George loves it across the middle of open fields where he is less likely to be surprised by walkers suddenly popping out in front of him. We unknowingly were chased by a springer spaniel all the way across the common, it was only when we pulled up that we heard his owners shouting in the distance. George turned to say hello and that was enough for the dog to leg it back to his owners.
George travelled well and was cocky enough to pinch poor Murphy's hay.
Lets hope the rain stays off (and snow for those up North).
Best wishes,

Erika & George