I'm an ECTRA judge, and as a DVM, I usually get the legs <G>. The
maximum point deduction for the legs is 15 points. To start with a loss of
15 points before even considering the other categories would probably mean
you'd never place.
Additionally, it would seem to me that the use of protective boots
might impinge on other categories--i.e., lameness. How do you factor that in?
I haven't yet seen a horse that had such a severe interfernce
problem that it did more than take a bit of hide off the fetlock, but IMHO,
if you have one that interferes so badly that you are concerned about riding
without boots, it *isn't* a good candidate for CTR.
--C.M.Newell, DVM
"The expression in a horse's eye is like a blessing on a good man's house."
--Sayied iben-el Rabil, quoting the Prophet