This is why we use SMB's EVERY time we saddle up, not because we have
structural interfearance problems, not because we haven't done our
conditioning, but to protect against that inevitable "time" lurking out
there, somewhere, waiting to happen. Not worth not going to the effort of
"booting up"!!!! Even our veterinarian who is a ride vet (used to take care
of a nationally known world champion class endurance horse) says he wishes
EVERYone would use them on their horses ALL of the time!
Also, living in S Central CA we are in the land of rattle snakes and a snake
striking at a lower leg and hitting a SMB is a lot more to my liking than
hitting the actual horse! It's also one of the reason I wear half chaps --
if I get off to walk and lead my horse my lower legs are protected.
Karen Clanin