If riding in wet or muddy conditions, deep sand, foxtails or burrs, Michigan State University’s Department of Animal Science recommends leaving your horse’s boots behind. Debris-filled boots can rub and scrape, leaving your horse’s legs vulnerable to bacterial and fungal infections such as scratches.
obviously nobody there is a trail rider, or puts boots on their horse to begin with. i am a manufacturer of protective horse boots, and you’d be a fool not to use boots as a preventitive measure. i have 40+ horses and they all are outfitted with boots for exercise, show, and trails. there is one major factor if you are going to be using boots in inclimate weather, and that is to clean them after each use and your horses legs. but then again that is just plain and simple common horse sense.