Value of splint boots/tail guards?

I'm sure someone has experimented with this, but it just occurred to me: given that low non-specialty stats make for a more competitive horse and splint boots/tail guards boost all stats--would it theoretically be beneficial to leave them off?

I know that they raise overall stats, and only minimally impact those non-specialties, but it still seems like a valid question--especially if you have a horse with really low non-specialties to begin with. 

But maybe it's a moot point since most everyone equips them?

I've been wondering the same thing. I have some horses with non specialty stats from 0-5, I wonder if the splint boots and tail guards are detrimental. 

I have remover splint boots and tail guards from all my show stock and they seem to do better. The lower the non-specialty stats the better, right???

hmm i will try removing them but i never thought about them hurting the horses show performance c;

I suppose the catch is that in removing them, you ARE still going to lose out on specialty stat bonuses (~52 stats if you're using 5/5) too.

Splint boots/tail guard to not negatively affect a horses showing at all. The reason non-specialty natural stats are "bad" is that they count towards a horses grade but only specialty stats are used in placing horses in a show. Tack is just a bonus on top and isn't incorporated into determining a horse's grade so non-specialty stats from tack don't have any effect at all.