Horse Boots: A Detailed Overview of The Equine Footwear

Horse riders know that the right equipment can make a big difference in the comfort and performance of their equine partner. One essential piece of equipment is horse boots. From protecting against injury to promoting better movement, horse boots have a lot of benefits. In this article, we will explore some of the key things you need to understand about horse boots. Read on to know more in detail to have an overall better understanding!

Types of Horse Boots To Know About

1. To Boot, Bell

The bell-shaped horse boots cover the hoof and pastern entirely. They may come from leather, a potent synthetic material, rubber, or even fleece at the chest band. In the saddle or the stable, bell boots are a must. Bell boots are often worn on the front legs but may be on either.

The bell boot has two primary functions: first, to protect the horse’s coronary band, which, if repeatedly damaged, may cause some significant soundness problems, and second, to prevent the horse from removing its front shoes.

• Arm Slings

Before horse boots became a thing, people used to use leg wraps to protect a horse’s legs. But now, when it comes to riding, people mostly use standing bandages in the stable, or polo wraps or track bandages.

However, a lot of riders avoid using polo wraps these days because there’s a risk of causing injury to the horse’s tendons if they’re wrapped incorrectly. Plus, they have to be washed and re-wrapped after every use. But now that we have more functional horse boots available, using polo wraps just isn’t as popular anymore.

• Shoe Heels

For safety, most jumpers wear shin boots to prevent injury to the front of their legs from hitting jump rails.

• Thigh-Highs With Ankle Socks

Fetlockhorse bootssafeguard the fetlocks if a horse rears up and collides with itself from following too closely. They shield the fetlock and pastern joints in the lower hind legs. They are not meant to be helpful in any way. They are of leather or synthetic materials lined with sheepskin or similar soft material. Since they are the most miniature boots available, there is almost little danger of soothing tissue heat since they do not protect the tendons and ligaments.

• Defiant Footwear, Or Knuckle Boots

Protecting a horse’s knees may be tricky. Riders often struggle to keep knee boots in position, even though they are occasionally vital for protecting the riders’ knees. It’s common for runners and barrel racers to wear knee boots. Even though these boots don’t provide much support, they protect the horse bootsin the event of a collision knee hit when spinning.

• Muck Boots

Back skid boots protect the fetlocks and pasterns at their lowest points. Skid boots prevent the rider’s foot from contacting the ground during fast manoeuvres like stopping and spinning. These boots often may be seen on cutting horses and refiners doing sliding stops. They will have a padded synthetic material or leather upper for comfort. Consider how frequently you’d want to fix your skid horse boots and how much you’re willing to pay overall. Consider how far you have come protecting your horse, even if your shoes are damaged.

• Shoe Covers For Athletics

In its original form, the Sports Medicine Boot by Professional’s Choice is the no 1 choice for horse riders when it comes to talking about horse boots. The ground-breaking design of these boots completely reshaped the equestrian footwear industry. Since their patent expired, several other companies have copied this boot’s high-quality style.

However, problems with overheating and the growth of dirt and bacteria in neoprene-lined products have prompted designers to make further improvements to this boot. The design has given the equine community a boot that effectively supports soft tissue like the digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligaments.

Conclusion

Overall, horse boots are a crucial piece of equipment for any horse rider. They can help to protect against injury, promote better movement, and even improve the overall health of your horse’s hooves. By understanding the different types of horse boots, how to properly fit them, and how to care for them, you can ensure that your horse’s feet are protected and performing at their best.