Does my horse need to wear boots?

When thinking about tack and the importance of keeping a horse safe, boots are not the first thing to come to mind. However, boots offer protection to a horse’s legs and hooves from injury, damage, and trauma. The type of boots needed depends greatly on the activity. For example, boots needed for travelling would not be suitable show jumping. It is important to consider the needs and requirements of a horse and the activity. Other factors such as a horse’s conformation and breed will also influence whether they need boots.

Brushing boots are one of the most popular choices when it comes to horse boots. They are versatile boots designed to be used for training, flatwork, lunging, hacking, or turnout. They protect the lower part of the horse’s leg from the opposite hoof knocking into it, which is referred to as brushing. Brushing boots also protect the splint bone which is a common area of injury for horses. Typically, these boots are made from soft fabric to allow them to contour to the shape of the horse’s leg. Neoprene is a great choice of material as it is soft, durable, and breathable which prevents the horse becoming sweaty and uncomfortable. Good quality brushing boots will also have some reinforcement, such as PVC, on the inner leg to further protect from impact. Brushing boots can be used on fore or hind legs depending on the horse’s requirements.

Travel boots are designed to be used when travelling a horse. Travel boots are much taller by design as they offer full protection from the hock all the way down to the fetlock. More expensive styles may include PVC strike pads to also protect the hooves from impact. Travelling a horse is a high-risk activity so these boots offer the most protection of any available. They protect the legs from strikes, impacts, and trauma that can occur when on the lorry or trailer. Travel boots are restricting in movement as they compress the legs to reduce any swelling that can occur when a horse stands still for prolonged periods of time. Typically travel boots are a wraparound style which secure with touch tape fastenings at the front for easy use. Good quality travel boots will be made of a tough outer shell for durability and a soft fleece lining for comfort. As with all boots, it is important to make sure you horse is happy wearing them before travelling. Many horses will need to be exposed gradually to travel boots before they are ready to go out.

Bandages are truly versatile and can be used for almost any activity. Typically used before developments in boot technology, they can be used to protect from injury when riding or to offer support/compression when in the stable. Many horse owners now prefer boots over bandages as they are much easier to take on and off.

Therapy and medical boots are used to help a horse heal from injuries or recover from strenuous activity. Common types include magnetic boots which increase blood flow in the horse’s leg, and ice boots designed to be used after exercise cooling the horse’s legs faster to prevent injury. WeatherBeeta have an exclusive range of Therapy-Tec boots. These are made from ceramic technology which reflects the horse’s body heat back into the body. This increases blood circulation and expands blood vessels to ease soreness and reduce swelling for a faster recovery after exercise.