I’ve seen the professional choice boots, are they the best ones out there? If not then, I’m looking for a similar design, something that wraps under the fetlock for additional support. Are the BOT hind fetlock boots comparable or better? Something else out there that’s better?? Thanks!!
Disclaimer: I don’t actually think these boots do a darn thing to support a horse.
That said, I had a vet recommend Iconoclast Tall Hinds for a senior with DSLD. Claimed they were the best on the market (several years ago). Them seemed to make him a bit more comfortable in his last months.
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Thank you, I appreciate!
It is impossible for any boot to “support” the magnitude of loading forces in a horse’s leg joint without restricting motion to an unsafe level.
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I will agree that I do not think boots can actually provide any significant support. That being said- I have these and I really like them:
They are currently on-sale but only have oversize available (which is what I have).
One of my vets also likes the Iconoclast boots. They do have a “rehab” boot that offers significant support, but you don’t want to ride in those.
I wound up using the regular ones most often for longeing because they do have more coverage and my horse was prone to knocking himself if he had a bit of a wild moment. They are popular in some Western disciplines where more coverage and protection is desired also.
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Waste of money, unless it makes YOU feel better about having made an effort to help your equine friend. Boots and bandages do not add any appreciable “support” to the leg. They can provide “protection”, from being hit other legs or jumps. But that is ALL.
The only MINOR exception is “running bandages” used by racehorses during a race. They are thought to add a few % of actual “support” to the leg, not much, but “perhaps” a little. They are tight elastic bandages, applied just before going to the saddling paddock. They are removed as soon as possible after the race, because leaving them on any longer than that will cause damage to the leg. But mostly, they are used as the ONLY thing that will stay on a leg for protection, usually from brushing or other interference or other horses’ legs and hooves in close quarters at full speed in a competitive racing situation. These are not an option for what you are wanting to do. And neither is anything else, because “marketing” does not take actual facts into consideration. If something claims to “give your horse’s leg support”, it is false marketing, designed to take your money, nothing else.
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I’ve been eyeing these up as well, thank you!
Louder for all the folks who sat in the back of their biomechanics class.
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I also fall in the non-believer camp, but my vet has in the past recommended those Iconoclast boots for my senior horse who he thought would benefit from more support behind. I found that for him, keeping his weight down and his activity level reasonable (he’s retired due to other soundness issues), plus 1/2 tab previcox/equioxx, he does fine, so no boots for him.
Thanks all, I’ll save my $$!
