Best Ice Boots for the Money

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Looking to purchase ice boots for my horse. I’m not trying to spend a fortune but I know there are cases that you get what you pay for. I am ultimately looking for gel boots so that it isn’t too stiff.

Any ideas?

[mychestnutvalentine]

I’ll follow this post because I am looking too… I used to have the Ice vibes and they never stayed cold longer than 10-15 min and that seemed like a short time for something so expensive.
I like the professionals choice boots but I also see that LeMeuix came out with a line that just needs cold water to activate the cooling effects…

[beau159]

CoolAide leg wraps. They are amazing!

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@beau159

CoolAide leg wraps. They are amazing!

@beau159 Thanks! How long do you think they stay cold?

[ponyjumper525]

I like the Finntack ones - easy to keep in the freezer and then put on the horse. Last longer than the ice Horse boots and much easier to deal with. I also think they stay colder. I do not recommend the Equi Cool Down Wraps… very messy, hard to put on, doesnt stay cool… leg is still warm when i take them off after leaving on for 20 min.

I love ice boots hahah

[raisethebar]

@ponyjumper525 thanks! are these gel? I feel like unfortunately with gel, it might not stay cold enough for a long time.

[Sueby]

I have the icehorse boots and I like them a lot, I think they have the gel-ish type inserts that you can buy replacments for. They stay cold for quite awhile. And sometimes depending on where the swollen/injured part is, I can flip the boots as one end is wider than the other.

I have both sets, front and back and they’re very convenient and don’t slip down much when fastened.

[RAyers]

Recent studies show that icing as a prophylactic is actually detrimental to the longer term overall health of the tissues. Suppression of the inflammatory response results in less efficient healing. There is unpublished data that also suggests that “lame,” e.g. +1 or less, horses are more successful because their physiology and mental condition is better than horses that are pampered or continuously maintained.

That said, I use Jack’s Ice boots at competition, but never use ice outside anything other than to aid injury treatment.

[ladyj79]

Igloo Maxcold Natural Ice Sheet 88 Cube, 19 x 15.5 Inches, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P5TZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Xml2Ab414V0FZ

You can sew (or glue) a cover and wrap over or add Velcro or whatever or just so what Neco’s elderly Olympic groom does and use a clother under and a polo over.

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@ladyj79

Igloo Maxcold Natural Ice Sheet 88 Cube, 19 x 15.5 Inches, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P5TZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Xml2Ab414V0FZ

You can sew (or glue) a cover and wrap over or add Velcro or whatever or just so what Neco’s elderly Olympic groom does and use a clother under and a polo over.

@ladyj79 this is perfecttttt! thank you!

[Kottbulle]

[QUOTE=ladyj79;n10093238]
Igloo Maxcold Natural Ice Sheet 88 Cube, 19 x 15.5 Inches, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P5TZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Xml2Ab414V0FZ

Second these!!! saw them suggested on here and bought 2 to give them a try. I just wrapped them a round the leg like a leg quilt/no-bow and then used a polo wrap to keep it in place. Not sure how well it would have stayed up if we were out grazing and moving, but it was fine in the cross ties. My OTTB didn’t seem to mind it and it helped a lot with the bump and inflammation he had given him self when he sprung a shoe.

[touchstone]

I like the Ice Horse boots, because they stay put and you can put any ice pack you like inside, including igloo ice sheets.

[beau159]

@raisethebar

@beau159 Thanks! How long do you think they stay cold?

As long as they are wet, they stay cold. If they “warm up” just rewet them and shake, and they are cold again! The technology is so cool. You can even rewet them with warm water — doesn’t matter!! They were developed with some of the same technology and materials they use in astronaut suits, to keep them cool if they sweat in the suits.

But really, you don’t want to ice the legs any longer than 15 to 20 minutes anyway.

[IPEsq]

I like the Equifit pump up compression ones. Better coverage than most for big legs (cover fetlocks well) and the gel packs don’t get too hard.

[BK6756]

@RAyers

Recent studies show that icing as a prophylactic is actually detrimental to the longer term overall health of the tissues. Suppression of the inflammatory response results in less efficient healing. There is unpublished data that also suggests that “lame,” e.g. +1 or less, horses are more successful because their physiology and mental condition is better than horses that are pampered or continuously maintained.

That said, I use Jack’s Ice boots at competition, but never use ice outside anything other than to aid injury treatment.

Do you have a link to that study? I hate icing and I would love it if there was evidence saying it isn’t beneficial.

[vxf111]

@ladyj79

Igloo Maxcold Natural Ice Sheet 88 Cube, 19 x 15.5 Inches, Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P5TZMO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Xml2Ab414V0FZ

You can sew (or glue) a cover and wrap over or add Velcro or whatever or just so what Neco’s elderly Olympic groom does and use a clother under and a polo over.

I use the ice horse boots but replace the gel packs they come with with these type of ice cell sheets

[vxf111]

@RAyers

Recent studies show that icing as a prophylactic is actually detrimental to the longer term overall health of the tissues. Suppression of the inflammatory response results in less efficient healing. There is unpublished data that also suggests that “lame,” e.g. +1 or less, horses are more successful because their physiology and mental condition is better than horses that are pampered or continuously maintained.

That said, I use Jack’s Ice boots at competition, but never use ice outside anything other than to aid injury treatment.

This is interesting. My human vet still recommended RICE when I broke my foot and wrist (unrelated incidents) for swelling and pain management. I don’t really ice my horses as a prophylactic. I do it when they have heat or swelling and I suspect an injury

[lms]

I have the ice horse boots and just fill them with regular ice. Ice from a hotel works perfectly.

[ktm_here]

i agree with the ice horse. i found that if i wet the leg down with cold water or even rubbing alcohol, it stays colder even longer.

[Scribbler]

@vxf111

This is interesting. My human vet still recommended RICE when I broke my foot and wrist (unrelated incidents) for swelling and pain management. I don’t really ice my horses as a prophylactic. I do it when they have heat or swelling and I suspect an injury

I believe icing is still recommended for acute injuries. But the protocol is changing on minor stuff or routine use. One of my students turned in a composition research paper on the topic drawing on her girls soccer experience and interest in becoming a physiotherapist. She did find published studies on this but I didn’t keep the paper or the links. I expect you could find them on any college library journals index that supported a kinesiology or medical program.

It’s made me feel less of a bad horse keeper for not icing though t do have those flexible picnic wraps in the freezer in case there is a real injury.