Do boots or wraps actually do anything to support a horse’s legs? I know they can be useful for preventing a horse from banging a leg into a jump rail, but for flat work do they do anything? My horse is getting older and I want to support his legs more during exercise, but will boots do anything?
No. The most recent research suggests they will however overheat the tendons.
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Boots likely can not “support” the leg. They are purely for protection. So, if your horse interferes with themselves while doing flat work, they could be useful! Otherwise, I wouldn’t, especially in hot weather.
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I wish they did. They look so cute. But alas.
Boots with an appropriate fetlock sling do “support” in that they reduce fetlock extension. That’s been studied and proven.
Other than that, no, there may be compression “support”, which can be valuable, but not extension support.
I would “support” your horse’s legs with impeccable hoof trimming (which may include a bit more frequent trims, especially in Summer, so his “he’s long but it’s not terrible for 5 weeks” is more like “he’s getting done at 4 weeks to keep as much leverage off his feet and therefore his legs as possible”. Good footing, keeping aware of how softer footing is harder to work in so careful acclimation to that, or just very little work if it’s not a regular things. And then, cold therapy after work, especially in hot weather, can help mitigate damaged from heated legs.
Those are much better support than any boot.
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This post is basically a big “what @JB said,” with one addition that I have found to be helpful in considering how to keep my elder statesman as well in his body and mind as can be.
That is: when you think you want to support your horse in something, really think about what “support” means- find a more precise verb.
Does it mean “assist him in mitigating the effects of a previous injury and reducing risk of re-occurrence”? Depending on what it was, a well-applied wrap could help with that. Does it mean “he has lousy circulation and the vet thinks compression might help”? A well-applied wrap could help with that. “I am an amateur rider and I miss, and I’d like my horse not to sting his legs because I set him up poorly”? (No shade.) A boot could help with that. “His body is observing the passage of time”? There is no product on this earth that can solve that problem for you, I’m afraid, but a darn good vet and farrier can make that easier.
As horsepeople we care for our horses and we want to do the best by them. There are some problems that we cannot solve. In such cases, to her amateur clients- myself included- my vet recommends icing the legs after exercise. She says it makes us feel like we are doing something, it won’t hurt the horse, it’s free, and it might help.
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I read the article in a newsletter from The Horse magazine on Friday. If you are using them to prevent interference or injury they can cause the tendons to overheat. The leg is designed to cool itself naturally. Wraps and boots act as insulation. If you do use them they suggest taking them off immediately after riding and cold hose the legs.
There is another article published in another Horse newsletter on Tuesday. The research says don’t scrape the water off when you are hosing your horse to cool him. You need to keep hosing them. Body temperature continues to drop from constant contact with water. That’s heat transfer by conduction. When you scrape them, the body temperature goes up. That’s evaporation which is what sweating does.
I’ll add if you have to hose a horse to cool it (ask me how I know), hose the cool water on their groin and inside hind legs, belly and face/eyes and anus. Pretty much, concentrate on where the large superficial veins are to cool the blood returning to the heart and going out to organs. Cool the eyes and superficial face veins. Spray cool water inside the sheath or vagina for an emergency internal cool down. The water left on the horse heats up pretty quickly so go over these sites often or scrape them off. I’ve read before that scraping the horse allows for more evaporation and leaving water on the horse creates a heated boundary layer. No one has this hanging around but an alcohol/water spray encourages evaporation.
This is all in the case of emergency cooling. Mind the cannons as well.
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This is a popular myth…but a myth for sure. We’ve known since the mid-90s that it wasn’t true, but the belief just won’t die. Dr. David Marlin is the world’s leading expert on thermoregulation in horses - you can find multiple links/graphics/etc. on his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DrDavidMarlin.
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Thanks!!! I’ll check it out!
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The boots creating heat is a bit misunderstood, yes they may create slight heat but the time period and difference is so insignificant it doesn’t pose a risk.
If you wear wet boots for hours you might be in trouble. Or leave boots on too long or in a hot trailer but the average workout doesn’t create enough heat.
The protection against bumps and bruises is worth it.
Everyone should watch this video if they can, warning 
it’s a horse dissection. They show the tendon and how much pressure load it carries when in action and how a simple hard knock can blow the tendon apart under pressure. Boots help prevent this. Proof here in science that boots are worth putting on every ride.
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