Horse Boots - Am I Overthinking?

[Personal_Champ]

I am new to dressage, coming from 25+ years in h/j land, and I find myself waffling about horse boots.

I historically do not use leg protection for any horse unless they interfere. I have rehabbed numerous minor tendon injuries in OTTBs and know the dangers of overheating.

That said, I’m questioning my choices now that I’m in dressage-land. We are doing first level work, and mare doesn’t interfere. I would either be using Centaur Climate Control Wraps (like Eskadron Climatex) or Veredus Piaffe (no suspensory strap) or Piaffe Evo (suspensory strap). The Veredus boots are microperforated neoprene, so probably moderate in terms of breathability.

Enable me, or tell me I’m being silly. Help a girl out!

[Draftmare]

What exactly are you trying to accomplish with booting your horse?

My mare interferes behind, so I use just plain ole Woof boots, before that I used the Classic Equine Cross Training boots, but in recent weeks have found them to be way too hot. I also just bought a pair of Equilibrium Flex Wraps. Verdict is still out on those (the sizing is odd). If your horse doesn’t interfere, I don’t really see a need for boots… Unless you are like me and also have a strong desire for all the things to match. http://imgur.com/a/l6EDJ :lol:

[SendenHorse]

those are some serious boots! I don’t know anyone that uses that much “firepower” in dressage, even in my horse who does interfere. I like Woof double lock brushing boots with bell boots. I might use one with a suspensory strap when jumping, since my horse is green.

[atr]

I use climatex wraps in front and woof ankle boots behind. Big horse has been known to clunk himself behind and this gives us enough protection without heating the whole leg.

[see_u_at_x]

So, the Veredus boots are way cool looking and I know Lauren Sprieser talked about them on her blog when she used them on her mare Ella. She gave them rave reviews, but she’s the only person I know of who has used them or at least who has publicly commented about them. I work at a tack store part-time and I’ve never sold a pair, though I am intrigued by them. Even with my employee discount, they’re still too rich for my blood. I believe she has also used the Equilibrium Flex Wraps and has raved about them as well.

People have said on here before that if you really want a boot that provides serious strike protection, you want something with a hard inner shell. I tend to agree with this, which is why I probably would not use the Equilibrium wraps because I just don’t see the point of them. That being said, I don’t actually use boots with a hard shell when I ride. I buy what I can afford and try to go with a happy medium. If I were to go all out, I’d get a pair of hard-shelled boots lined with sheepskin.

My absolute favorite boots that I’ve used are the Toklat Valenas because they are lined with real sheepskin. (I have not tried other brands that use sheepskin, so I can’t comment on Mattes or the People on Horses brands for example, but the Valenas are at a fairly reasonable price point which I appreciate.) I hate, hate, HATE fleece. However, that being said, I’m currently schooling in DSBs which are fleece-lined. They’re fine, but I find fleece harder to keep clean than real sheepskin. It just doesn’t want to let go of the footing as easily and doesn’t brush up as nicely. My horse tends to interfere more behind, so he has also done a bit of a number on the stitching towards the bottom of the hind boots. But that’s after about 2 years of solid use, so I’m not horribly upset by that.

I tend to avoid boots that are straight up neoprene just because I’m paranoid about my horse’s legs getting too hot.

[Personal_Champ]

I have a strong desire for us to match, but no real need for protection, or at least, my mare as of yet has not had any marks on her legs from whacking herself. As animals who like to plot their demise and our insanity, we all know protection is not usually wasted, lol!

I was wondering if I should have strike protection since the demands under saddle have increased, but I am not sure if the protection is worth the overheating risk.

Mare typically dislikes sheepskin - or, at least in her saddle pads, so I am hesitant to spring for fleecy boots.

[btswass]

I always use leg protection because you never know. Even a horse that doesn’t normally interfere can trip or spook and whack themselves. If your using boots that don’t overheat the legs (veredus in general is excellent at that) then I think its worth the added protection that a silly freak accident could cause. And while the verdus boots are expensive if you can afford them they will end up being cheaper than a vet bill and rehab would be

[tinah]

I have the thinline cobra boots because I like insurance and I have deeply rooted issues with neoprene. They seem pretty spiffy.

[Libby2563]

Can’t tell you what to do one way or the other, but my preference is for no boots if the horse does not interfere. Yes, anything could happen like btswass said, but boots can create their own problems (overheating, rubs, etc) plus they cost money. For First Level dressage I would not boot a horse like yours. There’s nothing at that level that should increase the risk of interference except perhaps leg yields. Just my two cents, do with it what you will!

[Personal_Champ]

Thank you all for your feedback.

Question 2: IF I go with boots, what is the general consensus on suspensory strap vs. no suspensory strap. I know that no boot really supports, but didn’t know if there were other advantages (reduced shifting of the boot, etc).

[Grasshopper]

Except for bell boots, I generally only boot up for jumping and for green horses, or horses that are doing a lot of lateral work (or learning lateral work so they don’t sting themselves and get discouraged). I pretty much always use bell boots.

Despite having several sets of various brands of fleece-lined dressage boots, I find myself almost exclusively using my Majyk Equipe boots these days, for all disciplines, when I do use boots. Technically they’re galloping boots, but they seem to be comfortable, they can be hosed off, they are breathable (much more so than fleece or neoprene), and they are protective and durable.

[MissAriel]

I have a young horse and have been using a pair of DSB fleece boots - they have definitely gotten some dings, so I want to keep him in something. I do have a pair of Valena sheepskin that I have used for show warm ups, but I am not sure I want to use for daily use.

I haven’t bought into the Thinline boots - they say the boots heat up and then cool the leg which just seems counter to thermodynamics, plus they are made of neoprene: https://www.thinlineglobal.com/shop/horse-tack/smb-cobra-sports-medicine-style-horse-boot

Has anyone tried these: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/majyk-equipe-sportdressage-boot-15183

or these: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/amigo-air-flow-boots-12859

[RockstarPony]

We had a pair of boots with the same Airprene material as those Veredus Piaffes (ours were the Prof Choice VENTechs, iirc) and I can’t say I was super thrilled with the breathability. It’s great for an upgrade pair for someone who’s been booting way up & wants something that’s a little better. They still came in with sweat patches under them, though, even when it was 50 degrees out. The solid strike panel on the Veredus boots would also concern me in terms of breathability and heat trapping; it’s great for strike protection but it looks like it would pretty much prevent any sweat wicking or heat dispersal around the main tendon area.

IMO, as a product design student and tech fabric nerd - a lot of the “breathable” boot materials on the market are more or less marketing b.s. at this point. I’m pretty suspicious of any boot that’s basically just solid material with a few air holes over 10% or 20% of the surface area. They are, technically, more breathable than an old school full neoprene boot, but I haven’t seen much evidence that such a small amount of added breathability actually makes much of a difference in terms of heat trapping. I also wonder about the proliferation of boots with that totally solid rubber strike panel that wraps around most of the tendon area; I just don’t see how you’d get enough airflow under there in 98% of those designs.

[SendenHorse]

I only use the suspensory strap as an added protection against wacks, I don’t pretend they actually support anything.
I use the least amount of boot as possible and take off ASAP. I usually do the fronts only, my horse doesn’t like hind boots.

[netg]

Depending where I trail ride I may go with as much boot coverage as I can get, but I don’t use them when riding. My horses live out, and have each gotten lumps and bumps and scrapes from playing - but not while riding in a ring. Neither one interferes or knocks him/herself, so it is unnecessary. And it’s HOT here.

[theresak]

As you do more lateral work, you may want some light brushing protection. I’m schooling upper levels and do try to usually boot all around or at least up front. I think anything rated for cross-country for breathability and that won’t hold water (sweat) is good for dressage horses.

I have a horse with 3 large splints, so I stay away from anything with a stiff strike plate. I use the Equilibrium Stretch and Flex flatwork wraps, sheepskin boots, and polos (only in winter). The first two are of the most breathable (outside of X-country boots). Polos not so much, so I save those for cooler months.

Anything with the suspensory strap must have excellent fit in order to stay in place well and not collect footing in any gap under the fetlock. For example, I tried the Equilibrium Training Wraps and they did not stay in place well.

[joiedevie99]

I think it’s quite hard to find something that does the job without causing any overheating. My little guy (15.3 PRE) is the hardest because lots of great jumper style boots with venting aren’t made in his size. He is a straight mover, but passages like a spider at the moment - so brushing protection is required. I’ve got him in Dalmar vented open fronts and Eskadron ankle boots.

Average size horse has both Equilibrium Tri-Zone All Sports and EQuilibrium flatwork wraps (the kind without the strap). I hate boots with suspensory straps.

For the time being, I’m wrapping my big guy with Eskadron Climatex liners and Saratoga bandages because that’s what he’s used to. Over time, I expect I’ll move him to something similar to the little guy - although there are more options available in his size.

[Luna]

I was using the DSB boots but for summer I wanted something lighter. I ended up having a heck of a time trying to find boots to fit my beefcake. I liked how the DSB’s fit size-wise so I went with their ASB’s. I have had them for a year now and they have held out beautifully. Easy to wash, easy to wear, no issue with stretching, and not seeming to overheat. They are light enough to be relatively comfortable, but the strike pad is sturdy enough that it has been perfect for my guy (who does interfere behind). No shifting or twisting after I ride, either. The best part about it was the customer service. I ended up connecting with the owner of DSB and she was lovely to deal with and even gave me a free set of boots! And they were sparkley (be still, my heart). I won’t hesitate to buy another set in the future.

[TwoTrickPony]

I don’t use boots or wraps or anything and don’t see the need for it unless you have a specific problem. You can’t show in any of that, so if it’s supporting or protecting, you’re taking all of that away at a show?

[Magicboy]

I use dsb boots in cooler weather and bell boots most of the time. I really don’t think it’s needed at first level for a horse that doesn’t interfere.