I’m looking for new boots for my horse who interferes (hind feet) and love Dressage Sport Boots, but they don’t hold up very well. I only get a about 6 months out of a pair and they are horrible in damp sand. I would love something similar that will hold up longer and still has a comfortable lining for the horse - and doesn’t cost a fortune! What are you all using?
I can’t speak to their durability yet, but I am liking the ProChoice Hybrid boots so far. I just wish they came in more sizes.
My DSBs have outlived smartpak, dover, woof, majyk equip, pelham ascot (I do love the colors though) - so I might avoid those brands if you’re looking for durability. Next on my list to try is Equipad - I like that they’re mesh and can be embossed with your initials!
Not sure whether this is your cup of tea, but I actually think the patent ones are slightly more durable. I have the ones from HKM, but I know DSB and others make them too.
I was surprised, the HKMs have lasted quite a while. Agree with Maple, the patent ones last much longer!
I like these too! I use them for turnout, and they’ve lasted over a year with only minimal signs of wear.
My Valena wool-back boots are 5 years old. They go in the cold water wash, air dry, look good as new.
Mine are black w white fleece, but they come in brown and white as well.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/valena-woollined-boots-12367
I really like my Prof Choice Ventech All Purpose boots - they handle damp sand really well - the sand doesn’t get inside the boots, and any dirt hoses off. They seem really durable, but my horse doesn’t interfere much.
They Hybrids look really interesting too!
I love the NEW equine wear boots. Durable, thick fleece and keeps the sand out
https://polypads.co.uk/product/dressage-brushing-boot-fleece
I have a horse that interferes behind and his daily boots are Shires Arma Air Motion Brushing Boots. They’re a bit scuffed up (about a year old) but are holding up nicely. I like the mesh and the fact that they seem quite cool. The price is good too!
I recently bought fleece lined boots from Lemieux a s they are very nice. They seem sturdy but I haven’t put them to the test yet. My thing is they I don’t like white fleece so I had to find something with black fleece. So that limited my options.
I’ve found that DSB2s last WAY longer than the regular DSB boots. The difference is that the DSB2 boots have a binding at the bottom that keeps the boot together. DSBs just have stitching which comes apart pretty quickly.
Another vote for the Shires Arma Air Motion Brushing Boots. They hold up well and the lining is quite soft for not being any kind of fleece. Plus they are super affordable.
I use these too. Love that I can just hit them with the hose and they come out clean.
I’ve also been happy with my HKM boots (side note: i sell them and offer discounts ;))
Another vote for Valena boots. The wool holds up so much better than the synthetic.
Another vote for the Valena boots !
I recently bought the Prof. Choice Hybrid boots and do NOT recommend them. For a truly interfering horse, the strike area does not offer enough protection, and the closures don’t have stretch, so hard to tighten safely without being too tight or too lose… I thought they would be nice in the summer because they are so light and breathable
My girl needs serious strike protection! She recently “trimmed” her own ergot on one hind leg with the other hind foot to the point it was hanging from a thread and bleeding… I don’t even know how that is possible!
So we use the Shires Arma boots on a horse for turn out who regularly rips up his legs and these things look basically brand new after almost a full year of him wearing them every day.
Although from what you described, I might also recommend hind bell boots to give a buffer between the hoof and the other leg?
You might also look into hard shell jumping boots as they are better designed to truly take hits and keep on going. Look at the various ankle boots.
How do we go about finding them?