My barrel horse has been going through Sports Medicine Boots like crazy. They aren’t the cheap ones either, they are the Professional’s Choice VenTech Elites. They wear out on the fetlock strap and the velcros run out of “stick”. I always make sure that he wears boots when I ride and race because barrel racing is strenuous on their legs. Recently I have been concerned that the Professional’s Choice Elite boots don’t give him enough support under the fetlock. Because of this I purchased a set of the expensive Iconoclast Orthopedic sport boots( http://www.iconoclastequine.com.au/about-us )( http://www.lbrranch.com/orthopedic-support-boots ). I know these boots give excellent support under the fetlock but, we wore those boots down as well and they seemed to lose even more “stick” in the velcros than the Professional’s Choice boots. I don’t want to keep buying Iconoclasts because they are so expensive. I know I could use the Pro’s Choice boots for schooling and the Iconoclasts for racing, but when I school, he’s putting in just as much, if not more, effort and strain on his legs. So, I searched for boots similar to Iconoclasts and there is none. However, there are some that have a thick fetlock strap sort of like the Iconoclast. They are the Horze Brushing Boot. ( http://www.horze.com/horze-brushing-boots/19301.html ) I don’t know if this thick fetlock strap will work in the same way and I am worried that it won’t be long enough to wrap under the fetlock. In the review pictures the look like they are wrapped behind the fetlock. Have any of you used these boots? I know that Horze products can be cheaply made and they seem to run small on the horses. Also, do you know of any SM boots that give fetlock support? Thanks for reading this long post and please let me know your thoughts and opinions.
Have a look at the Back On Track Exercise boots. This link is for front boots, they also make hind boots:
I used the Iconoclast boots specifically for that support, and found that the Velcro stopped sticking, too. There’s another horse in the barn who also has them, and they now slip down because the straps no longer grip. Bummer, because they ARE expensive!
I switched to the Back on Track boots, and have been using them for about three or four months now. They don’t have the double wrap strap to support the fetlock, just a single, but I am happy with them. They are better for support than other boots I have seen or tried, have had no rubs, and they do NOT overheat the legs/tendons. They are much less expensive, too!
Personally, I use the Professionals Choice SMB 3 boots and I’ve never had a problem with the velcro losing stick. My turquoise set (the oldest) I have is about 7 years old. Still sticks great.
Are you using the boots only in the arena, or out on the trail too?
How often are you using the boots each week?
What do you use to clean them and/or how often do you clean them?
I only use them in the arena; I have a different set for the trail in case we pick up some burrs. They usually get used 6 days a week on only one horse because each of my horses have their own boots. After I use them I hang them outside to dry out and I just brush the inside with a stiff brush the next day to get the sand out. When I do clean them, about once a month, I hand wash them with Leather Therapy Saddle Pad and Blanket Wash. I will scrub the inside and leave them soak for a few hours. Do you think that I should just expect them to wear out quickly because I am using them so much?
I use Woof Wear boots on both my horses and they seem to hold up without losing their stick. Granted, I don’t use them AS often – I only ride one mare once or twice a week on the trails, and the other is ridden about 4 times a week. Neither horse is worked strenuously and I use the boots and bells to prevent them from catching themselves with a back hoof or something. I’ve managed to keep them sound for 20+ years, so I figure I’m doing something right. haha.
Have you tried contacting the company who makes the boots directly? Maybe it’s because you’re using them so much, or maybe they can suggest something to help prolong the life of the boots? When I had issues with a pair of Ariat jeans, I called the company up and they sent me a new pair since they said it wasn’t normal for riding jeans to rip in the thigh within a month of purchase. Might be worth a try, even if it ends up being a research call.
Sounds like for the price of the Horze boots, your best bet may be to purchase multiple pairs and switch them out at rodeos (one for warm up, one for racing). And maybe two or three pairs for at home use. You’d probably still be under cost of buying the expensive pairs?
I’m not sure of the quality of the Horze, but having quantity may be helpful in avoiding the wearing issue of the more expensive ones on a daily basis.
Boots protect the leg from impact, including from interfering
They also trap heat, which is not great for legs
They CANNOT and WILL NOT support tendons. Anything rigid enough to prevent the fetlock from flexing fully would interfere with the horse and cause more problems than it would solve. No matter how expensive your neoprene boots they are far too flexible to make any difference to tendons.
By all means use boots, but spending $$$$$ on them thinking they will do something they cannot makes no sense to me.
[QUOTE=HorseInaTARDIS;8811671]
I only use them in the arena; I have a different set for the trail in case we pick up some burrs. They usually get used 6 days a week [/QUOTE]
Hmm, are you doing arena work that much? Could be that they are wearing out so quickly because you are essentially using them every single day.
Even on my barrel horses in training, at the most we will do 3 days a week of some sort of arena work or barrel work; otherwise they are on the trails.
Your cleaning protocol sounds similar to mine. I will only actually wash them when they need it; otherwise just brush them out with a brush.
[QUOTE=shayaalliard;8814154]
They CANNOT and WILL NOT support tendons. Anything rigid enough to prevent the fetlock from flexing fully would interfere with the horse and cause more problems than it would solve. No matter how expensive your neoprene boots they are far too flexible to make any difference to tendons.[/QUOTE]
If you’ve read the research they actually DO provide support to the tendons.
Of course, it is not large amounts by any means, but it is at least a little bit.
With that said, I don’t use the boots that for purpose. I use them for physical protection.
[QUOTE=shayaalliard;8814154]
By all means use boots, but spending $$$$$ on them thinking they will do something they cannot makes no sense to me. [/QUOTE]
It is well worth it to me to spend $100+ on a set of boots, rather than to have a flesh injury take my barrel horse out of commission for months.
Makes perfect sense to me to have that physical protection.
I do do a lot of arena work, usually 4 times a week and the other 2 days are the weekend when I’m showing. I only go on the trails for the hills or to cool him off after a ride. My horse prefers being worked every day and is very routine orientated. He loves coming up and going to work. He gets a day off because I need it rather than him. I think that I should just expect the boots to wear so much because of the amount that I use them.
I do agree that boots are more for physical protection, which we need any way, but they do provide support to the leg. Of course, it’s not going to prevent all injuries to the tendons but it will help the horse while performing. It’s similar to a wrist brace for people. I have never had a problem with boot overheating because I don’t leave them on for long periods of time. If you overwork your horse and leave the boots on, of course their legs will overheat.
Can you just replace the velcro strap on boots? You are not saying boots are getting holes in them, just that velcro gets less sticky in time. Boots are not staying in place to protect while using horse.
I am guessing the 'teeth" side of velcro are not full of lint, horse hair, sawdust when you try to use them. I use a dog or cat slicker brush to clean the teeth on my velcro items, so velcro looks and sticks like new.
If you don’t sew, the local tack repair can probably put on new velcro straps for you.
I like the Classic Equine Legacy boots- they have a ballistic lining on the fetlock straps that helps keep them from wearing out. They have the pin hole vents like the Pro Choice Ventech Elites, and I like the way they fit a little better.
[QUOTE=goodhors;8815685]
Can you just replace the velcro strap on boots? You are not saying boots are getting holes in them, just that velcro gets less sticky in time. Boots are not staying in place to protect while using horse.
I am guessing the 'teeth" side of velcro are not full of lint, horse hair, sawdust when you try to use them. I use a dog or cat slicker brush to clean the teeth on my velcro items, so velcro looks and sticks like new.
If you don’t sew, the local tack repair can probably put on new velcro straps for you.[/QUOTE]
My experience is with the Iconoclast boots.
It might sound like the “hooky/teeth” part of the Velcro isn’t gripping, but it actually seems like the boot material that it wraps onto loses its ability to be “gripped”.
It is so odd, I would clean the boots and clean the hooky-part of the Velcro, no debris in the strap, and they just would not hold onto the boot. Which made me think something happens to the boot material over time. Tried fluffing up the boot material with a slicker brush, hoping to raise the “nap” so the strap would hold, and no joy.
With the expense of the Iconoclast boots and limited useful life, I changed to the Back On Track boots, and do not have those problems. One horse is still in the Iconoclast boots for turnout, and the grip is failing on his boots, too. Even cleaning the velcro, and the outside and inside of the boots.
FWIW, my vet recommended the Iconoclast boots specifically because they have the double strap and provide better support and protection than typical boots. (He’s a lameness specialist, and doesn’t make ANY recommendations, in general.)
Thank you keysfins for making it clear the teeth are not the problem. Have you or anyone one else using these boots tried adding a piece of the soft Velcro to let the teeth hook into it? Kind of reverse of changing the strap.
Velcro comes in two pieces, teeth and fuzzy for teeth to snag on. Adding a piece of the fuzzy stuff should help, now that boot fabric is not working anymore. Again, maybe you can sew the fuzzy piece on the boot where strap teeth will hit, or take boots to a tack store to have them do it.
For the price of those Iconclast boots, I would expect to get YEARS of use from them. I will help the boot last that long with adding the fuzzy piece for strap to latch onto! If horse is not wearing them out out making holes in the boots, then get creative with the straps. Velcro does wear out, need replacing at times. You adding a new fuzzy Velcro piece for better stick of the teeth if fabric of boot won’t hold strap, is no big deal.
