Less hot XC saddle pads and boots?

[WalnutGroveEq]

I have a 5 year old warmblood who is black, black, something I’ve never had before. I noticed last summer that when it’s sunny and warm out his gas tank tends to run out quick. He tends toward the lazier side and that gets worse when the clouds disappear and it gets hot. I had good fortune to run xc in the morning at most of the HTs I went to with him (only running BN), but I worry that my standard saddle pad is going to be too hot for him in the future.

I currently just use a waffle all purpose pad and I’ve been seeing more and more shaped pads like the ecogold xc pad or similar and I wonder if they are less hot?

I also wonder about leg protection. I currently am just using regular splint boots, but I have used the dalmars on my thoroughbred and like them. I was wondering about the dalmars vs the PEI boots with air vents. I love the hard plastic guards on the front of the cannons on the dalmars for my thoroughbred, but the warmblood doesn’t need the extra protection right now for BN/N.

TIA

[asterix]

I have PEI boots and they do a good job keeping the legs cooler. I have a selection of pads (I’m a pad collector, like some people collect shoes) that keep the back pretty cool. Toklat makes some nice xc pads for this, including technical wicking fabrics and sheepskin, which does a great job.

[Lusoluv]

I have the ECP cross-country pad. It looks like/has the same shape as the Ecogold one, but it’s about half the price! It has mesh-type topside and grippy perforated underside to keep your horse cooler.

[WalnutGroveEq]

Also, I hate the idea of using white, but will the lighter color make a big difference in how hot the pad gets?

[Training_Cupid]

The Lettia Coolmax Cooling Ice A/P pad seems to have good reviews. Ovation also has a Coolmax pad.

The new Majyk Boyd Martin XC boots look light weight and breathable. For show jumping I have the Eskadron Air and I really like those, but for XC I just got Woof boots since we’re still newbies we don’t work that hard or long.

[Encourage]

Pardon my slight hijack here, but I don’t want to start a new thread that’s in the same vein as this one.

Anyone able to weigh in on a decent priced, breathable, non-neoprene boot?

My little redheaded mare can’t handle woof boots, the neoprene rubs her skin raw and leaves me in a worse situation. We may only be going BN this year but with lots of XC schooling (including water) in our horizon I don’t want to take her out in our fleece DSBs.

[Heinz_57]

I don’t have any firsthand experience with Dalmars, but I do have a full set of PEI boots and will say my horse’s legs are noticeably less sweaty than with Woofs or DSB’s, even after a regular flatwork session.

Encourage, the only non-neoprene boots I can think of would be the old style leather galloping boots. A quick search tells me other posters have said Ecogold, Dalmars, Thinline and NEW brands also come in non-neoprene-lined versions. However, if you’re not actually dealing with a neoprene allergy, it may just be a fit/sizing issue. I have avoided the Dalmars because of the strike plates, and I’ve heard from quite a few people that they rub or don’t fit well.

[Encourage]

@Heinz 57

Encourage, the only non-neoprene boots I can think of would be the old style leather galloping boots. A quick search tells me other posters have said Ecogold, Dalmars, Thinline and NEW brands also come in non-neoprene-lined versions. However, if you’re not actually dealing with a neoprene allergy, it may just be a fit/sizing issue. I have avoided the Dalmars because of the strike plates, and I’ve heard from quite a few people that they rub or don’t fit well.

It’s very possible it might just be how woof boots fit her, I’ve tried 2 different styles from them, they all seem to fit right while we’re standing in cross ties and then at the end of the ride I have patches where her legs are raw and oozing. I thought it was them and used pro choice boot on her which were WAY worse, so I’m not sure.

I’m leery of the dalmars for the same reason, and I had a pair of ecogold boots 7/8 years ago that would make my geldings legs STEAM with heat so I’m not sure I want to get those again.

[sisu27]

I’ve used Dalmars for years and have had no issues with rubs or fit. Mine are the originals (before Horseware). Why would you not want a strike plate? I avoid any boots that hold heat as I feel that is going to do more damage over time than the risk of not having boots on so I only use the Dalmars for galloping and jumping.

I use sheepskin pads on my OTTB that is heat tolerant and BR coolmax lined pads with spine ventilation on the one that tends to overheat easily.

[Frivian]

My horse gets rubs with a lot of things. I started using the Boyd Martin Majyk Equipe boots on him last fall and they have worked really well for him. They also don’t seem to hold heat at all.

I like the Ecogold pads for XC, and the Lettia coolmax pads for schooling.

[scruffy_the_cat]

LeMieux makes a sort of a mesh saddle pad which is totally intriguing- tons of airflow in it. http://www.centerlinestyle.com/lemieux-3d-mesh-air-euro-jump-square-pad/
Also, most of their pads have bamboo facing the horse instead of cotton, which traps and holds onto sweat.

[WalnutGroveEq]

@Frivian

My horse gets rubs with a lot of things. I started using the Boyd Martin Majyk Equipe boots on him last fall and they have worked really well for him. They also don’t seem to hold heat at all.

I like the Ecogold pads for XC, and the Lettia coolmax pads for schooling.

I like the look of the Boyd Martin boots. How are they protection wise? They don’t appear to have a hard strike plate like the dalmars.

[asterix]

Scruffy, how thick are those Lemieux pads? I need something quite thin…

[MsRidiculous]

@WalnutGroveEq

I like the look of the Boyd Martin boots. How are they protection wise? They don’t appear to have a hard strike plate like the dalmars.

The strike plate in the Majyk Equipe boots uses dilatant foam technology for their strike guards. Basically the material stays quite pliable and flexible until there is an impact, then it becomes rigid. This makes it ideal for XC boots, because boots with very rigid strike plates can actually rub against and irritate the tendons over longer gallops. There’s more info about how the dilatant material works on the ME website:

http://www.majykequipe.com/technology2.html

I’ve have several pairs of their boots and have been using them for years - super happy with them. They’re much more lightweight and breathable than other brands, but still offer excellent protection. And no neoprene!

[Frivian]

@MsRidiculous

The strike plate in the Majyk Equipe boots uses dilatant foam technology for their strike guards. Basically the material stays quite pliable and flexible until there is an impact, then it becomes rigid. This makes it ideal for XC boots, because boots with very rigid strike plates can actually rub against and irritate the tendons over longer gallops. There’s more info about how the dilatant material works on the ME website:

http://www.majykequipe.com/technology2.html

I’ve have several pairs of their boots and have been using them for years - super happy with them. They’re much more lightweight and breathable than other brands, but still offer excellent protection. And no neoprene!

Yep, I love them and they’ve done really well for my horse so far (we’re only going Novice, but he is rather clumsy and has been known to hurt himself with his own feet). The biggest test for them was last fall when we did the N3D. I used them for all my fitness work, and obviously on the endurance day of the 3 day, and never had any trouble with his legs getting irritated from them.

[Heinz_57]

@sisu27

I’ve used Dalmars for years and have had no issues with rubs or fit. Mine are the originals (before Horseware). Why would you not want a strike plate? I avoid any boots that hold heat as I feel that is going to do more damage over time than the risk of not having boots on so I only use the Dalmars for galloping and jumping.

My recollection is that the carbon fiber strike plate on the Dalmars can splinter on impact and the shards may damage the legs. It’s not that I don’t want a strike plate - my PEI’s have them, they are made of polycarbonate. I just don’t want something that is going to splinter into sharp pieces. The description on Dover refers to “shatterproof” carbon fiber, however I don’t find that language anywhere on the Dalmar website itself. I prefer the PEI’s anyway for the extra coverage, especially on the hinds.

Encourage, it looks like the PEI boots (the originals) are lined with EVA foam, not neoprene, so maybe that’s worth a try? It does sound like you might be dealing with a neoprene irritation if the boots are looking like they fit otherwise.

[goodmorning]

IIRC correctly the PEI boots aren’t your typical neoprene. I use them on a horse who can’t wear your regular neoprene (Woof boots caused his legs to swell like balloons, panicked mom). I love them. Maybe see if you can borrow some first? I also have the NEW boots that are fleece lined - originally bought for horse with a big old scar from getting leg stuck in fence, also great, somehow they don’t hold water or dirt which always amazes me. Legs stay nice & cool.