I am really leery of using boots because of their breathability, but my horse is at the point where he needs some protection. Does anyone have suggestions on which boots allow for the best airflow and cooling?
I really like the Equilibrium Trizone Allsport boots.
Equilbrium Stretch and Flex. There are multiple users at our barn. Looking at the ones recommended above, these may not provide as much protection to the legs, for dressage work, in ring, should be fine.
Air protection boots…they have the strike protections but have little holes to allow the air to pass, these are examples:
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/new/harrys-horse-elite-r-air-protection-boots/
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/horse-apparel/protective-boots/hkm-protection-boots-air-brown/
http://www.theconnectedrider.com/new/horze-supreme-impact-air-shock-tendon-boots/
I use the Stretch and Flex and love them! Those are our everyday boots. For show warm up, we use the cheap Dover boots only because I won’t be out $$$ if they get left ringside.
I use the Back on Track exercise boots and my horse’s legs always stay cool under them.
Another vote for Equilibrium Stretch and Flex. Horses legs are wayyyy cooler when I take these off versus Eskadron or polo wraps. To wash make sure the velcro is secured to itself or the boots will pill a lot. Doesn’t affect action of boot but looks ugly.
I seem to have the opposite experience from some posters :), my horse would still get sweaty dirty legs under the Stretch & Flex wraps.
He has white clipped legs and when I take them off, you’d see moist & dirt lines.
The bottom strap velcro on the Stretch & Flex Wraps does give out easily and collects a fair amount of dirt or textile, if you are riding in ggtf footing.
Bandages with terracloths like the eskadron climatex do keep his legs dry in my case.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/eskadron-climatex-training-bandages-7800
And also the very well ventilated PE brushing boots.
http://www.premierequine.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=19749088
I have the Professional’s Choice all-purpose brushing boots. Thinnish, honeycomb type perforations, extremely light, won’t hold water. $39
They are slightly thicker than the Equilibrium Stretch & Flex, but a lot cheaper and more protection. I still put them on last and take them off first when untacking due to heat concerns. But seem lighter than anything else out there.
Open front boots have the least coverage, so probably the coolest. But a vet told me the elastic straps across the front concentrates pressure there unevenly. So I no longer use them.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone I tried buying a pair of the Trizone boots, and was really not impressed with them. They had spaced out padding (like this), which was supposed to help with ventilation, but after riding in them once, I could see indentations on my horses legs from the padding. :eek: And they were not applied tightly, at all.
Going to try either the PE or the Professional’s Choice brushing boots next.
[QUOTE=Lieslot;8624336]
I seem to have the opposite experience from some posters :), my horse would still get sweaty dirty legs under the Stretch & Flex wraps.
He has white clipped legs and when I take them off, you’d see moist & dirt lines.
The bottom strap velcro on the Stretch & Flex Wraps does give out easily and collects a fair amount of dirt or textile, if you are riding in ggtf footing.
Bandages with terracloths like the eskadron climatex do keep his legs dry in my case.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/eskadron-climatex-training-bandages-7800
And also the very well ventilated PE brushing boots.
http://www.premierequine.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=19749088[/QUOTE]
It sounds like you are using the Equilibrium Stretch and Flex Training Wraps (with the fetlock “support” strap). I didn’t like those either. I found the fit difficult. I love the Equilibrium Stretch and Flex Flatwork Wraps though - the ones that are splint boot shaped.
[QUOTE=Lieslot;8624336]
And also the very well ventilated PE brushing boots.
http://www.premierequine.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?ItmID=19749088[/QUOTE]
are these avail in the US? can you tell me if they are on par with the Woof sizing?
These look awesome!
They are indeed very cool. But no, so far no one carries them in the US :(. SmartPak has some of the PE gear, like their magnetic boots & stable boots, but not those :(.
I ordered them directly from the UK, when they happened to have one of their big sales. I got them at 40% off, which thereby covered the shipping cost & more :). Shipping is super fast, I got them within 5 days.
I do have to say they run big, say about 1/2 a size bigger than the woof wears.
My 16.3hh wears a M in front and L in the hinds, but actually so does the 18hh senior, the XL on his hinds was really long :).
Yes that’s correct, I have the wraps with the fetlock support strap, I haven’t tried the other ones so far :).
[QUOTE=Lieslot;8626226]
Yes that’s correct, I have the wraps with the fetlock support strap, I haven’t tried the other ones so far :).[/QUOTE]
Agree with other poster, the training ones with fetlock support do trap a little more dirt than the training wraps and are harder to fit. I’m ok with both but prefer the ones without fetlock support. They are very cool and stay very clean.
[QUOTE=Lieslot;8626221]
They are indeed very cool. But no, so far no one carries them in the US :(. SmartPak has some of the PE gear, like their magnetic boots & stable boots, but not those :(.
I ordered them directly from the UK, when they happened to have one of their big sales. I got them at 40% off, which thereby covered the shipping cost & more :). Shipping is super fast, I got them within 5 days.
I do have to say they run big, say about 1/2 a size bigger than the woof wears.
My 16.3hh wears a M in front and L in the hinds, but actually so does the 18hh senior, the XL on his hinds was really long :).[/QUOTE]
ok, I’ll keep these in mind. I am a devoted woof fan, but I like these for breathability.
If they run big then I’m prob out of luck since my horse wears a small already (pony sized).
I’ll keep an eye out for the sale!
Many thanks for this info!
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8621763]
I really like the Equilibrium Trizone Allsport boots.[/QUOTE]
this is what i use, very ventilated. i use them for turnout also.
