I’m in the market for new shipping boots - thoughts?
I’ve had good luck with the Dover Pro ones.
I just bought the Dover Pros with the mesh lining. Can’t speak on durability but they seem sturdy and look nice
I’ve had 2 pairs of the dover pro ones for a zillion years. Hold up very well, easy on, easy off, fit lots of different horses.
Highly reccomend Dover Pro shipping boots!!! They hold up very well and give a true fit!! They hold up very well when put in the washer too! I would also highly reccomend you stay away from Amigo boots, multiple people at my barn use them and after a few trips/washes they lost its shap very quickly, I would not put my horse in Amigos IMO.
+1 to the Dover Pro recommendations. I just added a set of Roma Deluxe boots to my collection and have been happy with them so far.
okay. . question coming from hunter/jumper land. . . No shipping wraps? We always use no bows and standing bandages. . usually with bell boots. On horses that bang their hocks I have seen shipping boots over standing wraps.
I guess it’s really a matter of opinion, I’m just curious why boots and not wraps. . . Boots are easier. Maybe I’m just old fashioned!
[QUOTE=IndyEquestrian;8232782]
okay. . question coming from hunter/jumper land. . . No shipping wraps? We always use no bows and standing bandages. . usually with bell boots. On horses that bang their hocks I have seen shipping boots over standing wraps.
I guess it’s really a matter of opinion, I’m just curious why boots and not wraps. . . Boots are easier. Maybe I’m just old fashioned![/QUOTE]
I do the same as you … It is probably not supported by any science whatsoever, but back in my Pony Club days they taught us that the wraps provide “support” whereas shipping boots do not, so I have always been in the habit of using wraps. These days I typically use standing wraps with bell boots, but in Pong Club they also made us learn to wrap the full length flannel shipping wraps that covered the coronary band and heel bulbs.
I think many people prefer boots because they are quicker and easier to put on, and in all honesty probably provide just as much protection in most situations.
I like that the boots give you some knee/ hock coverage. Plus they are less disgusting to put on on the way home after they have been pooped on. I do do standing wraps and bellboots over liniment or poultice after xc for long trips or on horses that dislike the boots or have issues. But despite being a diehard ponycl Uber for years and years I like the boots.
I do standing wraps + bell boots or the full-length Pony Club style boots for longer hauls or after competition. For shorter trips when support is less of an issue I prefer boots because they are just a lot faster to put on. I do also appreciate the extra protection - those Dover Pros and the Roma Deluxe boots extend over the knees and hocks. Some horses don’t tolerate the higher boots well, though, so for them - wraps! Basically, I over-complicate things 
I personally don’t think any boot or wrap provides “support” to any internal structures. They help protect from external knocks and dings.
So I use boots because they are easier, they provide more protection from external knocks than standing wraps (my boots are thicker than standing wraps and have a nylon outer shell), and they provide knee, hock and pastern protection (and when you have seen a horse slice open the artery in the back of a front pastern with their hind foot coming off a trailer, you tend to care about pastern protection :)). So that is why I personally use boots
As to the OP- another Dover boot user. I have had mine for more than 10 years and they are still in good shape
