I see so much variety in boot choices on xc. I’m looking into options for a new set for one of my guys and am just wondering what other people prefer and why. At this point we’re just doing novice and I run him in smbs and bell boots (has a tendency to overreach). I am just wondering if the other options would provide more protection as we move up the levels. Thanks for any insight!
Nunn Finer, Premier Equine and Majyk Equipe are all good options IMO.
I looooooove my premier equine boots. From all the various threads we’ve had, it seems that they are a bit of a particular fit, but my experience with them has been fantastic. They are lightweight and about as well-ventilated as a boot could be, but still offer good protection with the strike plates and extra-high coverage on the hinds. I find them easy to clean and easy to put on, and they’ve survived a number of years. And they don’t grab grass seeds and other vegetation like the SMBs do!
I like the Majyk boots. They’re super lightweight, very breathable, don’t hold water, are easy to clean, and the strike plates in them don’t shatter. They do start out pretty stiff, but they become more malleable with use.
I love Boogaloo Boots for lower levels (BN/N) and I use Premiere Equine for Training and up. I love the Premiere Equines, they are by far the best that I have seen and used in my personal opinion.
honestly… I’ve tried them all and I always go back to my Woof Boots… especially if you aren’t going above Prelim - they’re affordable ($30-80 depending on the style), INCREDIBLY durable, easy to clean and wash, light-weight, and always seem to come in a size that perfectly fits my horses’ legs. The strike-plates are very solid and there’s several different styles you can order.
WOOF has new ventilated boots too. I’d love to see studies on if the ventilation hype really does anything. I remain a skeptic, having seen no appreciable difference in the heat of my horse’s limbs after XC in either. I admit the nerd in me did use a digital laser/infrared gun that was on hand (used for chicken eggs) to compare the temperatures of all four limbs post canter-sets and found no difference in the temperature with WOOF vs Magyk. Huge difference in temperature (IIRC, 3 degrees?) between the SMBs and the others. SMBs ran significantly hotter.
For bells on XC I prefer gummy bells, not the plastic Davis ones. IMHO the gummies do a better job of staying with the hoof as it moves and unless the horse interferes and rips them, there’s no way they can fly off mid-XC run. I had a pair of Professional’s Choice Ballistic bells I really liked up until one of them went flying past me like a spinning tire during XC… so I avoid velcro fasteners on bells for that reason.
interesting about the temperatures - may have to steal hubby’s temperature gun too.
If you are eventing below Novice, I wouldn’t worry too much about the temperature as the boots are only on for about 30 minutes. Just take them off first thing after XC and ice the legs.
I used to work at a barn where many of the horses were turned out – on very hot days – in those smb boots, and I’ve since wondered about that.
I liked my Nunn Finer boots, but the stitching on the velcro has started going after fairly minimal use. In addition, the hind boots were fine on my 2 previous horses but caused rubs on the current horse (who gets rubs from just about everything very easily!). YMMV. I just bought the Majyke Equipe boots because they had lots of good reviews for horses that get rubs and they happen to be one of the very few makes that come in my color (purple!). I haven’t tried them yet, but I like how light weight and soft they feel.
