What is everyone's favorite XC boot?

[redalter]

And why oh why can I not simply find one I like? It’s not like I am prepping for Badminton, for pete’s sake. I am a LL smurf, never going past T at this point in my life.

I use woofs now, and they are okay, but I tried a pair of the SMB new technology with the strike guard, and I hate the way they sit on the leg- I even went to the store, and had the people there try them on the fake plastic leg, and the store owner who knows their stuff. We all sort of hated them then. :lol:

Then there are the Boyd “Magyk” something ones? They look okay, and Boyds’ a great guy, but maybe not all over the boot.

I am NOT a “5 point breastplate and overgirth to go BN” type of person, I just want something with a little support, and maybe some strike protection.

Any ideas?

[JER]

Boots don’t/can’t/won’t provide ‘support’, despite what manufacturers might claim.

I’d use whatever doesn’t rub your horse’s skin and makes his legs the least hot while wearing.

I don’t use boots at all the LLs or for schooling. I’ve had horses (well, mares) that detested hind boots so went without at the ULs. I also had a gelding – a lifelong field hunter – who disliked boots but wore open-front Eskadrons at Prelim.

A few years back, Horse & Hound ran a very interesting article on boots which made a very strong case for not using them at all. But this isn’t something most riders would be comfortable with.

[fanfayre]

I use the Majyk ones all around for my LL rounds and schooling. As mentioned above, no support, but they do seem to provide protection without rubbing, which the Dalmars did on my delicate flower, and don’t slip, which my Ecogolds did. Now have a pair of BoT open-fronts for stadium, and I love them too.
If you want support, then probably Porters and Saratoga wraps (if you’re experienced enough to put them on properly) are an option

[beowulf]

i also don’t like using boots - for one, for green horses it can serve as enabling them to be lazy - if they hit the jump and it never hurts, well, you’ll have a careless horse.

for two i’ve seen a great deal of problems with boots – everything from flying off and smacking the horse in the process to snagging on something and having the horse drag that something behind them…

if you’re using big honking studs, it’s worth looking into them but at the LL you shouldn’t need studs, much less big ones.

if i boot, it’s WOOF boots every time - i’ve found their XC line to be very lightweight and durable.

[beowulf]

i also don’t like using boots - for one, for green horses it can serve as enabling them to be lazy - if they hit the jump and it never hurts, well, you’ll have a careless horse.

for two i’ve seen a great deal of problems with boots – everything from flying off and smacking the horse in the process to snagging on something and having the horse drag that something behind them…

if you’re using big honking studs, it’s worth looking into them but at the LL you shouldn’t need studs, much less big ones.

if i boot, it’s WOOF boots every time - i’ve found their XC line to be very lightweight and durable.

[redalter]

Thanks for the input! I’m not a big fan of tons of tack, and I usually just stick with the Woofs.

I remember many years ago the Porter and Saratoga wraps were pretty common.

[Heinz_57]

I really like my premiers. Granted, I haven’t tried most of the other new ones on the market because I’m not made of money but I like the breathability the premiers have. Legs stay much cooler than with woofs, IME. And I haven’t had any problems with shifting or spinning, but that’s as much a fit issue as anything else. For reference, I’m using them on a big boned 17h TB that wears large fronts and XL hinds in regular DSB’s.

[devvie]

Really like the Tri-Zone boots, super light, breathable

[kashmere]

I’ve used the same pair of open front Eskadrons for going on ten years. They provide nice protection from accidental interfering with hooves and shoes, still let a horse feel a bit of a sting from missing a fence, and they’re machine washable!

win/win/win.

[Lusoluv]

I don’t like to use boots much due to heat buildup, and so far haven’t used anything but ankle boots on my mare’s hinds (she doesn’t wear hind shoes). In front I use Professionals Choice All purpose boots. They’re lightweight, perforated and don’t hold water or heat too badly. They’re about $34 a pair.

I had Woof All-Purpose, but those felt hot/sweaty when I’d take them off as they are thin, but non-perforated neoprene. They’re also about $34.

After schooling they’re the first thing I take off!

[531]

I use these and am quite happy with them.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/woof-wear-smart-event-boot--front-12368

[devvie]

Has anyone else ever worn wet neoprene? I have these cheapo paddling booties that are OK to wear for swimming when you’re worried about what’s under your feet, but trying wearing these things for more than 20 minutes in hot weather and my goodness, my skin gets itchy, hot, I just want the things off. They do not breath. Very unscientific, but enough to make me question all the neoprene boots out there. I used a work at a barn where for turnout many horses went out with those big heavy professional’s choice boots, even in very hot weather. Not a good call (I wonder if they’re still doing that?)

[Equisis]

I usually use woof boots for my young horses or LL horses. They provide some strike protection and keep them from getting scraped up if they hit a fence, and they are cheap and easy to replace. They can get a bit hot, but I pull them off as soon as we’re done and the horses generally aren’t running hard enough that I am very concerned.

My gelding who is doing more serious stuff wears Premier boots. They seem to stay pretty cool and offer a decent amount of strike protection, and they are soft enough to conform to his legs. I have a feeling they are going to wear out quicker than some others, but I haven’t had them long, so time will tell. I like them better than the Dalmars I was using before- loved the protection they offered, especially when we took a hard hit to a bank, but they were just too rigid and since his leg wasn’t shaped just like the boot, they would rub or move. Also not a fan of the Tri-Zones- I had a horse tear clear through one with a stud (not a big stud, just a little square road stud). Way too expensive IMO for not enough protection.

[devvie]

[QUOTE=Equisis;8768622]
Also not a fan of the Tri-Zones- I had a horse tear clear through one with a stud (not a big stud, just a little square road stud). Way too expensive IMO for not enough protection.[/QUOTE]

Where on the boot was the tear and was the leg injured or was there a wound?

[asterix]

I also like the premier equine boots - they definitely are a bit cooler than non-vented boots, and they stay put and fit well on my horse. That being said, I have a size smaller on the hinds than on the fronts because the hinds are REALLY tall. My guy is 16.2 or 3 and very stocky, so not a little horse, but …
95% of the time he doesn’t need them and I do worry about heat, but he has a pretty wicked hissy fit mode that involves spinning and leaping about at, um, ditches, and when that comes out he is entirely capable of doing himself damage.

[Dr_Doolittle]

[QUOTE=asterix;8768635]
I also like the premier equine boots - they definitely are a bit cooler than non-vented boots, and they stay put and fit well on my horse. That being said, I have a size smaller on the hinds than on the fronts because the hinds are REALLY tall. My guy is 16.2 or 3 and very stocky, so not a little horse, but …
95% of the time he doesn’t need them and I do worry about heat, but he has a pretty wicked hissy fit mode that involves spinning and leaping about at, um, ditches, and when that comes out he is entirely capable of doing himself damage.[/QUOTE]

asterix - how would you say they fit in terms of how high they are on the leg? My youngster has VERY short front cannons, her rear ones are longer (and she could probably wear a medium behind), but I worry that the mediums might be too long for her front legs…

[devvie]

didn’t know until now that these are a thing in the UK:

http://www.equilibriumproducts.com/product/equi-chaps-close-contact-turnout-chaps/

[asterix]

The hinds particularly are pretty tall - I didn’t have any trouble with the fronts, but if she is quite short there I’d try the smalls. Eli goes in smalls behind, believe it or not - they are not QUITE big enough around the leg, but it doesn’t really matter.

All the pics of him in my sig line are in those boots - a couple of them give you a pretty good sense of size…

[Lori_T]

I used to be a boot junkie, a left over from my jumper days, and I swear my favorite are a leather pair that I scored at Dover in the bargain basement. I paid $15 for them and they retailed for $150.
They were for my daughter’s TB mare and I just brought them home from the barn because I was tired of cleaning them. Unfortunately, they don’t fit my draft cross.
I tried Boyd’s Magyk and concluded recently that for the cost, they really aren’t any better than the other pair I had, which brand name escapes me, but I paid about half.
I worry about boots flinging off, especially in water, which is why I was sold on Boyds, but guess what? In a lesson, one flung off.
Since I have no aspirations to go above novice and my guy is pretty tough, I am really leaning towards the no boots way of thinking.

[mythical84]

I got these late last year and absolutely love them: http://profchoice.com/i-20607012-pro-performance-xc-boots.html. They really do.not.slip. and are seemingly pretty breathable. My young horse tends to knock himself up a bit behind, and these keep him in one place.

I got these for everyday use: http://profchoice.com/i-16123079-ventech-all-purpose-boots.html and have also been pleased with them. They are holding up well and much less expensive than some other brands.