Different Types of Horse Boots
It is well known that horse’s legs are vulnerable to injuries. Their limbs are composed of various bones, tendons, ligaments, and other structures that are susceptible to injury and damage. Sometimes all it takes is looking at the animals wrong and they manage to injure themselves. Once their legs are damaged there is a strong possibility that their life can be over.
This is where boots come into the picture. Boots are one of those essential pieces of gear that is a must and should be used in various equine activities. Equine boots are made to provide shock absorption, support, and prevent injuries. Now I’ll be honest, for the longest time I couldn’t tell you the difference between one boot and another. So, to not keep you in the dark like I was, I made this article to help you in your boot journey. I will show you the different types of horse boots commonly used and what their functions are.
Bell boots, sometimes called overreach boots, are designed to protect the horse’s heels, coronet band, and the back of the hoof from injuries caused by overreaching. This is where the horse’s back hooves extend forward and hit the front hooves. These boots are shaped like a bell and cover the entire hoof and the coronary band.these boots are commonly used during turnout, riding or pretty much anytime overreach might be an issue.
Splint boots, or brushing boots, are used to provide additional support and help prevent injuries. These boots typically extend over the lower portion of the cannon bone, fetlock joint, and the inside of the horse’s leg. This offers protection against impacts, abrasions, and knocks. These boots work great when used in high intensity disciplines such as barrel racing, jumping, and rough terrain rides.
Open-front boots, also known as jumper boots or tendon boots, are frequently used in jumping disciplines. Unlike splint boots, open front boots leave the front of the horse’s legs exposed, while having a hard, impact pad covering the back and sides of the cannon bone. The purpose for this design is to provide protection for the delicate tendons and ligaments while simultaneously giving the legs more movement and sensory feedback. By keeping the front open this helps the horse gauge the jumps more accurately.
Fetlock boots, also called ankle boots and hind boots, are primarily used to protect a portion of the horse’s hind legs. These boots protect the fetlock joint and sometimes a little above and below it. Fetlock boots provide shock absorption and aids in supporting the joint. The primary point of the boot is to protect the horses hind legs from obstacles and even each other. These moments can be frequent during jumping, barrel racing, sliding stops, or sport with a sharp stop or turn. The boots are usually a hard shell over a softer neoprene wrap.
Polo wraps, also called exercise bandages, are long strips of fabric used to wrap around the horse’s legs. These are great for giving support and protection during exercise. They are typically applied to the fetlock and up the cannon bone. This wrap provides mild compression, helps mitigate strains, sprains, while also giving overall support to the lower legs. Polo wraps are often used in dressage, flatwork, and exercise.
Shipping boots, often called travel boots, are specifically designed to protect a horse’s legs during transportation. These boots pretty much cover the horse’s lower legs from the hoof up to the knee or hock. This provides padding and support to prevent injuries caused by loading and unloading horses on trailers. They also are safeguards while traveling, preventing bumps and scrapes while moving around in the trailer. If you’re going right down the road might not be necessary. But, they are a good idea and should be used for longer hauls . Better to be safe than sorry.(Side note, I think these boots look absolutely hilarious on any horse. They make horses look like you’re about to send them off with FedEx.)
There are many different horse boots with different shapes and purposes. But, when you break down each one you can start to see why each type is important and why you should look into using them. For a general purpose boot, I’d recommend using the splint boots. They cover a wide range of uses and are great for beginners. If you have a horse who doesn’t know where their own feet are under them, bell boots are also great. If anything it’s just to keep them from stepping all over themselves in the paddock.
