When horses train or compete, their legs or ankles can become hurt. Horse boots are used to support the horse’s legs and make them less certain to become hurt. There are a number of different kinds of horse boots available, and each one offers different benefits. The type of boot an owner chooses for their horse should be determined by on the level of competition and the movement of the horse’s legs.
One of the commonest injuries affecting young horses are splint bone injuries. The splint bone is found on the front of a horse’s leg and is very frail. If a splint bone is damaged or fractured, it can stop the pony from coaching or competing for weeks. Owners often fit their horses for splint boots that they wear while coaching. Splint boots are customarily made from neoprene and fasten around the horses leg with Velcro straps or metal buckles.
Easy boots are used to protect a horse’s hooves. Owners who don’t routinely ride or train their horses in mud or rocky terrain will often use easy boots as temporary protection. Easy boots are cheaper than metal horseshoes and can provide the same support for a number of uses. Horse owners may use easy boots only when taking their horses on trail rides or when loading or unloading a horse in rocky or muddy terrain. Easy boots can be removed simply before the horse is put out to pasture.
Horses that have long strides while running may on occasions kick their front legs with their back legs. Bell boots are used to defend the horse’s front feet during running, coaching and competitions. They are small rubber boots that fit on the horse’s front hooves. They are typically tied or Velcroed into place. The boots soak up the blows of the horse’s back legs and stop the front legs and hooves from being hurt. Bell boots are necessary if the pony wears metal shoes, as these can cause severe damage when they kick the front legs. They’re removed when the horse is put to pasture or is not running and training.
Anna Sola is a longtime article author publishing articles on a diverse range of subjects including travel, sport and medical subjects.
Townend Online is an equestrian clothing store and tack shop for all competitive riders, as an example stocking horse boots and other specialist horse tack.