How to choose the best boots for your horse

How to fit horse boots

Boots that fit correctly have the best chance of doing the job you bought them for — namely, helping to protect vulnerable areas on your horse’s lower legs. If the boots are too big they can slip down, and could rub or cause your horse to trip. Also, dirt and grit may get inside them, resulting in rubs and discomfort.

Equally, if the boots are too small for your horse, they won’t offer enough protection to their legs, will not be comfortable to wear and are likely to rub. Once the boot is fastened in place check that your horse can bend their knee without the boot interfering. It’s important to fasten the boots so that they are tight enough to hold the boot in place but they must not be too tight — you should be able to slide a finger down the side of the boot once the straps are fastened.

Do you need to buy horse boots?

Before you rush out and buy a new set of horse boots, ask yourself this question — does my horse need them? Not all horses necessarily need to wear boots, and the answer will vary depending on what activities you do and their conformation. For some disciplines, such as jumping, or if your horse has conformation that means they may be more likely to knock themselves, then boots are a good idea to potentially reduce the risk of injury.

Horse boots are designed for particular jobs. Some offer strike protection, ideal for fast work and cross-country, while others only cover the back of the leg to support the tendon. There are also those designed for everyday wear, perhaps for a quick schooling session or to protect legs when going for a hack. Boots can offer some protection to your horse’s legs from knocks and bangs. Choosing boots that are designed to best suit the type of work you plan to do with your horse is key. This might mean owning several sets of horse boots. Don’t worry, it’s normal! Most riders have more than one set in their horse’s tack room, especially if they enjoy several disciplines.

Tendon horse boots

Tendon boots are designed to be used for jumping and are usually made from a tougher material than brushing boots to provide greater protection to your horse’s lower leg when they’re jumping. Open-fronted tendon boots are a popular choice for showjumpers, although there’s a growing number of riders using this type of boot for other types of work too.

Fetlock boots

عادة ما يتم ارتداء أحذية الرسغ على الأرجل الخلفية للحصان وهي أصغر بكثير من أحذية الأوتار - كما يوحي الاسم، فهي تغطي وتحمي مفصل الرسغ من الإصابات الناتجة عن الاحتكاك. تتميز هذه الأحذية عادةً بوسادة صدمات مصنوعة من مادة صلبة لحماية مفصل الرسغ، وحزام تثبيت واحد. إنها خيار شائع للعمل على الأسطح المسطحة وأحيانًا قفز الحواجز، ولكن أحذية الرسغ لا ينصح بها عادةً للقفز عبر البلاد أو الركض لأنها لا توفر حماية كافية للساقين.