4 Types of Horse Boots To Consider!

As a current or aspiring horseback rider, you are likely familiar with the usual tack required to suit your horse up properly for a day's ride. You may not be as familiar with horse boots, which are the soft but protective boots that wrap around a horse's hooves and lower legs. Horse boots come in handy not only for hoof protection, as general riding will wear down horse's hooves, but also for padding a horse's lower legs, which have only a very thin layer of muscle that doesn't provide much padding to the bones, tendons, and ligaments. There are a number of different types of boots and this will help you get started on learning a few.

1. Splint Boots

Splint, also known as sport, boots are used on both the front and back legs and protect the horse's cannon bone, which is what we might think of as lower leg bones that lie above the hoof and fetlock and below the knee. These are particularly helpful for show jumping, eventing, and dressage and help guard against injuries should the horse hit a fence post or something similar. Companies that sell horse supplies will have a good selection of strong, supportive splint/sport boots. 

2. Bell Boots & Hoof Boots

Bell boots are ankle-high boots that protect a horse's coronary band, the area where the hair meets the hoof. Damage to the coronary band can cause permanent damage to the hoof so bell boots can be essential to preserving your horse's soundness and health. Hoof boots similarly protect the hoof area and prevent excessive wear on the hooves and help keep horseshoes secure.

3. Polo Wraps

Young horses or horses currently being trained may need extra protection as they may act out and unintentionally hurt themselves. Polo wraps go on both the front and back legs and help protect during spirited rides. 

4. Stable Boots

While polo wraps are most helpful for young or green horses, stable boots are more useful for middle-aged or older horses. Stable boots provide a different sort of protection. Horses need time cool-down and walk around after a workout, just as humans do, and a horse that is stabled immediately after a ride may have fluid buildup in the legs, causing swelling. These boots can be wrapped around a horse's legs to help reduce the swollen and mitigating the chances of injury.

Picking the right pair of boots for your horse will result in a more comfortable ride and both a happier horse and rider.