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Horse care requires some special consideration and equipment, regardless of how big and robust horses appear to be. There are many different types of horse supplies, although most people are only familiar with saddles and horseshoes. Horse boots, for instance, can aid in safeguarding a horse's legs and hooves.
These boots come in a variety of materials, such as:
Leather,
Sheepskin,
Gel,
Neoprene, or
Plastic.
They can be fastened with buckles, hook and studs, or hook and loop. To prevent tripping over one another and coming undone, which could harm the horse, horse boots are typically sold in pairs with the closures on the outside of the horse's leg.
What are the Various Types of Horse boots You Can Get?
The lower leg and hooves of your horse can be protected by various types of horse boots in various ways.
Bell Boots
The boots have a bell shape that protects both the heel and the entire hoof by encircling it. Bell boots, also known as overreach boots, are used to prevent overreaching, which occurs when a horse strikes his front heels with his back feet's toes. They can be used in the paddock or while riding. Bell boots prevent the hooves from hitting a hard surface when jumping over obstacles or moving through muddy or difficult terrain. They can be used on both the front and the back legs.
Pull-on style horse boots are the most secure, but they can be a little difficult to put on and take off. There are no openings which also mean they provide the best protection. They're used because they're simpler to put on and take off than buckle closures or hook-and-loop fasteners, but depending on the terrain, they might be more prone to becoming clogged with dirt. They're also more likely to come off, so it's important to properly fasten them and check the latch frequently.
Fetlock Boots
On a horse's hind legs are worn fetlock boots, also known as brushing boots or ankle boots. They are made to prevent injuries to the inside of a horse's legs from occurring when the opposing hock strikes the lower leg and fetlock. They are made to protect while still allowing a horse to feel a pole while jumping, starting under the knee and running down the inside of the leg.
When permitted, fetlock horse boots can be worn for competition and schooling as well as tendon boots for protection when show jumping. Boots for fetlocks typically come in two styles. One boot is more of an all-purpose boot with extra padding inside the fetlock. One leaves the front of the boot open and the other encircles the back of the joint.
Tendon Boots
The front legs of a horse are covered in tendon boots. They are made to shield the tendon area from possible strikes from the horse's back hooves when landing a jump. Injuries from brushing caused when a hoof catches the leg are also prevented by tendon boots. Like fetlock boots, there are open-fronted boots that let a horse feel a pole while jumping. Due to the risk of injury from solid fences when they are permitted, closed-tendon boots protect both the tendon area and the front of the leg while everting.
Hoof Boots
Sometimes used in place of horseshoes, these boots safeguard the horse's sole. When a horse cannot wear shoes due to health reasons, during the transition to going shoeless, or if a horse loses a shoe, temporary hoof boots may be used. They safeguard the hoof sole from challenging terrain and are utilized in all riding disciplines.
Therapeutic Boots
These horse boots are for therapeutic purposes. Compared to wrapping the feet and hooves, therapeutic hoof boots promote faster wound healing in horses. These boots can be worn with your horse's medications and guard the hoof from oils and dirt.
Travel Boots
Travel boots, also called shipping boots, are designed to protect a horse's lower legs and hocks from injury while the animal is being transported in a trailer. In most cases, they fit comfortably and can be applied more quickly than bandages.
Conclusion
A good way to help safeguard your horse from harm is by using horse boots. Although they are not always necessary, many horseback riders feel that using them is a good idea because injuries can take weeks or months to heal.