Choosing Horse Boots
Games Guy | February 8, 2012
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 several different kinds of horse boots available, and each one offers different benefits. The kind of boot an owner selects for their horse should depend on on the type of competition and the movement of the horse’s legs.
One of the most common injuries affecting young horses are splint bone injuries. The splint bone is located on the front of a horse’s leg and is very frail. If a splint bone is damaged or smashed, it can stop the horse from training or competing for weeks. Owners frequently 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 guard a horse’s hooves. Horse owners who do not ordinarily ride or train their horses in mud or rough terrain will frequently use easy boots as temporary protection. Easy boots are cheaper than metal horseshoes and can provide the same support for several uses. Pony owners may use easy boots only when taking their horses on trail rides or when loading or unloading a pony in rocky or rough terrain. Easy boots can be easily removed before the pony 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 usually tied or Velcroed into place. The boots absorb the blows of the horse’s back legs and prevent the front legs and hooves from being hurt. Bell boots are necessary if the horse wears metal shoes, as these can cause significant damage when they kick the front legs. They are removed when the pony is put to pasture or is no longer running and coaching.
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