This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Tack and Training » Horse Boots »
  Discussion on Supportive Boots???
Author Message
Member:
mysi

Posted on Sunday, Jul 8, 2007 - 8:29 pm:

I'm looking for a supportive hind ankle boot. I have a 17.2h draft/warmblood cross and I've been using molded ankle boots to help with interference but in the past year he has been getting alot of wind puffs (I know they are mostly cosmetic). I can't help but feel he needs more support. Can anyone suggest a good option? The boots must come in XL, he's a big boy.

Someone suggested Professional's choice SMB boots, but I didn't know if having a boot that goes up that high was necessary.

Any suggestion would be helpful.
Member:
corinne

Posted on Sunday, Jul 8, 2007 - 9:53 pm:

All my eventing friends sware by Woof boots. You can google them and get pretty good prices from some of the smaller Mom and pop tack shops but they have them in Dover etc.

Hope you find one to your liking.

Corinne
Member:
stevens

Posted on Monday, Jul 9, 2007 - 8:51 am:

Hi Melissa,

I've got a big boy also and it was a real pain finding boots to fit his hind legs. The Professional Choice dressage boots and the Dressage Sport Boots were too small (XL fit on the front).

Finally, I found some big enough. I don't remember the manufacturer, but they're called "Stretch and Flex" or something like that. They too are in the Dover Saddlery catalog. I bought the size 4 (they had a size chart that actually goes by circumference of the leg, what a concept).

Good Luck!

Chris
Member:
mysi

Posted on Monday, Jul 9, 2007 - 9:19 pm:

Thanks guys. The stretch and flex are exactly what I am looking for. I just ordered them. I can't believe as many time as I've looked through the Dover catalog I have never seen those.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Member:
stevens

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 10, 2007 - 7:57 am:

Good luck with the boots; I really like them. BTW, I don't think Dover carried them before, this last catalog was the first time I saw them offered. I'd been looking for those particular boots for a while.

Chris
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007 - 8:44 pm:

Melissa, did you get the new boots? How do you like them?
Do they offer hock protection?
Member:
mysi

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 2, 2007 - 10:45 pm:

You know, I was looking for this post so I could update on how I liked them and I couldn't find it.

I loved them. Unfortunately, Moose became pretty lame and it turned out to be his elbow, so I wasn't able to ride with them for long. But they provided great support, fit great and were durable. I would definitely recommend them. No hock protection that I know of, but they do make hock boots for that, I believe they are in the Dover Catalog as well.
Member:
maggienm

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007 - 11:57 am:

Thanks Melissa,
oops, what colour is my red face- I meant pasterns, I can't picture splint boots that go all the way to the hock.
Sorry to hear your guy became lame, is he ok now?
My draft cross gets windpuffs as well.
Maybe it is a draft horse issue. Were you able to use them long enough to decide if they reduced the windpuffs?
The suport is great but I also want to protect the inside of the pasterns because my girl seems to step on herself a bit. I think it is a mix of her big draft feet, age, and her willingness to try to do what I am asking.

thanks Lori
Member:
mysi

Posted on Wednesday, Oct 3, 2007 - 8:48 pm:

Ha Ha, I was kind of wondering where you were going with that. lol.

Yes they were very supportive to the pastern and fetlock. Moose also hits himself with his big feet, and they protected against harm from that. I used them about 4 weeks, I couldn't really say if they helped with the windpuffs because, I have come to find out since Moose has been off that they weren't alot more windpuffs, it was swelling under his original ones - which is gone now with rest. (his original windpuffs are still there as I don't think actual windpuffs ever go away).

I totally think they are worth it though. I look at it as support and comfort. I had an ankle injury 2 years ago (from coming off Moose-we are really good for each other, lol) and had to have surgery and several screws placed and if I don't wear my ankle support when I do alot of riding, I end up being very uncomfortable within hours after, if I wear it I'm totally fine. So I kind of look at it the same way with him.

I would definitely try them Lori. I'll tell you those draft crosses are the best horses and although there size works against them, I would never have another breed!
New Member:
mgeorges

Posted on Saturday, Sep 13, 2008 - 5:32 pm:

OK, new to the site, couldnt figure out how to start a new discussion. My question is this. I have a 13 year old Andalusian dressage horse, he is currently competing at Grand Prix level. In 2003 he endured sever laminitis/founder with sole penetration of the p3. A tenotomy surgery of the DDFT was performed on both front tendons. The vets at the time didnt know if he'd "make it back" but he has! How do I best protect his "special needs" tendons during excercise? i'm under the impression he is more susceptible to ddft & suspensory tears and strains than a horse that has not been through his tenotomies. I've had 20 year experience applying leg wraps and bandages and i also own several different kinds of suspensory protection boots. Any help or advice will be most appreciated.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 - 11:42 am:

Welcome Megan,
It is important to remember that the DDF tendon is the injured tendon and not the SDFT. While neoprene support boots have in some studies been shown to have an effect on the tension in the SDFT and suspensory it is not clear and it would not be expected there to be much effect on the stress in the DDF tendon. The primary stress determinate of the DDFT would be the angle of the hoof, the length of the foot, and how much toe lies in front of the rotational angle of the coffin joint.

The best thing you can do to minimize force on the DDFT is to maintain ideal hoof angles, use as short a shoeing cycle as practical, and to rocker and roll the toe as much as possible.
DrO
New Member:
mgeorges

Posted on Sunday, Sep 14, 2008 - 12:32 pm:

Thank you very much for your input. I keep Quimero on a very strict shoeing regime with a very accomplished farrier that has worked with him since 2003. He is doing exactly as you suggest.

Do you mind me asking, if this were your horse would you wrap his legs, boot him (if so, what brand of boot), or use nothing when exercising?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 - 8:59 am:

I would use support boots and night wraps to control fluid collecting in the leg, edema. If this is not a problem...probably not. If you do have problems with edema, I don't have a favorite wrap or boot but since you already have a selection, experiment and use the one that does the job best.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC