THESE BOOTS

…ARE MADE FOR WALKING

Ponies wear boots to protect their legs, but there are many different types to choose from, all providing slightly different kinds of protection. Here we look at the most common boots and explain their uses:

Overreach boots

Overreach boots protect your pony from overreach injuries, which occur when he steps on the back of his front foot with his hind foot. Some people put overreach boots on for turnout, as they are also a good way of preventing your pony from pulling his front shoes off with his hind hooves. These boots are useful for all disciplines.

Top tip

Overreach boots should be removed or turned up at night to check for injuries and to give the hoof time to ‘breathe’. Leaving the boots on all the time can cause softening of the hoof capsule, so this time without boots is very important.

Brushing boots

Brushing boots are a very common boot as they can be used for lots of different purposes. They offer all-round protection from below the knee to the fetlock but aren’t too heavy. This makes them ideal for low-level jumping, polework, flatwork and hacking if your pony needs protection. These boots have a strike pad on the inside of the leg and are done up with Velcro on the outside.

Tendon boots

Tendon boots are popular with showjumpers as they support and protect your pony’s legs but are open at the front so he can still feel a pole if he touches one. They are designed to cover the back of your pony’s front leg from the knee to the fetlock, and they’re often used alongside fetlock boots on the hindlegs.

TOP TIP

Keep your boots clean so that you don’t irritate your horse’s legs with dirt or dried sweat and hair from previous rides.

Fetlock boots

Cross-country boots

A bit like brushing boots, cross-country boots offer all-round protection. They’re a bit sturdier though, and most are breathable to keep your pony’s legs cool while he motors around the cross-country course. The extra protection offered by these boots is great for eventers, as they ride over solid fences which won’t budge if knocked!

TOP TIP

Remove boots as soon as possible after work to allow your pony’s legs to cool down quickly.

Take home message

There are lots of different boots on the market, so make sure that whichever boot you choose fits your pony well and offers him sufficient protection for the work he is doing.