Horse’s legs are extremely vulnerable to injury. Common injuries include knocks and bumps from the horse’s other legs or from poles or solid objects that the horse is asked to jump, strains and tears to delicate soft tissue structures, and over reach injuries on the heels of the front legs. The consequences of these injuries can range from a small wound or mild lameness to a lengthy recovery, and in some unfortunate cases, the horse may never return to full work following an injury to the leg. To reduce the risk of these injuries, protective boots for horses can be worn during exercise, turnout and traveling. There are many different types of boots available, with different styles commonly chosen for different activities. This guide explains the purpose of different styles of boots, and when it may be worth giving your horse’s legs some extra protection. 

Tendon and fetlock boots make up a set of four boots and are most commonly used in showjumping, but they can be used for schooling, too. They should be lightweight and breathable, never impeding the horse’s range of movement, but covering the vulnerable tendons and ligaments that run down the backs of the front legs. 

Tendon boots are used on the front legs to protect the horse’s tendons and ligaments from knocks. They cannot be used on the back legs of the horse as they are shaped for front legs only. The hard outer shell covers the vulnerable soft tissue of the front legs, while the open front of the boots increases ventilation and leaves the front of the legs exposed; because the tendons and ligaments are not at the front of the horse’s leg, it is safer for the front of the horse’s leg to be exposed. These boots are used for showjumping to protect the tendons from knocks from not only the horse’s other legs, but also the wooden poles used to build showjumps.

The lining of tendon boots should be breathable to reduce the risk of the legs over-heating, and soft so it is unlikely to cause rubs. Neoprene or faux sheepskin are common linings that meet both criteria. Fluffy tendon boots lined with faux sheepskin are chosen for sensitive-skinned horses prone to rubs, or by some riders for their appearance, while others prefer the neater look of neoprene.

Velcro fastenings on tendon boots give maximum adjustability, reducing the risk of pressure points from the straps or the boots slipping. Velcro can however prove difficult to keep clean, with arena surface, hairs and debris getting stuck in the fastenings, making the Velcro less sticky. Velcro can also be cumbersome to fasten and un-fasten. An alternative fastening on tendon boots are quick release clips, which are easy to undo with one hand. Quick release clips on tendon boots are however less adjustable than Velcro, meaning they can easily be pulled too tight. Most straps on tendon boots are elasticated to ensure a secure fit, but some Velcro designs are non-elasticated. It is important to be careful not to over-tighten the boots as these pressure points can be uncomfortable for the horse and even cause bony changes in the horse’s legs.

Tendon boots are usually paired with fetlock boots on the hind legs. Fetlock boots cover the vulnerable inside of the fetlocks and are also open at the front, and in many designs, on the outside.

There would be no harm done in using tendon boots for flatwork, schooling and hacking as well as showjumping, although many riders prefer brushing boots for these activities. The only time tendon boots are not appropriate is during cross country activities or on the hunt field, as they do not offer adequate protection from unforgiving solid fences. Cross country boots protect the whole of the leg in these higher risk activities.

Brushing boots and cross country boots cover more of the leg than tendon and fetlock boots, covering not only the inside, outside and back of the legs, but the front too.

Brushing boots are multi-functional and can be used on horses for flatwork, jumping, hacking, and turnout to offer protection to both front and hind legs. Their main purpose is to protect the horse from ‘brushing’ – i.e. catching the inside of one leg with the opposing leg, but they also offer protection to the front, back and outside of the leg. While tendon boots have a hard shell to absorb impact, brushing boots are often less rigid. Most designs of brushing boot do however have a reinforced strike pad on the inside, where the horse is most likely to catch itself.

Like any boot, brushing boots should be breathable and lightweight. Neoprene is a common lining for brushing boots, as is faux sheepskin for horses that are prone to developing rubs from boots. These faux sheepskin boots are breathable, but are thicker, and so you may find the horse’s legs get hotter while wearing them than a thinner design. Brushing boots have Velcro fastenings.

Cross country boots are similar to brushing boots in design, but are reinforced with harder strike pads for more protection from solid fences. Brushing boots are therefore more likely to be chosen for low level eventing, while cross country or eventing boots would be the boot to provide maximum protection during cross country activities.

Brushing boots are used for all activities including jumping, but most showjumpers opt for tendon boots on the front legs, which are open-fronted to allow the horse to feel when they tap a pole, and fetlock boots on the back legs.

If you are keen to protect your horse’s legs during turnout, brushing boots can be used. There are however specialist turnout boots designed for safe use in the field, and these are chosen not only to protect the horse’s legs from knocks, but also to create a barrier between the horse’s skin and mud, for those prone to mud fever. 

Over reach injuries occur when the back legs strike the heels of the front legs, often simultaneously pulling front shoes. Over reaching is very common during faster work and jumping, and in horses that are short-coupled but over-track. These injuries can take a while to heal as they are prone to irritation and infection from arena surface and dirt, and they can be sore. Reducing the risk of these types of injury is however easily done by protecting the horse’s heels with a pair of over reach boots, which cover the bulbs of the heel. If the horse does over reach, it is likely they will catch the over reach boot rather than the heels, and even if you have to replace your over reach boots often, this is preferable over the heels becoming injured.

You may have seen fluffy over reach boots, which are over reach boots lined with fleece. These boots are softer around the pastern, ideal for horses that are prone to rubs from rubber or neoprene boots. The advantage of rubber, however, is that it is waterproof and can easily be wiped down. Neoprene and fleece lined boots will need to be brushed off with a hard-bristled brush to remove arena surface – if this surface is left on the boots, they are likely to cause rubs.

No turn over reach boots are designed to stay in the same position once they have been put on, rather than turning around the horse’s foot. The advantage of these is that there is little chance of the horse catching the Velcro fastening, and the heels of these over reach boots are usually reinforced to offer maximum protection.

Most over reach boots feature a Velcro fastening which offers adjustability for a secure fit without over tightening the boot around the pastern. Pull on over reach boots are an old fashioned design that is still preferred by many riders today, and pull on boots are less likely to come off in the field or not to be replaced as often. Some modern designs feature an elasticated strap with a quick release clip, as found on some tendon and fetlock boots.

Pastern wraps also protect against over reaches, but the area they protect is a little higher – between the horse’s hoof and the fetlock. Pastern wraps alongside over reach boots and tendon or brushing boots provide maximum protection from knocks.

Over reach boots can be worn during exercise and turnout to offer protection in all situations. Rubber or neoprene over reach boots are a sensible choice for the field as they are easily washed free of mud and dirt.

There is more of a need for shod horses to wear over reach boots than barefoot ones, as their shoes are more likely to cause injury. Barefoot horses can however still over reach and catch the bulbs of their heels, and ones that are prone to doing this will benefit from wearing over reach boots.

Bandages are less commonly seen than boots, but they are still favoured by some dressage riders. It is advised to use bandages with bandage pads underneath to disperse pressure evenly and provide an additional layer of padding to protect the legs. Bandages are soft to touch, thin and breathable, easily washable and allow maximum freedom of movement in comparison with boots. The advantage of boots over bandages, however, is that they are quick and easy to fasten, and there is less risk of over-tightening boots. 

Bandaging a horse’s legs is a skill that must be developed before exercising a horse with bandages on or leaving them for any period of time, as bandages that are too tight can cause severe and irreversible damage to the horse’s leg. On the other hand, bandages that are too loose will fall down, and if the horse were to stand on one end of the bandage, they are likely to pull the bandage very tight, causing significant damage. Once you are confident in your ability to bandage a horse’s leg, however, you may prefer to exercise your horse in bandages.

Once you start using boots on your horse, they are likely to become a part of your horse’s equipment that you cannot live without. Generally speaking, tendon and fetlock boots are chosen for showjumping, as the hard outer shell protects the most vulnerable areas from knocks, while the open front increases breathability and allows the horse to feel a pole. Brushing or schooling boots are chosen for flatwork training, protecting the horse from knocks from their own legs, while some dressage riders prefer bandages. Cross country boots offer additional protection with their hard outer shell. Over reach boots can be used across all disciplines except in the dressage competition arena, and during turnout.