Leg protection for horses comes in various shapes, colours, and sizes. But why do we use leg protection? And which leg protection should you use when? Below you will find some information about the different types of leg protection and their uses.
The primary purpose of leg protection for horses is, of course, to prevent injury to their legs. A horse's legs contain tendons, muscles, bones, and tissue, all of which are essential for movement. If these are damaged, it can lead to an injury. Therefore, you protect the legs with leg protection. Below you will find the different types of leg protection you could use.
Tendon Boots
As the name suggests, tendon boots are specifically designed to protect the horse's tendons. Tendon boots generally have a harder section to protect the tendons from external impacts and for shock absorption. Tendon boots are usually used for the front legs.
Fetlock Boots
Fetlock boots are intended for the hind legs and are used when a horse "strikes" its fetlocks together, preventing wounds on the hind legs.
Fetlock rings are used in the same way as fetlock boots.
Cannon Boots
Are sturdier and apply more pressure than fetlock boots. Cannon boots are used when a horse hits itself while moving.
Bell Boots
Bell boots serve as a protective aid for the hoof and coronet band during jumping. Bell boots are also used in other equestrian disciplines, often to prevent the horse from injuring itself by stepping on its hoof or pulling off a shoe, especially with horses that have a very expansive gait.
Brush Boots
Are leg protectors that provide all-round protection and, depending on the model, also support.
Shipping Boots
Also known as stable boots, these protect the legs during transport, for example, when a horse loses its balance during a sharp turn. It is also advisable to use shipping boots for young horses and horses that are still getting used to being transported in a trailer or truck, as these horses often lack sufficient balance during transport. In addition, shipping/stable boots are also used to keep a horse's legs clean, for example, before a competition. And for horses prone to laminitis, to keep their legs warm.
Bandages
Protect the horse's legs, but to a lesser extent than, for example, tendon boots and leg protectors. Bandages are also used to reduce swelling and self-adhesive bandages for dressing wounds. When bandages are used during training, there is a higher risk of tendon damage!
Please note! As of April 1, 2024, bandages are no longer permitted on competition grounds for competitions organised under the KNHS!
Need advice?
As you can read, there are many types of leg protection, depending on what the horse needs, under what circumstances it will be used, and which disciplines are practiced with the horse. It can sometimes be difficult to find the right leg protection for your horse. If you can't figure it out, please contact us. We will work with you to find what is best suited for your horse.
Also, for questions regarding sizing, you can always send us a message or contact us via the WhatsApp button on our site.