Horse Boots Review, My Top Choices For Performance And Schooling

My Favorite Horse Boots

It wasn't that long ago that horse's legs went unprotected in many disciplines, only reserved for the more intense horse sports like eventing and racing. Show horses and dressage horses don't wear boots in the competition ring but they'll almost always wear them schooling and in the warm-up ring. Nowadays it's unusual to see any horse in work not wearing some form of protection on their legs.

Is It Necessary To Put Boots On Our Horses Legs?

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding to put boots on your horse.

• Is your horse shod?

• What type of work are you doing with your horse today?

• Does your horse have any cuts or abrasions on their legs?

• Does your horse have any swelling in their legs?

It would be a good idea to talk to your trainer about whether you should or should not be using boots as each horse's situation is different. The essential purpose of boots is for protection, so it's important to make the right decision.

My Favorite Horse Boots For Competition

I consider a good horse boot to be of utmost importance, especially for competition. Yes, I want the boots to look good in the ring but I also want to protect the horse's legs from injuries. I've used many different brands in my career but here are some tried and tested ones that I have used for years.

Equifit Eq-Teq Boots

These are the boots that I use for my grand prix stallion Amorniek, this year (2023) is the 4th season I've used them on him and I love them. The outer shell is virtually unbreakable, the design conforms to the leg, provides support, and absorbs extreme concussion and impact.

The three wide straps eliminate pressure points nicely while the outer material offers the best protection available while being very easy to clean.

Pro Tip: Armorall works beautifully to give these horse boots a shine that lasts all day and doesn't get dull.

Protecting my stallion's legs from injuries is always at the forefront of my mind so when I shop for horse boots I'm meticulous about which ones I choose.

Equifit Eq-Teq Fronts

Equifit Eq-Teq Hinds

Veredus Carbon Gel VENTO Boots

Aside from being stunning, these boots offer superb protection for your horse and help prevent injuries during intensive use.

The innovative design of these horse boots allows air flow using the Aerox micro perforated neoprene and 3D Mesh Ducted fabric. It also features a strike plate on the back of the boots for protection and durability.

I've had a pair of their previous model, the Carbon Gel boot, that I used in competition for years. Over a decade later these boots often get pulled out to use and although they've suffered some battle scars they're still solid and offer lots of protection.

Veredus Carbon Gel Fronts

Veredus Carbon Gel Hinds

My Favorite Horse Boots For Everyday Use

Most of us operate our horses on a modest budget so we tend to keep our nice gear for shows. I have separate horse boots that I use at home but I still take their level of protection seriously, here are my top choices for boots that are great to use on a daily basis.

Professional's Choice SMB 3 Sports Medicine Boots

This brand has been making horse boots for a long time and these boots in particular are a hybrid between their two best-selling products: the SMB II and the Ventech SMB Elite.

Sports Medicine Boots safeguards the cannon bone, tendons, and soft tissue all while absorbing hoof impact, the long suspensory strap helps eliminate hyperextension of the fetlock but also allows full ankle movement. They're also designed to fit perfectly with their bell boots.

Personally, I mainly use these for lunging horses, especially if I think things might get exciting, but I've also used them for everyday riding. Professional's Choice has spent a lot of time and research on the details required to give the best possible protection for your horse making them a solid purchase for any owner.

Professional's Choice SMB3

ThinLine Schooling Boots

If you're looking for an inexpensive but nice all round boot to protect your horse ThinLine is always a good choice. Practical for home use but smart enough for the show ring (again, Armorall is your friend here to get them nice and shiny), these boots are a nice balance of protection and comfort for your horse.

This brand has been around for a long time and its boots are well-designed and durable. I've used these boots extensively at home and occasionally in the show ring. This particular model uses ThinLines technology which conforms to the leg and provides ventilation to keep tendons cool.

ThinLine Front Boots

ThinLine Hind Boots