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Getting your equine friend boots isn’t as simple as getting yourself a pair. Getting the right type of boots for your horse can be more complicated, since different boots suit different purposes. One such type of horse boot is the tendon boot. If you’re asking the question “Does my horse need tendon boots?” then read on to find out.
What Are Tendon Boots?
As the name suggests, tendon boots are designed to protect your horse’s front legs from a tendon injury. This is usually from strikes by the hind legs when they extend forward toward the front legs. A typical example of when this happens is when a horse lands after a jump. It can also happen when your horse is cantering.
Tendon boots are usually designed to feature a hard molded plastic outer shell. However, other designs can also feature leather or other materials. For optimum tendon protection, boots should be placed high enough to protect the tendon and be long enough to protect the fetlock joint. They also have a soft inner lining to reduce friction that can cause soreness.
Two Types of Tendon Boots You Need to Know
When it comes to tendon boots, there are two types you can choose from:
Open-Fronted Tendon Boots
These are most popular with show jumpers, as they provide ultimate protection to the tendons while still allowing the horse to feel a pole if it brushes or knocks it while jumping. When this happens, the horse is encouraged to be more careful next time.
Closed Tendon Boots
This type of tendon boots is mainly used when eventing. This is because, in addition to the risk of tendon injury, eventing has higher risks of injury to the front legs from the solid fences.
Now that you know what tendon boots are and which types are available to you, let’s briefly look at some of the major benefits they provide.
Benefits of Tendon Boots for Horses
“Does my horse need tendon boots?” To answer that question, let’s consider the benefits tendon boots provide:
- The primary benefit of tendon boots is that they provide protection against trauma. Because tendons are particularly sensitive, even a slight strike can cause injury.
- Another benefit of tendon boots is that they provide additional support to the horse’s legs. This helps prevent soft tissue injuries that could put your horse out of commission for weeks.
If these benefits look like something your horse needs, then you do need to get tendon boots for your horse.
Other Types of Horse Boots
Besides tendon boots, there are other types of horse boots you should consider investing in. Some of the most popular ones are:
Fetlock Boots
Also called brushing boots or ankle boots, fetlock boots are worn on a horse’s hind legs. Their purpose is to protect the inside of your horse’s legs from injuries caused by the opposite hock striking the lower leg and fetlock. They’re designed to start under the knee and run down the inside of the leg. Fetlock boots are generally used for showjumping but can also be used for training and competition if competition rules allow their use.
Bell Boots
Bell boots, also called overreach boots, feature a bell shape that circles the entire hoof and protects the heel as well. This type of horse boots can be worn on both the front and back hooves.
The primary purpose of bell boots is to prevent overreaching. This is when a horse hits his front heels with the toes of his back feet. They also have the benefits of protecting your horse’s hooves from tough or muddy terrain. They also protect the hooves from hitting a hard surface when jumping or negotiating obstacles.
Hoof Boots
Hoof boots protect your horse’s sole and can sometimes be temporarily used instead of horseshoes. Hoof boots can be used temporarily, during a transition to going shoeless, for medical reasons if a horse cannot wear shoes, or if a horse loses a shoe. They are used for all riding disciplines and protect the sole of the hoof from rough terrain.
Travel Boots
Transporting your horse in a trailer can put him at risk of injuring his lower legs and hocks. This is why it’s a good idea to get him some travel boots. A couple of advantages they have over the traditional method of using a bandage is that they’re faster to put on and are more comfortable.
As you can see, there are many different types of horse boots, with each serving a particular purpose.
Does My Horse Need Tendon Boots?
We’ve come full circle from where we started—with the question of whether your horse needs tendon boots or not. The short answer is yes. Your horse does need tendon boots, as these offer protection from trauma. They also provide support that mitigates the risk of soft tissue injuries.
Reasons to Choose Sedelogic Tendon Boots from Vitafloor
If you’re looking for the best tendon boots for your horse, we highly recommend you visit our shop for Sedelogic tendon boots. What’s so special about Sedelogic Tendon boots? Here are a few reasons why:
- Ergonomic design. Constructed from three-dimensionally woven polyester fiber, Sedelogic tendon boots are ultra-lightweight and offer an extremely comfortable fit. The material also allows airflow, reducing the chances of your horse’s leg feeling hot.
- The design features waterproof material that dries almost instantly when put through water.
- Custom fit. Sedelogic tendon boots are made from a thermoplastic layer that molds to the shape of your horse’s legs. All you have to do is use a hairdryer to soften the boot, and then secure it with a wrap. The outer shell will harden in a few minutes, leaving you with a perfectly fitting set of tendon boots for your horse.
- Shock-absorbing lining. Designed with shock-absorbing lining, Sedelogic tendon boots minimize any impacts on your horse’s tendons.
These are just some of the few reasons that make Sedelogic tendon boots the best option on the market.
So, go ahead, get your horse a set of Sedelogic tendon boots. Or, if you want to discuss horse boots some more, get in touch with Vitafloor USA, Inc. at (352) 737-6743. We’re more than happy to help.