Air vented Cross Country Boots - Fad or must have???

Finns Mum

Finns Mum

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I am looking to buy some cross country boots, and usually prefer Clarendon boots in general, if I want a quality boot that is going to last. But I had also been advised to get an air vented boot, which it seems Clarendon don't do. So now I am a little lost!

Are vented boots the way to go, or just the latest trend?

I would be really interested to here peoples views
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Hate clarendon boots as they heat legs up something chronic. Also slighty paranoid about grit and sand getting into air vents.... personally use Prolites or NEW lwt comp boots as they are LWT, offer alot of protection and fit well
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Love my prolites, they are not air vented but are lovely and light so can't imagine that his legs get too warm in them. I only put them on for the minimum amount of time possible too
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Just need to get another loan from the bank to afford a pair for his back legs.....
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Air-cooled boots are probably still a bit of a fad, but there's a sound theory behind them. I certainly would never put Clarendons on any of my horses, they are awful for heating up legs. I wouldn't spend a ridiculous amount of money on air-cooled boots, but I would certainly try to go that way if I could. Protection is also paramount though and IMO you can't do better by your horse's legs than Prolites for protecting them XC
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Air vents are good, but I'd want the best protection too

Guess that's why I love dalmar boots

here's their speil on vents:
AIRCOOLING

Recent research shows that heat build up is a significant factor in causing the onset of injury to the Flexor Tendons and Suspensory Ligaments.

Conventional boots and bandages insulate the horse’s leg and prevent heat escaping. The Dalmar patented cooling system uses the high-speed cold air passing the horse’s leg to flow through the outer surface of the boot, to circulate and cool the Tendons WHILE the horse gallops. Conventionally horse trainers have been limited to cooling the horse’s legs after galloping using cold treatments such as hosing or ice packs while standing still. This has been the best option available to trainers but is really a damage limitation exercise to minimise the injury that could already have occurred during exercise. Dalmar offer the first and only boots capable of significant temperature reduction in the competition horse’s legs DURING exercise
 
The problem with that statement, and the reason I think they still need more research to become more than just a fad, is that it suggests the horse has to be moving pretty darned fast for the air cooling to work. For your average amateur competitor they probably aren't going to be reaching the sort of speed required. Same sort of principle with those Flair nose strips - to make it worth £6 a go you would be having to go round Badminton/the Derby every time for the thing to actually make a significant enough difference to be worth the money. BUT if I were rich I'd buy the Dalmar boots - as I said I think they are a really good idea, and I'm pleased light is beginning to be shone on the cons of using those blasted Clarendons!
I imagine the Dalmars are very protective too as they do seem to be rock solid!
 
Ah see I knew I would get pointed in the right direction, thanks
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I thought as the Clarendon 3DE boots are not fur lined they wouldn't heat up more than any of the others, but will give then a miss and have a look at the others sugguested.


My fella doesn't wear boots generally so a bit out of the loop!


Does anyone have any experience of the Prem Equine ones, or is it a case of you get what you pay for?
 
Premier equine seem to be pretty good, a friend of mine has them and she seems pretty pleased - plus she didn't faint when she had to pay for them!!
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Yeah I was just thinking I could get front and back Prem Eq with my budget!

Just to add my boy has 9.5" bone in front and 10.5" back, so I may be restricted as to what will fit him, read somewhere that the Dalmar(which look very very nice!) are best suited to fine legs?
 
BE did a survey about temperatures in xc boots befeore and after they have run , Clarendon were the hottest with Dalmar the coolest immediately after novice xc at Tweseldown.
 
I would be v surprised if the dalmar boots fitted him then, I think I have heard the prem equine boots are a more generous size. My IDx mare has equiflect boots which are also generously sized, her legs would be similar to your boys.

FIona
 
I bought the Premier Equine ones after someone who events at a high level said they were fabulous and a third of the cost of Dalmar, they may not end up lasting as long but at about £50 for a set (hinds and fronts) worked out very reasonable and you could replace them three times over......a stockist at Badminton had the Dalmar ones and had evry Premier Equine boot except the air cooled ones, when I asked why I was advised that they were so similar that he couldn;t sell them both on the same stand as it would upset his client.....so I thought wow they must be similar. I bought a full set of the air cooled event boots and they are fantastic, they fit well, protect well and wash up like new and my boys had a tendon injury so air flow was important to me - would highly recommend and the people at Premier Equine are very helpful.
 
I went to the tendon lecture at the RVC and they spoke about boots etc heating the tendons up and the risk of injury-wont be putting hot boots on again-NEW do some air cool banages now as well.
 
Just wanted to say I bought a pair of Dalmar front boots and love them, they fit beautifully and offer fantastic protection.

I did first of all get a full set of Prem Equine boots, but found the front boots did not give the protection I was looking for, but the hinds were okay, so will keep them until I can afford Dalmar hinds!

Thanks ever so much!
 
Oh dear - once you've tried them you won't use anything else!! I now have tons of redundant boots I ought to put on eBay as I use Dalmars for everything including every day, as would feel a right prat if they injured themselves training!!!
 
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