Boots - Dalmar VS Professional's Choice?!?

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michnb

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Hi guys, I was wondering whether anyone could help me.
After a year and a half of slow rehabilition from a check lig injury we've finally been signed off by our vet to start work again. Although he suggested before we started anything too testing to get ourselves some more supportive boots.
Having heard a lot of people raving about the new Dalmar boots, I'd been looking at getting myself a pair, but having asked around, I've been told (Including by my vet)that I'd be better off to go for the Professional's Choice SMB's. Does anyone have any experience with these two makes? Which would you say would be the best to go for?
We'd be really grateful for any advice! Thanks!
 
What would you be looking to do in them? I really dislike Pro choice boots... but am not a fan of Dalmar either! Depends what you are planning to do....
 
Neither.
having consulted a true expert in this field (someone who knows a lot about the testing they go through) i am going to bin a lot of my boots and replace them with Trizone.
fwiw NO boot can support the tendons or ligaments.
I wouldn't put Prof Choice boots on a horse if you paid me, sorry.
 
Can I ask why? I know in the past PC boots very hot, but now in new Ventech fabric to help counteract over heating legs or is there another issue?

Cheers,
Longdog
 
longdog said:
Can I ask why? I know in the past PC boots very hot, but now in new Ventech fabric to help counteract over heating legs or is there another issue?

Cheers,
Longdog
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because anything that affects the movement of a joint as important as the fetlock (and fitting strong (albeit flexible) material around it affects it - there's no way it can't unless the boots are put on incredibly loosely. In which case they'd slip down anyway, which would probably be worse) is imho a Very Very Bad Idea.
 
Can't see how any boot, irrespective of brand, is going to make a blind bit of difference to supporting check ligament.

For general all round protection go for something light, unrestrictive, breathable. Avoid neoprene.
The dalmars will do the job but you can find equally good alternatives far cheaper, unless that is you are specifically wanting an event boot and then that is a whole different debate.
 
Before his injury we did a bit of everything, but after this I'm just looking now to do some hacking, sponsored rides and hopefully if everything goes okay, then get him back into some jumping and XC. I doubt very much we'll ever be able to hunt or ODE again, but oh well.
I've heard before that the ProfChoice boots could get really hot, that's why I was surprised when everyone started saying I should get them, plus I'm just naturally suspicious of anything that claims to have "Saved thousands of horses from career-ending injuries" without expanding on how! Hehe!
I've yet to find any criticism of the Dalmar's, which was one of the reasons why I posted this, what's been found about them? What other boot's would you suggest?
I'm so happy I posted now! Thanks!
 
I personally really dislike Dalmars as they are made from a amterial that is designed to shatter on impact... not ideal for tendon boots which are meant to protect the leg from impact from a metal shoe!!! They also don't have enough padding to absorb the shock from a strike to a solid tendon guard IMHO.

My favourites are Trizone or Prolites. The only thing against Prolites is they could in theory be heating, but they are flexible but solid enough to offer good protection. Trizone are very well researched, light, and designed specifically for the job. The trizone allsport boots maybe worth a look, as they are very light, ventilated but would offer good protection? :)
 
Someone on this forum had an event horse's career ended when the strike pad of a Dalmar boot shattered into the tendon.
Carbon fibre is too brittle to be used anywhere near tendons imho.
I know this was possibly a "one in a million" chance but what if that is your horse? :( :(
Fwiw I ran a LOT of well-known makes past the Expert (an absolutely bona fide one, fwiw) I consulted, who would not comment on any of the others at all ('because if you don't have anything good to say, say nothing'). The Trizones were the only ones recommended.
 
ihatework said:
Can't see how any boot, irrespective of brand, is going to make a blind bit of difference to supporting check ligament.

For general all round protection go for something light, unrestrictive, breathable. Avoid neoprene.
The dalmars will do the job but you can find equally good alternatives far cheaper, unless that is you are specifically wanting an event boot and then that is a whole different debate.
Click to expand...

I agree, boots will only protect from knocks and strikes.

I think people still recommend SMB as years ago when they were first launched they advertised that they supported suspensary ligaments - however I wouldn't use them due to heating.

I have just tried to find published research on both the Trizone and the Dalmars for my own interest. Trizone as I am keen to find out more and the Dalmar as I have just bought some at HOYS

Dalmars have no specific website so I would need to call them to find out what they did in development and ask for data.

trizone say this on their website
--
The Tri-Zone brand stands for 'Intelligent Targeted Protection'. We carefully design this premium range of products to provide an optimum level of protection for your horse's limbs during stressful work. Protection can be from concussion (knocks from other limbs or from hitting fences) and from penetration injuries, such as tendon strike. At the same time, we also ensure that the boots are as light and flexible as possible, and minimise overheating.
--

So Trizone have developed their tendon boots to be lightweight, non heating and flexible - so when I look at the dalmer ones - they are lightweight, they invented the air cooled bit and they are flexible but contain the strike pad for tendon protection.

I think that as long as all companies follow the same principles as trizone then there are plenty of boots out their that will work at being tendon boots.

Also Trizone state that 'The laboratory testing we have done has shown that, compared with leading brands, these boots provide excellent protection from both concussion and penetration injuries. In field trials, the boots proved their versatility, being used on both young and established horses in a variety of work from hacking to training gallops, flatwork to cross country'

Its a shame they don't have their research findings published or easy to find. As someone who works with research I would be checking the validity of any research that companies claim they have. (at least Trizone have stated they did some laboratory tests though)
 
Kerrilli did you speak to Dr David Marlin?

Kat B - I keep seeing the Allsport boots but they are not really for xc- do they have a proper tendon guard? I know this is vain but the other Equilibrium boots are so ugly especially their xc ones. They look like their tendon boots with a flap on the front. I am also not convinced about the value of a toughened plastic over kevlar?

Maybe somebody could clarify? I see Phillip Dutton & Boyd Martin now uses Premier Equine air cooled boots yet they have not been specifically launched in the USA so would be through free choice.
 
LEC, no I wouldn't recommend them for any more than low level eventing, but they are a damn site more protective than brushing boots which I think is what they are priced against. :) they have got a tendon guard in the form of a toughened plastic strip down the back, which should give enough protection from a strike injury.

I do like the kevlar batons on the prolites, but Woof Wear also claim theirs have kevlar, but from using them on a day to day basis (I got given a set) I wouldn't say they offer any more protection than normal brushing boots, and DEFINITELY wouldnt use them for XC!! Madam shredded one where it slipped down and she stood on it with the opposite foot...

I don't like the prem equine ones as they have solid guards again, which means they won't absorb impact, and have the potential to be brittle...
 
Just to add to the debate!

The only evidence that heating is bad has been performed on dead horses at very high temps. In fact the temps of most boots actually don't make that much difference and I think we are being 'sold' a good marketing story.

For example tendons oftem go in race horses on the flat when they are young and they don't have boots on. So temp was irrelevant for these injuries

I severely dislike Trizone as their website is a bunch of lies, as they claim to be better than the "leading brands", but then won't tell you who they tested against or exactly 'how' they were better.

Just a bit of "take our word for it"... erm no thanks

Dalmars, yep liked the construction and are good for strikes, but now owned by horseware, who I also hate as a brand, so open season. I haven't yet taken an axe to mine to see what happens to the carbon fibre, but I do have a flip camcorder now :rolleyes:

Profressionals choice, great choice for polo and polocrosse as don't leave much uncovered, but probably best for another horse stomping on yours.

So that just leaves the good old porter boots, these are cheap and don't seem to have any problems!!
 
They have actually been testing the temperatures of horses tendons in the vetting box at the end of xc at 3 days. I just have not seen any results published.
 
Lec... I couldn't possibly say.
Jen_Cots, there are videos of testing in Dr David Marlin's lecture for USEA, which is at
http://hoofcare.blogspot.com/
entitled "Leg Boots for Sport Horses: Protection? Support? Do They Work?"

Unfortunately he did not say which boots performed best and which performed worst.
It is really horrible to have to resort to guesswork when it's something SO important. I am trying to decide between Veredus, Trizone and Prolite at the moment.
in what way is the Trizone website "a bunch of lies"?
according to what he said in the lecture, the testing was done with tiny temperature sensors in live horses' legs as they galloped, so in vivo not in vitro.
 
My main gripe is the trizone twaddle about being better than the leading brands. You and I would think a similar priced boot, similar spec etc. However the leading brand is probably weatherbeeta's roma boots, which are the leading brand in terms of sales.

I think they make a lot of claims with little evidence. Would you trust a scientific study funded by a manufacturer? How about one done by the manufacturer to prove their boots are best and could choose the boots to test against?

Trust no one!
 
Jen_Cots said:
My main gripe is the trizone twaddle about being better than the leading brands. You and I would think a similar priced boot, similar spec etc. However the leading brand is probably weatherbeeta's roma boots, which are the leading brand in terms of sales.

I think they make a lot of claims with little evidence. Would you trust a scientific study funded by a manufacturer? How about one done by the manufacturer to prove their boots are best and could choose the boots to test against?

Trust no one!
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Well, this is what worries me. Boots can look fantastic but actually be really badly designed for the job. As a former user of Clarendon boots, I wince now when I see a horse going xc in them. They get SO heavy in water it's unbelievable, plus I think they're very hot. But, they were marketed as xc boots, so I duly bought them...
Just trying not to make the same mistakes again really, for my horses' sakes.
 
I don't want to hijack - sorry OP! But what does everyone think of the roma boots, now they've been mentioned?

I need a pair for my boy to wear at shows (we use the mark todd leather ones at home, which were given to me..no way I could afford them) and they're lovely..considered keeping them for shows but figured I might as well use decent ones at home where I jump more often..but anyway, they are not really looking in show condition..and I'm a bit of a turn-out freak :D
 
**waves white flag before entering debate **:D

I can comment on proffessionals choice as a suitable competition boot as I have not used them for that purpose.

However, I have used them on my horse for hacking for the last 5/6 years and never had any problem with them, in fact they are the same boots I am using and (apart from ginger hair!) look like they are brand new, so value wise they are worth the money if this is what you want them for they wash well and after this amount of time the velcro still sticks as good as the day they were bought and has not ripped cracked or otherwise.

I can agree that the legs can sweat under them on occassion but I have found that this really is really only on long summer hacks and no more than other boots of this type.

Professionals choice do state that these boots should not be on the legs for more than two hours and should never be used for turnout as a matter of course.

** backs out of debate before being lynched **:D
 
probably too late to join in this debate but i'm only after seeing it and felt I should say something! I have used the Dalmar racing boots for a year now and find them an excellent fit. they don't interfere with the leg, i don't worry about fitting them too tight or pressure on any one point and they don't move. I use them not only on racehorses but my own lad who I have been reschooling this year after a tendon injury put an end to his racing career...a result more so of conformation than the lack of boots worn during training....
with regard to comments made on carbon fibre shattering....i see this as working like a rider's helmet, it shatters on impact to absorb the impact and protect the soft tissue underneath...ie the brain or the tendon.
it is very unfortunate that someone would lose their horse as a result of a boot shattering but I don't know the details of that accident so cant really comment....if a person dies as the result of a head injury in a fall...do we blame the hat or do we accept that some things cannot be avoided?
having worked with racehorses for a number of years, you see all sorts being worn for protection, be it excercise bandages, brushing boots, boots designed for racing or I have also seen regularly just legs wrapped in vetflex.....this i cannot understand but perhaps i dont know enough about it.
at the end of the day, quite often it is how the item is put on that can cause the injury or non-performance of a boot/bandage.
 
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