Knee boot recommendations please

[Maxidoodle]

I realise this has been done to death but I’ve read through threads and still can’t decide. I’ve got a pair of lovely leather knee boots (traditional sort), they were from a saddler and are very good quality, the issue I have is they just will not stay up, they work their way down my mare’s tree trunk legs, no matter how tight they are. I stupidly sold a new pair of Jeffries skeleton boots before I got her but I just can’t justify buying another new pair. I don’t want to get anything with neoprene, especially incorporating brushing boots, as she has heavy feather and she has hated a neoprene girth and a saddle pad with neoprene (both made her very hot and had hives). What other options are there? The woof wear ones look a bit space age but I can’t seem to find many reviews on them. I just need a pair that will stay up.

I’m using them as our road has a new road surface on it and it can be a bit slippy in places in the wet (the top surface seems to be wearing off a bit and getting better thank goodness).

TIA

 

[poiuytrewq]

I used the woof ones. One did slip the first time I used them but I think if not done it up tight enough.
They seemed to do the job otherwise.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Gibsons Ascot leather knee boots. I’ve never had them fall down but obviously leather stretches so they need looking after and tightening if required. They are £52 but Gibsons have a 10% sale on at the moment.

 

[Maxidoodle]

Gibsons Ascot leather knee boots. I’ve never had them fall down but obviously leather stretches so they need looking after and tightening if required. They are £52 but Gibsons have a 10% sale on at the moment.

The Gibsons Ascot boots are actually the boots I currently have, lovely quality boots but just don’t seem to work on my mare. I put them on yesterday on the next hole along (and couldn’t even get my finger in and they still slipped).

 

[Maxidoodle]

I used the woof ones. One did slip the first time I used them but I think if not done it up tight enough.
They seemed to do the job otherwise.

Can I ask what the top fastener is? Is it Velcro? Is it stretchy? They’re not as nice looking as traditional boots but they might be a better fit, especially as they describe them as having a non slip top band.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The Gibsons Ascot boots are actually the boots I currently have, lovely quality boots but just don’t seem to work on my mare. I put them on yesterday on the next hole along (and couldn’t even get my finger in and they still slipped).

That’s a nuisance. I’ve just had a look at the price of the Jeffries ones the Woof ones look good value for money by comparison.

 

[Birker2020]

For me there is only one boot on the market that 'does what it says on the tin' to quote a famous expression. And that's Westropp.

They never slip, you can canter and jump in them, so are great for fun rides where you can canter and jump but that also involve roads or lanes and I hacked all my horses out in them.
In fact if it wasn't for me putting Bailey in these boots when I first had her in 2004 she wouldn't have lived 24 glorious years as she was kicked out on a hack, the boot saved her knee from shattering but had a lovely cut in the knee pad and she had a slight bloody graze. I'd only had her about two weeks, had arranged to go out in the trailer and met my friend on a layby and we went hacking, her friend on a pony stopped dead with no warning, as we were cantering across a stubble field and Bailey ran straight into him.

I bought a new pair about six weeks ago for my new horse (whenever I get it - I have a wardrobe full of new stuff for it now). They tend to mould to the horses leg after a few weeks or repeated wear.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Can I ask what the top fastener is? Is it Velcro? Is it stretchy? They’re not as nice looking as traditional boots but they might be a better fit, especially as they describe them as having a non slip top band.

As far as I can remember yes it’s stretchy somehow, I’d under tightened as the horse had never worn them before and I wasn’t sure if he’d react, the top band is really soft and comfortable feeling so he actually didn’t care anyway.
I honestly can’t think of it’s just a Velcro fastening or something a bit more substantial.

 

[Maxidoodle]

As far as I can remember yes it’s stretchy somehow, I’d under tightened as the horse had never worn them before and I wasn’t sure if he’d react, the top band is really soft and comfortable feeling so he actually didn’t care anyway.
I honestly can’t think of it’s just a Velcro fastening or something a bit more substantial.

Thanks, I’ll see if one of the stores can send me a pic of the back and tell me what the rear is. The top band looks really grippy, so that might work better on her tree trunk legs.

 

[Maxidoodle]

For me there is only one boot on the market that 'does what it says on the tin' to quote a famous expression. And that's Westropp.

They never slip, you can canter and jump in them, so are great for fun rides where you can canter and jump but that also involve roads or lanes and I hacked all my horses out in them.
In fact if it wasn't for me putting Bailey in these boots when I first had her in 2004 she wouldn't have lived 24 glorious years as she was kicked out on a hack, the boot saved her knee from shattering but had a lovely cut in the knee pad and she had a slight bloody graze. I'd only had her about two weeks, had arranged to go out in the trailer and met my friend on a layby and we went hacking, her friend on a pony stopped dead with no warning, as we were cantering across a stubble field and Bailey ran straight into him.

I bought a new pair about six weeks ago for my new horse (whenever I get it - I have a wardrobe full of new stuff for it now). They tend to mould to the horses leg after a few weeks or repeated wear.

View attachment 136070

Thanks, unfortunately no good for me, my mare has a lot of feather and doesn’t cope with neoprene, fantastic that they saved your horse, I’ve heard a lot of good reports of them in the past, they do always remind me of a pair of over the knee boots that I had in the 1980s that I used to wear for clubbing , the top bit always drove me mad when I walked and it slapped my knees

 

[PeterNatt]

Jeffries every time! They may be expensive but they will protect your horse.
I would also have a word with your Highways Department because if the surface is slippery then the contractors have not laid it down safely.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

I only use the Jeffries and old travel ones, I hate the combined brushing and knee, and don't like plastic ones. I think you need to try people to find which stay on.

 

[Maxidoodle]

Jeffries every time! They may be expensive but they will protect your horse.
I would also have a word with your Highways Department because if the surface is slippery then the contractors have not laid it down safely.

Unfortunately way out of my price range, I agree they’re really nice.

 

[Maxidoodle]

I only use the Jeffries and old travel ones, I hate the combined brushing and knee, and don't like plastic ones. I think you need to try people to find which stay on.

That’s my only reservation with the woof wear ones, they’re a bit too plastic but I’m struggling. I may have to be a crazy woman and start stopping random people hacking if anyone has knee boots on .

 

[Carlosmum]

I had no luck with knee boots but now use the combo brushing/knee boot for every time we are out on the road after last pony fell and grazed his knees

 

[Nasicus]

These? I always got on well with these and they were cheap:

JHL Traditional Knee Boots

JHL Traditional Knee Boots is available online with fast delivery from VioVet, the trusted supplier of veterinary medication, foods and animal care products.

www.viovet.co.uk

 

[Maxidoodle]

These? I always got on well with these and they were cheap:

JHL Traditional Knee Boots

JHL Traditional Knee Boots is available online with fast delivery from VioVet, the trusted supplier of veterinary medication, foods and animal care products.

www.viovet.co.uk

Thanks, very similar to the ones I currently have.

 

[Exasperated]

Having read various knee boot conversations on here - my twopennorth - based on decades of (sometimes bitter) experience, with possibly more ridden and driven horses than many contributors, so:
It is rare for a standing horse to drop to its knees, so expect that there will be additional forward momentum, sometimes very fast, when your horse does fall.
It is also common for the horse to then ‘scrabble’ to regain its feet, particularly if the surface is slippery, friable, icy, and the horse disorientated / unbalanced. If it only goes down, rather than over sideways too, expect the horse to have covered some distance partially on its knees before fully upright - and this dragging friction is what often pulls down the all-in-one Westropp type boots, or flips up the Jeffries ‘free knees’ boots (or any similar make without a bottom strap).
Blocked leather is without ANY doubt the strongest material.
Depending on what, where, and at what speed your horse falls, you may get lucky with nylon / neoprene type knee boots, which are certainly cheaper and easy to wash, but blocked leather always offers greater protection against direct injury and trauma. Jeffries are excellent manufacturers, as also are Gibson, their boots last for years when kept supple and looked after.
Because of the eBay suggestions made, do be clear about the main types of leather knee boots likely to be on offer:
Jeffries ‘free knees’ were primarily designed for jumping, to protect a horse rising up into a pole, not falling down on the tarmac. And yes, they can easily become flipped up during a roadwork incident, leaving the joint unprotected, precisely because there is no lower strap.
Jeffries (and other saddlers) ‘skeleton knee pads’ are designed for roadwork, the top strap needs to be tight, and the lower strap loose enough so the horse can fully lift and extend its forelegs without dragging the boots down. Their earlier skeleton pads were lined with rubber pimples behind the top band, whereas Gibsons’, and Calcotts’, have a grippy, rough suede which also lines the rest of the boots. If you use neatsfoot oil to supple leather, avoid any rubber-pimpled sections, because oil will rot it.
Jeffries travelling knee boots have blocked leather onto a wider, thick, woollen cloth backing, with top and bottom leather straps. Remember, a transported horse isn’t expected to generate the forward momentum or stresses of a working one! Other saddlers make similar travelling products, sometimes onto suede backing. Travel knee pads are harder to keep clean than straight leather, and also more likely to get soggy and slip down if hacking, but can be used for riding at slower paces. Again, make sure the top strap is tight, all quality knee boots will have elastic inserts against over tightening anyway.
Broken knees are a nightmare, even career ending or fatal, so knee protection has to be worth considering - good luck!

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I love the old traditional knee boots. When mine gave up after about 30 years I went for the westrope knee boots, not the combined type. Easy to put on, light weight and don't slip.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

I tried the woofwear ones and they kept falling down - they don’t fit the shape of the knee properly and my boy kept knocking them and they kept spinning around and slipping down - he is quite broad through his chest too so I dread to think what would they would be like on something narrower… I think the jeffries ones will be your best bet but they are expensive.

 

[Exasperated]

Quick glance, currently a pair of Jeffries leather skeleton pads on eBay for £35. Look like they’d benefit from suppling with neatsfoot / soap, maybe light sandpaper inside top band for grip. Quick!
It rather depends what activities the knee pads are for. Traditionally, hunting people were mostly against legwear because of the mud and grit which invariably got inside and caused skin abrasion. The Westropp type, all-in-one boots would be a real health hazard, funnelling debris in the open top, trapping against the lower legs. Possibly today’s pre set trails can avoid the worst ground conditions?
However, in places like the White Peak, it was common to see Yorkshire boots and knee pads to protect against septic cuts from the limestone walls. A strong, moulded, curved plastic boot (?Protec? Protek? ) became popular, just one top band, lined with something like neoprene, easy to clean - which seemed never to slip down, no matter how much rain, mud, jumping or galloping. How they would have performed if the horse nose dived onto tarmac, I couldn’t say.
For roadwork, particularly carriage driving, my preference would always be for knee boots with top AND lower fastenings, as before.

 

[anglo]

For me there is only one boot on the market that 'does what it says on the tin' to quote a famous expression. And that's Westropp.

They never slip, you can canter and jump in them, so are great for fun rides where you can canter and jump but that also involve roads or lanes and I hacked all my horses out in them.
In fact if it wasn't for me putting Bailey in these boots when I first had her in 2004 she wouldn't have lived 24 glorious years as she was kicked out on a hack, the boot saved her knee from shattering but had a lovely cut in the knee pad and she had a slight bloody graze. I'd only had her about two weeks, had arranged to go out in the trailer and met my friend on a layby and we went hacking, her friend on a pony stopped dead with no warning, as we were cantering across a stubble field and Bailey ran straight into him.

I bought a new pair about six weeks ago for my new horse (whenever I get it - I have a wardrobe full of new stuff for it now). They tend to mould to the horses leg after a few weeks or repeated wear.

View attachment 136070

I had these type for years and they were brilliant. A lot less faff than separate ones , stayed in place whatever we did and good protection too