Ligament support boots

_jetset_

_jetset_

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When Grace starts being walked in hand and then as she starts her work, I would like to try some of the boots that support the suspensory ligament to give her some help. But there seem so many on the market that I am a bit confused
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Can anyone recommend any?


I have seen some by NEW which are new for 2007:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2548&a=srch
http://www.hoofheartedequestrian.co.uk/ultimate-sports-medicine-boot-i1322.html

By SMB:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=51&a=srch

And these:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=19&a=srch
 
SMBs are good, although I personally don't like any wrap-type boots that aren't very breathable. I use the Equilibrium ones on my mare with a tendon injury (or I will do when I can ride again) as they provide just as much support without heating the legs, and are cheaper than SMBs. If we're honest though, I very much doubt a small bit of fabric wrapped around the exterior of a horse's leg can provide much support for the interior of the leg against half a ton of horse!
If you decide to go for the SMBs though (especially if you want large size blue ones), PM me
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We use the SMB Elite's and love them. We've tried lots of differnt ones over the years but the SMB's have been the best in terms of fit, wear, durability etc. The Kiefer ones are probably the second best ones we have used, about half the price of the SMB ones.
 
Thanks... The SMB ones seem to be quite popular from what I have read, but the NEW ones are brand new this year so I was wondering whether anyone had tried them
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[ QUOTE ]
If we're honest though, I very much doubt a small bit of fabric wrapped around the exterior of a horse's leg can provide much support for the interior of the leg against half a ton of horse!


[/ QUOTE ]

Precisely. Waste of money Imho!!
 
In February I went to a seminar on equine biomechanics with Dr. Hilary M. Clayton (guru on lameness mechanics, equine locomotion, gait analysis etc) and the subject of various medicine boots for dressage horses was one of the points discussed.
I have just looked at my notes and here is what was said:
"Using of bandages and medicine boots to support fetlocks and tendons - according to science there is no evidence these help reduce the strain! In fact they cause the overheating on tendons which can get to a temperature as high as 45C during training. Boots and bandages that don’t allow the circulation of the air do not benefit the horse when support is concerned. A lady from the audience wondered whether the new medicinal wraps could offer support for GP movements in dressage horses. Hilary said that according to the research performed, any sort of bandages or wraps to actually offer the desired support would need to be so tightly wrapped they would inevitably cause sores. And even if they were tight enough, the natural movement of the horses limbs would loosen them after several minutes. There was of course an agreement as to the usage of boots while jumping or XC or in any situations where protection against kicks and knocks is needed. The new air-flow boots got a better opinion since they allow air circulation and allow natural cooling of the working tendons."

Dr. Clayton came across as a very approachable person so you could always email her for first-hand opinion:
claytonh@cvm.msu.edu
 
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