Sports medicine boots - pro's and con's?

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0310Star

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As above.

My horse has various leg problems (ringbone and DJD being the main ones) and I am looking for the best things to use for support whilst working. I have found over the previous year since diagnosis that she is much happier with something on her fronts at the least and it helps with keeping the joints warm among other things.
I tend to bandage for schooling, but boot for hacking as she also does brush a bit so just wondered if the sports medicine boots are any good and if so would they be an idea for my mare needing support?

Never used them before so have no clue :o
 
Love my premiere equine ones. Although I don't believe that any boot will fully support 500kg+ of horse, they put my mind at ease a bit.
The only downside to the PE ones is that when they're new the velcro sticks to EVERYTHING! and it drives me bonkers when trying to put them on!
 
Thats great!! So any suggestions on which make to buy, which wont cost me a fortune?

FYI she is a 16.3 well built TB so most boots are in full size on her! Not sure if the sizing comes up different in the sports medicine ones!
 
I would never use them.

They can't give any meaningful support to your horse's legs and imo will just overheat the legs instead.
 
If you have a brusher in 6 months mine brushed the stitching on tr bottom Velcro
PE said not suitable for brushers, so I've never bothered again.
 
It also depends for how long you are using them and if benefits outweight the cons. Sport Medicine boots are meant to be used for short periods of intense work, where you need optimal protection but don't use them long enough to cause damage because of overheating of the tendons.
 
My lad absolutely hated them :( got the right sizes but they still rubbed a bit and he just looked uncomfortable the whole time he was wearing them!
 
I bought them to use in the winter for extra support when out hacking. They are a: a pain in the a**e to put on and b: can get waterlogged. I don't use them on my young horse now though as found that for some reason he started to go disunited with them on his back legs. Another one who would say not to to be used when the weather is warmer.
 
So thats about 50/50.... I am still puzzled!!

How about we change the question a little... cant anybody recommend a supportive pair of front brushing boots which allow the air to flow (nothing that will get too hot in the summer as that is when most hard work is done) and something of a good price?
 
Nothing will 'support' a horse's leg the way you want it to, not even bandages.

I would just go for some good quality brushing boots or if you are worried about strike injuries too, go for xc boots with strike pads.
 
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