Steel toecaps

[Sooty]

After my friend's foot was trodden on and she had her toe broken, she started wearing yard boots with steel toecaps. My concern is that if a heavy enough horse stands on a steel toecap it would become crushed and trap the toes inside. Anyone know of this happening?

 

[Christmas_Kate]

I have never known it to happen to anyone, but it is always my concern. My OH had it happen with a huge block of metal, his foot was stuck inside.
Personally i wouldnt use them, but I'm not around big horses on a day to day basis.

 

[PapaFrita]

I've got Mountain Horse joddy boots with the steel toecap... haven't had my toes squashed yet, but I think horses don't usually step on you with their full weight, do they (I mean, they tend to have other feet on the ground

) So whilst being trodden on really hurts there's not actually that much weight on your foot, is there?

 

[Bounty]

The boots I have have got steel toe caps. The promo/care leaflet thay came with says they are tested to withstand a ridiculous amount of weight without caving in, far more than any horse could manage even if it was jumping on you from a height!

 

[Alibear]

Yep Bounty is right all steel toe cap boots now have to meet very high weight bearing standards, hence it's now impossible to find steel toe cap boots that look anything like normal ones.
Personally I always thought the crushing thing was more of an urban myth with horses anyway. Mine saved my toes on many occasions where as the "oh you'll get your foot crushed" brigade got all sorts of nasty injuries.

 

[suestowford]

I have the Mountain Horse toe-capped boots and one of them has been trodden on. The toe cap did 'pop' inwards, it didn't crush, just got bent inwards a bit. My toes were OK, and it was easy to opo the metal back into shape again.

 

[zulu705]

My horse stood on my toe whilst trying to load her to go to a XC comp. It was agony. My toe wasn't broken but bruised. 3 months later my toenail fell off!! Now I have steel toe cap wellies that I change out of to ride only. I did think about the chopping off of the toes thing but if she stood on me with that force to crush a steel toe cap I don't think my feet would stand any better of a chance if I had normal boots on.

 

[Sooty]

Thank you all very much for your replies. It does make sense that a horse would only use one of its four feet, so you would never have the entire weight. Pleased to hear about the rigorous testing!

 

[wench]

bear in mind if you work on a building site (ie for a contractor) it is a legal requirement to have steelies on.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

If you use industrial steel toe cap boots the weight of a horse stepping on them will not affect them in the slightest. They are weight tested to mucjh higer weights that any horse can put on them. Don't worry at all.

 

[Tia]

Ahh you haven't watched MythBusters!! They showed all the tests they performed on steel toecapped boots. A horse would not be able to damage your feet in them, however if a lump of concrete or metal were to fall from a height then you could indeed have seriously damaged feet!

 

[galaxy]

There used to be problems with manufacturers making 1/2 steel toe caps (ie over top of foot and not under). This resulted in toes being cut off and crushed as horses trod on it. I think you will now find that all steel toe capped boots have full toe caps, so the problem doesn't exist anymore.

 

[Kate_13]

I love my steelies, I ride in them aswell. I have the mountain horse ones, really comfy, warm and protective.

 

[RachelB]

Well I hate my steel toecap MH boots. I got trodden on in them and my foot got trapped, not because the whole thing crushed but because the end (near the base of the toes) collapsed. It stuck itself into my foot! Took me ages to get the darned thing off as toes are really not strong enough for pushing metal about!
I agree that the actual toe end would be very strong and safe, but it's the other end that worries me..!

 

[Llwyncwn]

Have been meaning to ask about this for ages. Can you actually buy a good pair of steel toe caps that dont look like 'pit boots'? I have a 4 y.o. shire who comes into my personal space at times which makes my toes curl up just thinking about the damage he could do with his 'dinner plates'.

 

[spider]

Equitector long boots look quite normal IMO. Mind you my pony always seems to get some other part of my foot rather than my toes!

 

[Tia]

I have CAT boots - they look nice if you like sand coloured boots.

 

[Bounty]

Mine are the equitector Equi-Rodeo's.
They look pretty normal, are really comfy and I've just been out in the snow for an hour...my toes are as toasty as when I went out the door! Their climate control thing really does work.

Plus, if you're a BHS member you get a discount of 10%.

 

[Llwyncwn]

Thanks all. Im off to the tack shop shortly, so i'll see what they've got.

 

[benrolo]

I have steel toe capped boots (Robinson's own make) after having my big toe broken and I have been stood on since, and now that I have a shire x I would hate to be without them, still hurts if he steps on the back of your heel though!

 

[guisbrogal]

I was trodden on twice in fifteen minutes a few years back (please don't ask how

) and my foot was squashed flat. I couldn't wear shoes for 6 weeks and my whole leg went black from toe to knee

Then just before christmas I slipped while bringing Ellie in from our really muddy field and went under her. She stood on exactly the same spot as other horse had stood on

so it was agony.

Then my lovely hubby bought me a pair of MH joddy boots for christmas with steel toe caps. I think they look fine and I feel much safer