Travel boots...opinions

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ARDesign

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Hi all,

I am new to the equine world and am doing some research for a product design project on travel boots. I wondered what peoples' general opinions were on the use of travel boots, no specific models in mind, as I know some people experience problems with them...if you have any ideas or opinions on the areas below or any other issues you can think of please share them!

  • Do you use travel boots?
  • If not, why not?
  • What do you find irritating about them (lack of breathability, poor fit, slip, not robust/fall apart, poor level of protection, design aesthetics, etc)?
  • Are there any particular makes/models which you like and why?


I am really interested in your thoughts and want to get down to the nitty gritty of the problems with existing models. Thanks for your help!
 
I use the Premier Equine travel boots. I don't have any problems with slipping etc but then I don't wash them as I think that can take the stiffness of the boot away if done too often. I like that they have a fleecy lining which helps in keeping the leg cool or wicks away sweat or water so my pony always has dry legs when they are taken off. A friend has ones with a polyester type lining and they are always dripping with sweat underneath.
 
I always use them, having once (a very long time ago) had a pony put it's foot through the side of a wooden trailer, and come out completely unscathed but with the boot in tatters. I also know of a horse who fell through a lorry floor on the motorway, and again, had minor scratches but shredded boots...

In less dramatic circumstances, I think the horse is relatively likely to just tread on itself when altering its footing when travelling, so I always pick boots which cover the coronet.

I use simple padded wraps with cotton outers because I like the flexibility in tightness when doing up... plus they wash and wear for years. I think the man-made fibre ones are inclined to heat legs more.

I've never had a problem with horses getting hot legs under my various cotton wraps, but have on occasion travelled one in sport boots, and their legs do get hot under those.
 
I don't like travel boots full stop. If I have to do anything I would bandage with gamgee under. This is spoken as an ex travelling groom for million pounds worth of bloodstock over the years so in a professional capacity with professionally kept and driven transport (which does seem to make a big difference) as they overheat the legs causing fidgeting and kicking out, not what you want on either the ferries or roads. We travelled several very expensive stallions and broodmares, not one of which ever wore any boots.
 
I don't use travel boots.

I use overreach boots all round and sometimes put airflow brushing boots on too.

Travel boots move too much, don't offer enough protection imo and lots of horses travel better without them which makes me think they aren't very comfortable.
 
I'm doing my dissertation on the temperature of horses legs when travelling wearing travel boots/bandages and am trialling a past students new boots which are designed to keep legs cool. I can let you know the results of my study early in 2013!
 
I never ever use travel boots having once had a horrific amount of damage done by one. Never had any issues since we started travelling bare legged 15 years ago.
 
If these are questions/answers that will be included in some form of work....I would consider rewording your third question.

It's leading.

And it suggests you yourself finds them annoying, which could unfairly influence the response of your audience.
 
Mine all wear travel boots, I like fleece lined so the legs aren't sweaty and I talc the legs. I like soft but strong boots. I find they're often too short for my 17hh and the starps don't tighten enough. My fav our prob woof, I find weatherbeeta too flimsy and short, bucas , the top straps annoy them and they're overpriced but i love the front boot design. Mark Todd, the lining makes them sweat and they're a bit too rigid
 
I dont use them on my cob as he resents any form of leg covering and will do his best to pull the off. On our mare we use them, but personally both Mini TX and I prefer gamgee and bandages, even though it takes longer. Dont really know why though.
 
Use them infront, but not behind. My mare hates them behind and will spend her time trying to kick them off. If she's travelling any distance, she has brushing boots on behind. I use Premier equine boots.
 
I use them on my fella and wouldn't travel him with out them, partly because he wouldn't load into anything if he doesn't have them. My mums horse wont travel/load if he has them on so he goes with nothing.
 
Thanks for all of your opinions and insights! It's all really good stuff for my research.

@nikkimariet, I agree the question is a bit leading and not as fair as it could be but I know there are existing problems with some designs and wanted to get down to what the main ones were.

Also if you feel like there are particularly good aspects to travel boot designs (or the design of a particular travel boot) then please bring it to the discussion!
 
We have various makes, never any slippage etc, but I would LOVE to find some cotton lined, lightweight, breathable inner ones. For various reasons bare legged is not an option, but I hate putting thick sweaty boots on on hot days...
 
I do use them but reluctantly - could bandage but its a bit faffy. I don't like hard travel boots and think the design is a bit flawed - its trying to protect too much in one go! Would like soft travel boots that fit well to the leg, then something that moves independantly for hocks and knees. Currently cover this with hock boots and knee boots and soft wraps for legs.
 
My own horses- overreach boots and either bandages and fybagee or their jumping boots. If an unshod youngster will travel them without anything. Older young ones (!?) who are often just shod in front will have nothing on hind legs.

Work horses (freelance groom, mostly polo ponies and eventers)- most wear travel boots. Variety of makes- Prem Equine and Mark todd provide great protection but are stiff and anything twitchy/fidgety tends to kick alot wearing them. Amigo softer so horses seem to prefer but they don't provide as much protection particularly around coronet/pastern.
 
Maesfen said:
I don't like travel boots full stop. If I have to do anything I would bandage with gamgee under. This is spoken as an ex travelling groom for million pounds worth of bloodstock over the years so in a professional capacity with professionally kept and driven transport (which does seem to make a big difference) as they overheat the legs causing fidgeting and kicking out, not what you want on either the ferries or roads. We travelled several very expensive stallions and broodmares, not one of which ever wore any boots.
Click to expand...

This ^^^ (although my beasts are not really worth £10 each!) I haven't used boots ever, and I still have travel bandages I was bought for my 10th birthday because I stopped bandaging not long after that, and I have to say that I have travelled lots of horses and ponies over many thousands of miles and not had one travelling injury.
 
I don't use boots either. If I'm not going far I put nothing on at all, if travelling a bit further I put brushing boots and over reaches on the fronts and nothing behind (mare still not shod behind). I would consider hock boots behind in addition to this if I could ever be bothered to go and find them.
 
Don't use anything due to the heating of the legs, the fact they travel better without and because when mine were taken abroad by a pro company they wouldn't take anything with boots on, and their main business was bloodstock not driving ponies! Sometimes excercise bandage my big young horse as he's not the most self aware, and admit to sometimes travelling in the boots I'm going to use when I'm at the venue we're going to :o
 
Most of mine travel bare legged. One in particular travels far better for it. If their legs need to be clean on arrival we bandage
 
I don't use boots anymore, though I have some - I just don't regard them as particularly helpful or necessary.

Generally will travel in brushing or tendon/fetlock boots, or with nothing.
 
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