XC Boots & Premier Equine Sports Boots

ElleJS

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Does anyone have any experience of going XC in sports boots like the ones Premier Equine sell?

I am looking for a xc boot with a bit more support for a very exhuberant jumper but worry they would hold water and get hot and heavy. However I have seen a couple of pro's horses with them on and a few other people so wondered if any one on here had any experience with them?

I currently have Style XC boots, Premier Equine XC boots, Prolites and Eskadron XC boots all in theboot box to chose from. The horse in question normally goes in the Style boots as they fit her legs well but I worry that they aren't offering her any shock absorbing properties which this horse needs, she doesn't hit the fences so was tempted to perhaps even take her XC in veredus carbon gel tendon boots as they offer a bit more in the way of support but think everyone would think I was bonkers!!

Thank you if you can help! :)
 

LEC

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Nothing can truly support the tendons because of their design and the way they work. My understanding is and I stand to be corrected is that pasterns take a lot of the shock and they do that through the way they flex so no boot can help with that. As for tendons themselves you cannot support them because they are like strong elastic. I believe now that in modern day tendon recovery deems that bandages are not now necessary because they cannot offer support in recovery.

Maybe TheMule will respond to this thread and have some suggestions because equine anatomy is a specialism of hers especially legs.

Personally I would continue with air cooled boots with guards.
 
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ElleJS

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Thank you Lec, great explanation. I did wonder if that was the case, very interesting re bandaging or not bandaging. Yep air cooled boots seem to be the best option!
 

kerilli

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i used to use sports boots years ago, the Professionals Choice ones that were really popular. They absorbed water and got really heavy, and were very heating. At the time I didn't realise the effects this could have - nobody ever mentioned anything about tendons overheating back then, and I just didn't think about the effect of the boots getting heavier.
I would NEVER use them again. I'd run the horse bare-legged first tbh. A really super horse of mine with perfect front leg conformation broke down after Windsor 3-day (LF) and I suspect the boot choice I made back then, in my ignorance, had a lot to do with it... :( :( :(
I'm really impressed with the pair of Ecogold front xc boots I bought this spring. I use them daily at home and they're still immaculate, very lightweight, cushioning (don't wrap under the fetlock though - although I don't think this makes any difference tbh), never move, etc.
Do you put tubigrip under boots for xc? 50cms of size C, from below fetlock to knee then fold back down over top of boot? that gives some support and stops boots from rubbing etc. a trick i learnt from Leslie Law, who learnt it from Ginny Leng... ;) ;)
 

ElleJS

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Sports boots out the question then! I have had a look at the ecogold ones yesterday- they do look good and as you've tested them then that makes them even more appealling! Did you buy them direct from ecogold?

Yes do use tubigrips, more so for quick icing after the xc on a 3DE and to just add another layer of support. Think I will continue with that.
 

SpottedCat

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I quizzed a vet recently as he recommended that a horse on our yard had only one leg bandaged - I remember when to not bandage in pairs was punishable by death-by-DC!! His explanation was exactly what LEC has said, and he said anyone who thinks they can support tendons by bandaging or booting was deluding themselves!

I like the look of the Kentucky boots with the smart molecules - but TBH would just go with what you have - the cooler the better.
 

kerilli

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I contacted Ecogold for a U.K. supplier and then bought them here, from Horse In Sport. I have the open fronted sj boots too and they're excellent too. very light, cushioning, perfect fit, really impressive. the only weird thing is that the tendon guards on the xc boots are shorter than on the sj boots, which I queried with Ecogold. They replied that top riders in both disciplines tested them and any variations were due to their feedback.
the only others i want to try are Nunn Finer which are v popular in the States, but I've given up on getting a response from them. Utterly useless customer service. :( :(
 

SpottedCat

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K, they're no easier to get hold of in the USA - even if you have the personal mobile number of the guy who runs it :(
 

TheMule

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My current thinking is get air cooled with an excellent tendon strike pad and chill them before you put them on the leg- 10mins in an ice box would be perfect (some people dunk them in cold water but horse detests having wet legs!)
 

LEC

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How about if you used a gel smeared on the inside of the boot? Maybe just a water based gel then this would help retain the cold? My only worry about this theory would be would it act as a conductor once the legs heated up?
 
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