How to Fit a Horse for Support Boots

Support boots are a piece of horse equipment used by riders in a variety of sports ranging from eventing to barrel racing. A proper support boot cushions a horse’s legs and tendons to avoid injury during strenuous training and performance. Selecting and fitting a horse with a pair of support boots is an essential part of good horsemanship and should be done before allowing the horse to perform any heavy training.

Things You'll Need

• Bandages or wraps
• Grooming brushes

Instructions

1. Determine what type of support boots you need for your horse. There are a variety of styles, each based off of the type of training or sport he will be performing. Choose the style appropriate for your discipline.

2. Brush your horse’s legs completely clean. Removing any dirt or grime before fitting your boots will make sure that no foreign matter gets between your horse’s leg and the boots.

3. Hold the first boot firmly in both of your hands, sliding it around the horse’s leg. There should be a set of straps or a support cup that fits under and behind the horse’s pastern to properly support her tendons.

4. Attach the lower strap of the boot to the front half of the boot and tighten it slightly. Continue attaching all of the straps until the boot is firmly in place and does not slip off.

5. Tighten all of the straps to the correct tension. The straps need to be secure enough to hold the boot on while the horse works but not so tight as to cut off circulation to the horse’s hoof.

6. Continue the application process with the remaining boots until each boot is secured firmly on the horse’s legs.

7. Work the horse through a normal workout, checking the boots midway through the training to be sure they are still secure. Tighten any loose straps and remove any dirt from the boots before continuing your workout.

8. Remove the boots and check for any signs of abnormal rubbing or wear against your horse’s legs. There should be no hair loss or sore spots under the boots and your horse should show no signs of pain or sensitivity while wearing her new support boots.

Tips & Warnings

• Use only clean support boots on your horse. Any mud or dirt on the boots can cause severe skin irritation.

• Do not over tighten your support boots. A boot that is too tight will not only cause discomfort to your horse but can result in irreversible injury and damage to her legs.