How to Put on Horse Shipping Boots

Horse trailers are relatively small, enclosed spaces for horses and carry a lot of risk of injury. Shipping boots can help prevent a horse from getting scraped by the interior of the trailer or soften the impact of another horse kicking out. It is always a good idea to use shipping boots, even if only driving a short distance.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Shipping boots

1. Fit the shipping boots by making sure they are tall enough to provide some protection to the knees and hocks of the horse's legs and reach all the way down to the ground. Boots shaped to extend over and around the knees and hocks are better for horses' legs than those designed to start just below the knees and hocks.

2. Clean the inside of the boots by unfastening the Velcro to be sure there are no irritants, such as dirt or straw, that can scratch your horse's legs while traveling. Some boots can be washed, or you can use the stiff brush from your grooming box to brush them out.

3. Open the boots and press them to the back of the horse's leg, then fasten the Velcro. Make sure the Velcro is wrapped around the front of the horse's leg toward you. If it is wrapped away from you or on the back of the horse's leg, the boot is on wrong.

4. Tighten the Velcro only enough that the boot can't slide around. You should be able to fit a finger in the top of the boot all the way around the leg.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful when leading your horse out to the trailer after the boots are on. Horses will lift their legs especially high until the boot settles in place and some horses will kick out.

References

• Traveling in Style