Horses are truly magnificent animals. Watching them elegantly gallop at high speeds is a breathtaking experience. Unfortunately, in the process of doing so, their hooves often hit their own legs with full force. As a result, horses are especially prone to leg injuries, fractures, inflammation, and various joint and bone diseases. With that being said, if you own a horse, especially one that takes part in racing competitions or performance shows, it’s especially important to properly protect his legs against hoof impact.
The best way to do so would be to get good splint boots. Although they are called “boots”, they mostly resemble wraps which are placed around the splints and tendons of the legs to properly secure them in place and protect them from the horse’s own hooves, as well as from the surroundings. As they help protect such an important body part, it’s important to make a quality choice. So, if you’re planning to explore the various splint boots for sale, here are some important factors that can help you choose the best for your equine friend.
Materials
Some years ago, most splint boots were made of leather, however, leather is really tough to maintain and becomes stiff after it’s been wet. Additionally, the stitching in leather deteriorates quickly even under the best care. On the other hand, splint boots made of neoprene or another synthetic material are often much easier to keep clean and can dry very quickly. They also are more breathable, thus allowing the horse to stay more comfortable wearing them. As opposed to leather, neoprene is also a much more durable material. And considering how horses’ legs take quite the beating, a durable material is definitely your best choice.
Cushioning
If you want to make sure there’s no such thing as a scratch on your beloved horse’s legs, look for splint boots for sale that are reinforced with some inside cushioning. The inside layer can be made of various materials such as rubber or fleece. Fleece is usually advisable to use, as it feels more natural on the horse’s skin, and doesn’t cause chafing. On the other hand, rubber can offer better protection against impacts. So, be sure to know what your priorities are.
Fit
Of course, when it comes to boots, it’s especially important that they fit well, regardless whether we’re talking about human or horse boots. And just like human boots, splint boots also vary in size. However, you can usually choose boot size by how large the horse is. With that being said, a 14 to 15 hand horse is size S, a 15.1 to 16 hand horse is medium size, 16.1 – 17 hand corresponds with size L, whereas 17.1 and above is XL.