These Boots Were Made For…

Gone are the days of only having the options of splint boots or polo wraps to protect your horse’s legs.  Over the past few decades, advances in technology and veterinary medicine have created boots as specialized as the horse industry itself.  In recent years, boots have not only been developed to protect legs from impact and give additional support, but also the materials used enable boots to multi-task like never before.  

Our friends at Back On Track have taken some of the most popular athletic boots and incorporated their state-of-the-art ceramic-infused fabric that increases circulation by reflected the horse’s own body heat into the soft tissues of the legs.  They offer several timelines classics, along with a few new faces to their leg protection roster.

So, if they all feature Back On Track’s ceramic technology, how do you know which will work best for your horse?  Here’s a quick guide on the various exercise boots Back On Track offers along with what they’re used best for.

Therapeutic Polo Wraps– One of the fundamentals in leg protection, polo wraps are widely used across a variety of disciplines for both support and impact protection.  However, they are more maintenance than other boot types, requiring wrapping and rerolling, which can be time consuming.  Back On Track’s particular polo wraps contour to your horse’s leg more than traditional polo wraps, providing a better fit.  However, these polo wraps should be used for exercise only, and not left on for overnight stabling or long periods of time.  For a great overnight wrap, check out their Royal Quick Wraps.

 

 

Exercise Boots– Sometimes called sports medicine boots, this particular style of boot hit the scene in the 90’s and are popular for their ability to support tendons and protect against impact during more strenuous work.  Often used for daily training and work in disciplines like reining, dressage, barrel racing, and jumping, these boots are easier and faster to apply than polo wraps.  These boots produce the effect of the Back On Track heat-reflecting fabric during the entire workout.  Back On Track offers exercise boot sets for both the hind and front legs.

 

 

Royal Tendon Boots (Open Front)– Often used on jumpers, these boots are used on the front legs to protect the tendons from impact and injury from the horse’s back legs.  On the outside of the infrared Welltex fabric, these boots have a hard outer shell to for protection.  The perforations provide ventilation for air-flow, and the buckles and elastic straps offer a secure fit.  The Royal Tendon Boot is one of the new items that Back On Track has added.  

 

 

 

 

Royal Ankle Boot– Also new to Back On Track and seen a lot in the jumper world, ankle boots are usually used in conjunction with the open front tendon boots.  These boots are used on the hind legs to protect the fetlock area from impact.  

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Work Boot (Flatwork Boot)– New to the Back On Track lineup, this boot is recommended for flatwork exercise only, these boots offer the same benefits as polo wraps, but in an easier to use format.  While protecting the cannon bone, tendons, and other soft tissue, the Royal Work Boot offers the infrared technology to reflect body heat back to the leg, creating a soothing sensation.  Like the Royal Tendon Boots, these boots offer perforated ventilation holes in addition to a molded outer casing to protect against impact.

 

 

 

Splint Boots/Brush Boot– Also new to the lineup, this boot is one of the most classic of leg protection options, the splint boots is used for protecting your horse’s legs from impact due to interference.  While the traditional splint boot has been around for decades, Back On Track has brought into the 21st century by incorporating the ceramic, infrared fabric.  Now, not only do you get the impact protection splint boots are known for, but heat is reflected into the leg’s soft tissue during the entire ride.  These boots are great for both front and hind leg use.  

There are more options than ever to protect your horse’s legs depending on your discipline and protection needs.  Back On Track not only makes it easier to know which boot will work best, but they all provide the soothing infrared technology that Back On Track is known for.

This post was sponsored by Back On Track USA, but all opinions are those of Pleasurehorse.com.