Ultimate Guide To The Best Jumping Boots For Horses
Jumping boots are great tools to prevent injuries occurring to your horse during jumping, and provide them with extra protection.
There are a lot of boots out there, such as fly boots, ice boots, dressage boots, and travel boots, but only some are suitable for jumping. Most horses need the protection and shock absorbing qualities that boots offer, as it helps them perform better.
In this article, we review the best jumping boots for horses out there and provide a helpful buyer’s guide to equip you when buying your own.
Top 5 Horse Jumping Boots (Our Review)
Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Open Front Boots (Best Overall)
- Double ventilation
- Microperforated neoprene layer
- Tendon protection in carbon and nitrexgel
- Quick-release tip
- Anatomically-shaped shell
The Veredus Carbon Gel Vento Open Front Boots are the first horse jumping boots created that protect the cannon bone, and have double “Flow thru” ventilation to keep your horse’s legs cool.
Ensuring that your horse’s legs stay cool is almost as important as injury prevention. Too much heat can have a deadly effect on the tissues underneath the boot, and cause problems with the superficial digital flexor tendon.
What makes the Verdus horse boot so brilliant is that it is constructed in a particular way, using trademarked materials that provide maximum shock absorption and injury prevention.
The inner layer that is in contact with your horse’s leg is made out of EVA foam which provides your horse with maximum comfort and protects your horse’s tendons.
The middle layer is made out of AEROX micro-perforated neoprene lining and 3D Ducted Mesh which provides both shock absorption and the highest level of ventilation.
The outer shell is made from an anti-shock Carbon Fiber that provides protection from impact. There is also a Nitrexgel that is combined into the design that decreases the force of shock and impact by 40%.
These horse boots are slightly on the more pricey side and can be purchased from $245, but at least you know that you are paying for a good quality product.
Pros
- Does not allow for heat build-up and keeps your horse’s legs cool
- Increased shock absorption
- Carbon fiber casing protects your horse’s leg against impact
- Very attractive and classy looking
Cons
- Might be too expensive for some people
- Can be difficult to find a variety of sizes
HORZE Lightweight Adjustable Horse Tendon Boots (Best Lightweight)
- PROTECTIVE - high quality horse neoprene boots provide your horse more safety and support
- VERY PRACTICAL - the closure of the brushing boots comes with a velcro fastener, that function lets you easily open or close the boot tight
- FOR LONG TRANSPORTS - the boots are formed high and robust to keep your horse protected
- PERFECT CARE - close straps before washing, you can scrub with mild soap, please air dry
- SPECIFICATIONS - Plastic, Neoprene, Hard outer shell protects from knocks, Great value, Strong hook and loop closures, Soft neoprene lining, Sold in pairs, Use with Item #19416
The HORZE Lightweight Adjustable Horse Tendon Boots are our top pick for lightweight boots that will still provide your horse with ample protection.
These horse boots are open-front tendon boots, which help with keeping your horse’s leg cool but still manage to act as a protective boot at the same time.
There is a soft neoprene lining on the inner side of the boot that prevents the boot from chaffing and provides your horse with the most comfort possible.
The hard outer shell protects your horse’s legs and prevents any injuries from occurring in the case that your horse’s hoof hits it from the back.
The velcro strap allows for strong hook and loop closures that give a good balance between stretch and a snug fit. This also provides an even distribution of pressure across your horse’s lower leg and makes the boot more comfortable.
The downside to these horse boots is that there is no venting incorporated into them, so they tend to make your horse’s legs sweat. They also aren’t the most durable if you put your horse through intense and frequent training.
These lightweight horse boots can be purchased for about $35.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Provides protection and support
- Comfortable and snug fit
Cons
- No ventilation which causes your horse to sweat
- They may not last very long if used often
Veredus Safety Jump Bell Boot (Best Bell Boot)
The Veredus Safety Jump Bell Boot are the best bell boots for your horse to use whilst jumping.
These bell boots are available in a variety of different colors and sizes. They are designed with a Bi-TECH™ Synthetic outer shell that provides optimal protection to your horse’s hooves and the soft tissue surrounding them.
The Bi-TECH™ material used is extremely strong and durable. It acts as a protective shell and makes the boots resistant to being torn or punctured.
The inner shell contains Lycra® neoprene lining which helps with shock absorption when landing from the jump. They are also made out of an AquaShell™ which makes them waterproof and easy to clean.
The double velcro straps are designed to withstand being hooked and unhooked approximately 5000 times, making them extremely durable.
These bell boots can be purchased for about $90.
Pros
- Created from a very strong and durable material
- Provides shock absorption
- Will protect your horse’s hooves while jumping
Cons
- Only offers protection to the hoof area and nowhere else
Veredus Pro-Jump Short Vento Fetlock Boots (Best Fetlock Boots)
The Veredus Pro-Jump Short Vento Fetlock Boots are the best fetlock boots available to enhance your horse’s jumping and protect them from any injuries of the hind fetlocks.
These particular fetlock boots provide double ventilation to prevent any heat buildup on your horse’s hind legs. The Veredus® VENTO design allows heat to be released from vents at the top of the boot, and cool air to be drawn in through the bottom vents.
The inner and middle layers consist of an Aerox micro-perforated, breathable neoprene lining, and a 3D mesh ducted fabric. The combination of the two helps aid in air circulation.
These protective boots have hook and loop straps that are interchangeable and can be easily adjusted to fit your horse’s hind legs.
These fetlock boots are very popular amongst show jumpers around the world. The only downside to them is that they only offer protection to your horse’s fetlocks, and don’t protect your horse’s front legs like tendon boots do.
These Verdus fetlock boots are quite expensive and can be purchased for around $240.
Pros
- Double ventilation system to prevent your horse’s legs from overheating
- Adjustable velcro straps provide leg protection for a variety of different sized legs
- Provide reliable protection to your horse’s fetlocks whilst jumping
Cons
- These only protect your fetlocks, which may not be enough as their front legs are exposed
- Quite expensive
Horse Jumping Protection Boot (Best Budget)
- 【Light and Portable】Horse support boots allows your horses to move without restriction. Your horse can easily do high speed activities like show Horse Racing, jumping, hunting.
- 【High Quality】Outer PU material, durable for long time use. Inner neoprene fabric, high elastic and shock resistance.
- 【Protecting Horse】Thicken elastic inner cushion, work bettter on protecting horse.
- 【Hook&Loop】2 hook & loop band, ensures fit fastening. Suitable for equestrian performance competition and training.
- 【Easy to Wear】This equine knee boot is easy to put and take off, with easy fastening bands to make sure that it won’t slip or turn during fast movements.
The Horse Jumping Protection Boot is our best choice in terms of budget horse boots. These horse boots are very affordable tendon boots that still offer great protection.
These boots are lightweight and give your horse the freedom to move without feeling too restricted. They are also durable and are designed to last a decent period of time.
There is a soft neoprene lining on the inner side of them that helps to provide shock absorption upon your horse’s landing after the jump.
The Horse Jumping Protection Boot is very easy to take on and off thanks to its large velcro hook and loop bands. There are two thick bands on each of the tendon boots that prevent them from slipping off or rotating around the horse’s lower legs.
The thick straps also provide an extra layer of protection as they are so large and cover a lot of the horse boot’s surface area.
The downside about these boots is that they don’t have any ventilation systems to keep your horse’s legs cool. If overheating occurs underneath the boots, it can damage your horse’s tendon cells, so it is definitely something that you want to avoid.
These horse boots can be bought for approximately $26.
Pros
- They are affordable
- They still offer good protection
- They are lightweight and sturdy
Cons
- There is no ventilation, so your horse’s lower legs might get very sweaty and hot
Best Jumping Boots For Horses (Buyer’s Guide)
Type Of Boot
Different types of horse boots serve different purposes and prevent different injuries, so it is important to assess the kind of protection that your horse needs before purchasing them.
Tendon Boots
Tendon boots only fit around your horse’s front legs, and they are usually open-front boots. They are positioned so that they wrap around the cannon bone.
The purpose of them is to protect your horse’s tendons from being hit and causing an injury.
These boots are popularly used for English show jumping events and training.
Tendon boots have a very clever design. They are open at the front because it allows your horse to feel the pole if it touches it. This causes the horse to instinctively correct its footing position in the next jump.
If you are planning on doing more cross country jumping, we would recommend buying a tendon boot that covers every side of your horse’s lower leg, as the solid pole used provides much more of a risk for injury.
Bell Boots
Bell boots, which are also referred to as overreach boots, fit around the top of your horse’s hooves and cover their heels, and most of their hoof.
Bell boots are mainly used to protect your horse’s heels from overreaching. Overreaching occurs when they reach too far forward with their hind legs, so their hind hooves end up hitting their front heels.
Overreach injuries can be quite painful and take a long time to heal, so it is best to try and avoid them.
Fetlock Boots
Fetlock boots, which are also called brushing boots, fit on your horse’s hind limbs. They are shorter than tendon boots are, and only cover the area of the fetlock joint.
They are used to prevent brushing injuries from occurring on the inside of your horse’s leg. These usually occur when the opposite hock hits the fetlock and lower leg.
Boot Ventilation
Boot ventilation is a very important aspect that you need to consider.
Horses can get very hot underneath the boots if there isn’t proper ventilation. Overheating in these areas can cause cells to get damaged or die, and can do a lot of harm to your horse.
If you live in a hot area and do a lot of training with the boots on, then proper ventilation is an absolute must.
But, regardless of where you live, we would suggest trying to find boots that offer ventilation and have built-in cooling mechanisms available.
Open vs Closed Front Boots
This applies more for tendon boots, and whether you choose open or closed boots depends on where your horse will be jumping.
Open boots are often preferred as not only does it help to let some cool air in around that area, but they also allow your horse to feel if it accidentally touches a pole while jumping. This allows them to correct themselves for the next jump.
Closed boots are used when there is an increased risk of injuring the front of the foot if the pole is very solid. The downside of these is that they can be very hot.
Synthetic vs Leather Horse Boots
This purely comes down to preference, and how much effort you are willing to put in with the maintenance of the boots.
Leather boots are very stylish and traditional looking, which most horse owners like. They are also more sturdy than some of the cheaper synthetic boots are.
The main difference comes down to maintenance. Synthetic boots are very easy to wash and dry and are resistant to rain. They are even machine washable, which makes life very easy.
Leather boots, on the other hand, require more effort to clean and dry, especially after it has been raining. They need to be oiled and wiped down at least once a week.
Neoprene vs Sheepskin Inner Lining
Both are forms of soft lining that sit on the inner side of the boots. They are used to comfort your horse and prevent the outer shell of the boot from rubbing against its leg.
Sheepskin is extremely soft and very stylish looking. But, it can be hard to keep clean and does not offer much ventilation.
Neoprene, on the other hand, still provides an immense amount of comfort, but it also allows for more ventilation and airflow to keep your horse cool.
Buckles vs Velcro Straps
Velcro is a very easy option. It is easy to take on and off, and quick to adjust. The only downside to it is that it can lose its “stickiness” over time, and they might end up being too loose.
Buckles look very classy, especially for show jumping competitions, and they are very durable and will last long. protects
The only problem with buckles is that they can be a mission to adjust and take a while to get on and off.
Size And Fit
It is important that you get the correct size of boot for your horse. This is because it is crucial that the boots have a secure fit.
Poorly fitted boots can not only shift around or cause discomfort to your horse, but they can also restrict blood flow, or pinch a tendon or nerve.
The rule that most horse owners go by in terms of determining a proper fit is that the boot should be a snug fit, but you should be able to fit a finger between the boot and your horse’s leg.