There are different types of leg protection to protect your horse's legs from injury. Horses' legs have to endure a lot; the ligaments and tendons lie almost unprotected under a thin layer of skin and can be injured by even the slightest impact or stepping. Boots, bandages, etc. effectively protect your horse's legs and protect it from lameness of various origins.

But what protection do I use during training, when riding or for transport? Because not every leg protection is suitable for every discipline. With us you will find everything you need to optimally support your horse and protect it from injuries. The latest technologies and matching colors round off your outfit perfectly.

What is the purpose of gaiters?

Besides bandages, gaiters are probably the most commonly used way to protect sensitive horse legs. There are different types of gaiters, but what they all have in common is that they protect the leg from accidental contact and injury. When training young horses or poorly balanced horses, well-padded gaiters can prevent wounds. They are very easy to put on and provide good protection against impacts and scratches. Some horses tend to accidentally kick themselves because of their individual gait. Gaiters, ideally in combination with jumping boots, prevent tendons, joints or bones from being damaged. Since horses usually have shorter front legs and longer hind legs, there are different gaiters for the front and back. Unlike bandages, they do not absorb water as easily, which makes them more comfortable for your horse.

Hard shell boots or fetlock boots in particular provide optimal protection for the horse's leg against blunt trauma caused by stroking or blows. They are therefore often used for jumping, dressage, eventing, but also for leisure and cross-country riding.

However, depending on your requirements, gaiters with soft padding may be sufficient and are a little more comfortable for your horse.

Which gaiters for which discipline?

Which gaiter is used for which discipline depends on the requirements.

When jumping or in eventing, it is particularly important that the horse can bend its legs without any problems, without the boots pressing uncomfortably into the pastern or the crook of the carpal joint. Nevertheless, the important areas should be adequately protected. Since it can unfortunately happen that your horse bumps its leg when jumping, boots with a hard outer shell should be used.

For cross-country rides or endurance rides, more emphasis should be placed on comfort. If too much heat is generated, the horse's leg becomes more susceptible to damage, which is why gaiters should be highly breathable. The air should always be able to circulate, which is achieved either by a special ventilation system or by air-permeable mesh fabric.

In the dressage discipline, special dressage boots are used that are particularly flexible but still securely padded. They not only provide protection during the lessons, they also look good and complement and round off the entire dressage outfit. Fetlock boots protect the horse's leg up to the fetlock joint, while spoon boots only protect the fetlock from injury. However, they are pleasantly light and therefore very popular in various riding styles.

However, gaiters protect horses' legs not only during work, but also during transport or in the stable. Horses need to be able to balance themselves in the horse trailer. This may require lunges, which have the potential to cause injury. Special transport gaiters reach from above the hock to the ground and cover the coronary band and the hooves. They are fastened with Velcro fasteners and are thickly padded. Since transport gaiters protect and cover a large part of the horse's leg, they are quite unusual for the horse and affect its gait. That's why you should slowly get the horse used to wearing them.

Stable boots are also available in different models. They protect, support or even stimulate blood flow. Protective stable boots are usually thickly padded and protect horses from injury when they hit the walls of the stable. Unfamiliar or new surroundings can make horses nervous and lead to them sustaining trauma to their legs. There are also stable boots with a warming or cooling effect. Very effective for regeneration or after training.

The correct fit of gaiters?

Boots must fit properly to provide optimal protection without causing uncomfortable pressure or chafing. It is best to place the boots on the horse's leg from behind, roughly at the level of the carpal joint. Now pull them along the leg from top to bottom until the lower end of the boots is flush with the fetlock joint. This ensures that all the hair lies flat and does not stand uncomfortably sideways. Then close the boots.

It fits correctly when the reinforcement is facing inwards and the fastener is facing outwards, with Velcro fasteners or buckles facing backwards. If the gaiters have protective flaps covering the Velcro fasteners, these should face downwards. Check if the gaiter slips or can be easily moved; then it is too loose. Make sure that no skin is pinched. If the gaiter is too tight, blood and lymph flow can be restricted.

Tendon boots should only be worn for as long as they are needed. They should be removed immediately after riding.

How do you clean gaiters?

Since gaiters have to endure a lot, they are made of durable material and are very robust. However, after just a few uses, they usually no longer look particularly good. Keeping the equipment clean is not just for aesthetic reasons, it also affects the horse's skin health. Dust and dirt combined with moisture and sweat can quickly mix into a very unpleasant mass that rubs against the skin and thus provides a breeding ground for bacteria and pathogens. You should therefore always keep your equipment clean.

Depending on the model, gaiters can be cleaned easily after use. Most leg protectors can be washed in the washing machine without any problems. If the gaiters are very dirty, they should be cleaned thoroughly in the shower or with a jet of water in the stable before washing. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

What is the purpose of bandages?

Bandages can protect the horse's leg from injury and can also be used for regeneration. They also help to keep the legs warm, which is particularly useful for older horses. For dressage, you can choose bandages that match the color and complement the entire outfit nicely. However, bandages are not an equivalent replacement for gaiters!

Bandages are also not that easy to use. If the horse's legs are bandaged too tightly, the lymph flow can be severely disrupted and toxins and waste products can no longer be removed. Existing injuries are less likely to heal and the horse's leg becomes more sensitive, which in turn can lead to injuries. Like gaiters, bandages should only be left on the leg for as long as is absolutely necessary. The exception is if prescribed by the vet.

With these tips you will be able to use the correct bandage:

• Always use a bandage pad – it equalizes the pressure peaks of the bandage.

• Wrap from top to bottom and from the front outside to the bottom inside.

• The bandage and the bandage pad must fit snugly around the leg without any folds.

• Each bandage round should overlap by approximately 3 cm.

• From halfway up the fetlock, wrap back up. From now on, the gaps can be larger.

• If the Velcro end has reached the top outside, the bandage closes correctly.

• Ideally, the bandage closes just below the ankle.

What is the purpose of bell boots?

Bell boots effectively prevent injuries to the ball and coronary band area. They are also used on horses that wear down their front shoes. They are most commonly found on rides or in show jumping.