Some horses with particularly fragile legs... especially those with suspensory ligament and superficial digital flexor tendon issues... may benefit from a good pair of support boots with a sling that cradles the fetlock. These boots are nice because not only do they offer some some longitudinal support, but they provide 360 degrees of impact protection. The downsides are that, because of their design, they may hold in a lot of heat. In addition, if these boots are used every day on a horse who doesn't necessarily need the support, the horse's legs may become somewhat dependent on the boots. This can be avoided by only using the boots when your horse is more likely to strain his legs. Originally marketed by Professional's choice, many brands have adopted the sports medicine boot design. Here are some of my favorites:
THINLINE COBRA SUPPORT BOOT: I have never personally used these but I love the idea. Made from ThinLine's signature high-density open-cell foam, these boots are thin, will mold to the horse's legs, shouldn't rub, and have anti-fungal properties. The ThinLine material, which I have felt in person, seems like it would offer really nice support, not to mention fantastic impact protection for not having a hard shell. In addition, ThinLine claims that their boots, pads, and other products are breathable and will keep heat out of your horse's legs. These boots come at a fair price of $77.00
http://shop.thinlineglobal.com/p/thinline-cobra-boot
BACK-ON-TRACK THERAPEUTIC EXCERCISE BOOTS: I have never used these but seem like a good option for horses with arthritis and circulation issues, or who take a little longer to warm up. The Back-On-Track material is infused with ceramic powder which reflects the horse's body heat back towards the horse, improving circulation and providing infra-red therapy. The boots claim to keep the muscles in the lower legs cool and tight. I find this statement interesting because the soft tissue in the lower leg is mostly made up of tendons and ligaments, not muscles; however, many people swear by Back-on-Track products. These boots are slightly more expensive at $99 for a pair.
http://www.backontrackproducts.com/Horse-Products/Horse-Exercise-Boots/Exercise-Boots-Front-WHITE-BLACK-p298.html
STRETCH & FLEX TRAINING WRAPS: These are nice boots that I have felt in person and are popular for their Stomatex material, which is extremely breathable, lightweight, flexible, and soft. Reviews rave of their suitability for horses with sensitive, easily-rubbed skin. They claim to keep legs cooler, which is a huge plus. The material is slightly stretchy but is so soft it seems as though it wouldn't provide as much support as a boot made of something more sturdy. They are pretty thin and offer fair impact protection but if your horse is likely to do more than graze himself, the impact protection might not be adequate. These boots are the most expensive of the bunch at $102.95 for a pair.
http://www.smartpakequine.com/equilibrium-stretch-and-flex-training-wraps-6707p.aspx?cm_vc=Search
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