Best Horse Turnout Boots

Tried & tested by our Sponsored Rider Amanda Shirtcliffe, here’s her review of the best turnout boots for horses. Over the last winter she tested the Equilibrium Hardy Chaps, LeMieux Turnout Boots and Equilibrium Close Contact Chaps to find out what the best horse turnout boots would be for use this winter.

The equine testers:

Princess Fiona: 16.2hh, medium build, warmblood. International Para Dressage horse. Likes to get down and dirty in the field.

Tottie: 16hh, fine limbed, warmblood. A Ferrari on four legs. Tottie is our resident field racer and mud monster.

Flava: 16.3hh, medium build, warmblood. An advanced dressage horse with a penchant for pulling her shoes off.

All horses are turned out daily and stabled overnight.

Equilibrium Hardy Chaps

Cost £44.95

Pros

7mm neoprene provides a tough exterior.

Cons

Due to the thickness of the material these boots are more suited to the cooler months as they are likely to cause the legs to sweat during the summer.

Princess is predisposed to mud fever and her field has become extremely waterlogged during the winter months. The Equilibrium Hardy Chaps have been key to keeping Princess’ legs clean, dry and mud fever free all winter.

Very easy to put on and take off thanks to the wide Velcro fastenings. Hose clean and drip dry overnight.

Rating 4.5/5

Excellent value for money, the boots have lasted all winter but are now beginning to show a few signs of wear around the bottom edge.

Equilibrium Close Contact Chaps

Cost £54.95

Pros

Breathable material.

Cons

Limited protection from injury.

I tried these boots on Tottie and although the initial fitting was snug the boots slipped on the first day of wear and ended up bunched up around the bottom of the legs.

On the second day of wear, Tottie came in from the field minus one boot.

In fairness to Equilibrium, Tottie is a speed merchant and likes to do the wall of death around her field on a daily basis. These boots just weren’t suited to Tottie’s field frolicking habits.

Rating 3/5

Good for mud fever prevention but not robust enough for injury prevention. The velcro tabs are extremely sticky, which makes them unlikely to come undone in the field, however, for the same reason, this makes removing the boots slightly trickier.
These boots slipped down Tottie’s legs and didn’t survive a second day in the field. Probably more suited to the sedate equine that prefers to use their field for grazing rather than a race track!

LeMieux Turnout Boots

Cost £59.95

Pros

Breathable material with a reinforced guard for injury prevention.

Cons

Not suitable for horses with a neoprene allergy. 

Flava has worn these boots for the majority of the winter. They fit well, have a perforated lining to prevent sweating and a reinforced pastern guard to help with injury prevention.

Flava has super sensitive skin and suffers from mud fever during the wetter months. Since wearing these boots Flava’s shoe pulling antics have been minimal and her mud fever has been kept at bay.

Tottie is also currently wearing the LeMieux Turnout boots as they appear to offer the best fit for her. The boots have withstood Tottie’s speed test and although the material has split in several places Tottie hasn’t sustained any injuries!

Rating 4/5

Excellent protection against both mud fever and injury.

Best horse turnout boot in test: Equilibrium Hardy Chaps

Final thoughts….

When it comes to turnout boots it really is a case of ‘horses for courses’, what suits one, doesn’t necessarily suit another.

Fit is paramount. You will most likely need a different size for the front and hind legs. Measure your horses legs correctly and refer to the manufacturers size guide to find the optimal fit.

Buy the right type of boot for the circumstance you require. If injury prevention is the top of your list, then look towards the LeMieux Turnout Boot or Equilibrium Hardy Chap. If your horse needs to wear a turnout boot during the warmer months, then a boot made from breathable material is a must.

Don’t expect miracles. Turnout boots take a daily battering, the wet winter weather makes boots wear more quickly. It’s reasonable to expect a set of boots to last a season, or two if your horse is an absolute saint in the field.

Tips for getting the best from your turnout boots

To minimise the signs of wear and tear, keep the boots clean. Hose the boots off at the end of each wear and hang up to drip dry. I’ve found that in the colder months the boots take a couple of days to drip dry, if you can afford to, it may be worth investing in a spare set of boots so you’ll always have a pair fresh and ready for wear.