Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.
The Horze Tendon Boot in black. Photo by Sally Spickard.
Horze is a brand that has really made a name for itself in the equine industry. With top of the line apparel for both horse and rider, there are plenty of options to meet your needs, so how on earth are you supposed to choose the best option?
Being a bit of a boot snob myself, I’ve collected several different pairs throughout the years. Some I save for competition, others for schooling, and yet others are too old and beat up to really do much good, so they’ve been retired to the “can’t quite bring myself to throw out” pile.
One of the biggest features I look for in open front boots is the ability to fit different horses. I like to have options for horses other than my own; it just makes everything more convenient if your friend asks you to school her horse or if you take a lesson on your trainer’s horse. Luckily,
Horze has many Protection Boots available to fit our needs, from everyday schooling to strutting our stuff in the show ring.
A great fit and a classic look for all four legs. Photo by Sally Spickard.
The first thing I noticed when I tried on the Horze
Tendon Boots and
Fetlock Boots was that they
immediately fit my horse’s legs and were true to size out of the bag. I ordered a full size for my OTTB and was a bit concerned that they’d be a bit large, based on some past experiences with sizing, but I was pleased to find that they fit him perfectly.
I made sure to try the boots on a friend’s horse and a few others who I felt would be a full size and was happily switching them between horses with no fitting problems. Not to worry, we’re fungus free in our barn!
The neoprene material lining the Horze
Tendon and
Fetlock Boots was breathable and lightweight, but I wanted to see how these features held up after a good work. It was probably around 45 degrees out the first time I rode with the boots, so my unclipped horse worked up a bit of a sweat during our ride.
Photo by Sally Spickard.
Upon pulling the boots off, I was happy to discover that there was very little heat trapped by the boots. I could tell that each leg had a boot on, but there was no sweat and no excessive heat that made me feel like the legs were overheated in these boots. From past experiences, I can tell you that feeling a red-hot leg immediately after work is not something you want to deal with!
These boots are also easy to keep clean. My horse tends to scuff fetlock boots a bit, so when I saw some scuff marks after our ride I quickly grabbed a damp cloth and went to wipe them away. Once again, I was pleased with how easily the scuff marks wiped off, along with any other residual dirt and grime carried in from the indoor.
The outer shell of the boots is very easy to keep clean, and I would imagine that responsible care for lighter colors would keep them looking clean and crisp every ride.
Does anyone else just love the Horze logo? Photo by Sally Spickard.
And that’s the other great thing about these boots – the color options! Obviously, eventers love color. Whether your choice is bright orange or classic navy blue, or anything in between, there is an option with the Horze boots. Trust me, you’ll spend far too much time trying to decide on a color. Don’t judge me for going with black, I couldn’t make a decision.
These boots are also
very budget friendly, and make a great option for someone who needs a good set of schooling boots or is looking for a new set to take to shows. You can rest assured that Horze’s
Protection Boot line will deliver quality and a touch of sophistication to your horse, every ride, every time.
The Horze Tendon Boot in black. Photo by Sally Spickard.
