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.
Professional's Choice logo on the outer side of the VenTECH Leather Open Front Jumping Boots - Photo by Lorraine Peachey
There are some points in time when I feel like I’m just a complete and total klutz. On any given day, it’s quite likely that I can find a bruise on my arm or leg. And I most likely won’t even be able to recall how it got there in the first place. I bump into things. I trip. I elbow the tack room doorway. I even fell into the manure pile (but that was just that one time).
I’ve sometimes found myself wondering if I should maybe just give in and wear my helmet while doing any kind of work around the barn. Maybe it would just help to save me some bumps and scrapes. And heck, while I’m at it, maybe I’ll just throw on my protective vest at the same time. Might this be over the top ridiculous? Abso-friggin-lutely. But at least the thought is entertaining me (just please excuse me for a moment while I get back up off the floor).
In all seriousness though, I’ve talked a number of times about safety and protective gear. And my philosophy is really not very hard to remember, when it comes to safety gear — it’s pretty much just “use it.” I make sure that any safety or protective equipment that I use is the correct size and adjusted properly. And if it buckles, snaps or velcros, I make sure that it is SECURELY fastened.
When I put the VenTECH Leather Open Front Jumping & Ankle boots on Ripley before heading out to school jumps, I find that I really like the way that they contour to fit his legs. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
On activity that I always gear up for is schooling over jumps. And when I say “gear up,” that applies to both myself and my horse, for purposes of safety and injury prevention. Even if I’m only taking Ripley, my mature Quarter Horse, out to school over small jumps, I always shrug on my own safety vest. Plus, I always make sure that my horse has protective leg wear on as well.
So I was totally psyched to have the chance to try out a set of VenTECH Leather Open Front Jumping and Ankle Boots from Professional’s Choice. When I pulled both the jumping and ankle boots out of their packaging, the very first thing I noticed was the lovely aroma of the leather (it’s true, I’m a total sucker for the smell).
When I picked up one of the boots, I couldn’t help but observe how smooth and flexible the French leather felt. The leather feels pretty supple to the touch when I was checking them out — at no point did I get the impression that the leather felt like a hard shell, which made me really like them.
I personally really appreciate the traditional look that the leather outer helped to give the boots — and the good news is that the leather shell is also water resistant. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
I also examined the leather outer of both sets of boots and was delighted to notice an eye-catching design on the back sides of them on the leather strike patch. The pattern of ventilation holes coupled with a curving design stitched on the strike area gives the boots an elegant look.
The inside of the VenTECH Jumping and Ankle Boots are lined with a breathable neoprene that is cushion-like to the touch. I also found that I like the two tendon bars that are built into the neoprene lining, which help to keep the boots exactly in place, while providing some extra support for the tendons.
Both sets of boots have elastic straps that come across the front of the legs, and velcro under a tab to secure them—the Jumping boots have two elastic straps, while the Ankle boots have a single strap for closure. The tab also includes a stylish looking Professional’s Choice logo, that is displayed on the outer sides of each of the boots.
When I put the boots on Ripley before heading out to school jumps on any given day, I find that I really like the way that they contour to fit his legs. The combination of the soft neoprene with the supple feeling leather really helps the boots to look like they’ve molded to Ripley’s legs. Plus, I like the way that the extra tendon bars feel like they help to hold the boots in place.
I also appreciate that when I go to pull the boots off, Ripley’s legs feel both dry and cool — even when I use them on warmer days. Photo by Lorraine Peachey
And when I stood back, the set of boots just looked really striking to me. I personally really appreciate the traditional look that the leather outer helped to give the boots — and the good news is that the leather shell is also water resistant.
When I take Ripley out for a ride, I notice that he moves really well on the flat and over fences while wearing the VenTECH Jumping and Ankle Boots. And even after taking adequate time to warm up, schooling over jumps for a bit and then going for a cool-down hack, the boots stayed in place just where they ought to be.
Plus, I also appreciate that when I go to pull the boots off, Ripley’s legs feel both dry and cool — even when I use them on warmer days. The VenTECH technology used in the boots helps to achieve this by allowing both heat and moisture to escape from your horse’s legs during use.
The VenTECH Open Front Jumping and Ankle Boots are available in both brown and black. I gravitated toward the brown due to my personal preference, though the black looks equally lovely. The Open Front Jumping boots retail for $139.95, while the Ankle Boots retail for $109.95. And don’t forget — Professional’s Choice offers a 30-day money back guarantee on their products, as well as a six-month warranty!
Go Jumping Boots that look AND feel cool. Go Professional’s Choice. Go Eventing.
