Why Use Tendon Boots For Horses? – 10 Advantages You Need To Know

Tendon boots are a great way to protect your horse’s tendons from injury. They can be used during any activity, but they are beneficial for horses with a higher risk of tendon injury. 

In this blog post, we will discuss why you should use tendon boots for horses and why some horses may need them more than others!

What are tendon boots for horses?

Tendon boots are a type of horse boot that covers the tendon. The boot is often used on horses with injured tendons or ligaments to help protect them from further injury.

A tendon boot can be used to help treat an injury, but it should not be used as a substitute for veterinary care.

If your horse has been diagnosed with a tendon injury, speak with your veterinarian about whether or not this type of horse boot would be appropriate for their condition.

It’s important to remember that if you’re looking into purchasing these types of boots, they may come in different sizes and width. So it’s best to measure both the front and back legs so you know what size will fit best before ordering one online.

10 Advantages of Using Tendon Boots for Horses

Tendon boots are an excellent choice for protecting a horse’s tendons while doing strenuous activity.

Tendon boots provide support and protection to the affected tendons of both front and hind legs.

Tendon boots can help treat all injuries related to the tendons, from simple strains to severe tears.

1. Protection from Overuse Injuries

Tendon boots offer a great way to protect your horse’s legs from overuse injuries. 

This includes everything from tying up, laminitis, metabolic issues such as Cushing’s disease/ insulin resistance, toxins found in pasture land, chronic degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis (DSLD), or any other condition that affects blood flow or damaged tissues in the lower leg.

2. Protection from Injuries Caused by Freezing Weather

Horses who are stabled in colder climates may suffer from frozen tendons when the weather drops below freezing. While this is mostly a concern during the winter, it can also happen in areas with temperate climates if the horse’s stall is situated near an unheated wall or covered by ice and snow for extended periods. 

Tendon boots prevent injuries because they keep the tendon warm, protected from the harsh environmental conditions outside. 

This means that your horse will stay safe even after spending long hours in a cold barn without any additional protection measures taken to avoid tendon injury. 

3. Protection From Damage During Exercise On Hard Surfaces

Exercise on hard surfaces puts strain advantages of tendon boots for horses. This is especially true when riding along roads, which are usually made of asphalt or concrete. Tendon boots provide support to the tendons, reducing the chances of injury during strenuous exercise. 

While tendon boots do not entirely eliminate the risk associated with hard surfaces, they help reduce anxiety because you know that your horse will be protected while out on a ride.

4. Protection From Damage During Exercise in Sand

Exercise in loose sand puts additional strain on horses’ legs. This happens because running in soft sand requires more energy than running on solid ground or grassy terrain. 

Horses need extra cushioning in their legs to adapt to this type of activity, so having tendon boots for horses during these activities is an excellent choice. 

Tendon boots provide enough support to prevent injuries while also protecting the tendons from heat-related damage caused by friction with loose sand.

5. Protection of Vital Tendons During Competition

Competition is stressful for horses, making them more prone to injury if proper protection isn’t used during strenuous activity. 

However, using tendon boots for competition does not necessarily mean that your horse will be protected against all types of injuries. 

This type of boot should only be used when certain conditions are met – long hours at a time spent on hard surfaces and days with extreme weather conditions (hot or cold) that could potentially injure your horse’s legs without proper support. 

If any of these factors is present along with additional risk factors for tendon injury, using tendon boots while competing is a good choice. 

7. Protection Against Sunburn in Horses

Horses frequently exposed to the sun are at risk of being burned by UV rays, leading to skin cancer in horses if their legs aren’t protected from the sun’s harmful rays. 

Tendon boots help prevent sunburn because they protect horses’ lower legs. They block out UV light which prevents burning caused by exposure to the sun’s harmful radiation. 

Using tendon boots also reduces the cling-film effect, allowing your horse to perform well in turnout without being confined.

6. Protection From Overreaching During Training

Overreaching occurs when a horse stretches its limbs out in front of its body, causing damage to the tissues that connect the muscles and tendons together. 

This leads to tissue swelling, inflammation, pain, and tenderness. Tendon boots help prevent overreaching by supporting the tendons. The added support provides horses with increased comfort when performing strenuous exercises or activities that cause the animals to reach excessively.

8. Prevention of Jumper’s Knee in Jumping Horses

Jumper’s knee causes discomfort and soreness because it causes fluid buildup in the tendons around the patella (kneecap). This can lead to inflammation, increased temperature around inflamed areas (which causes more damage), and eventually damage tendon tissue. 

Tendon boots protect the jumper’s knee by absorbing shock before it reaches the horse’s legs. This reduces the chances of injury caused by excess strain on tendons. 

9. Protection From Cold Weather Conditions

Tendon boots help horses adapt to cold weather conditions in a few ways, depending on the types of boots used. This is because tendon boots provide insulation for tendons. 

Tendon boots can either be made from neoprene, which retains warmth and offers excellent protection during winter months, or they can be made from fabric that allows the horse’s legs to “breathe,” reducing the chances of overheating still providing adequate support when needed most.

10. Prevention of Heat-Related Injuries

Horses who engage in strenuous activities are at risk of suffering from heat-related injuries if precautions aren’t taken before and after physical exertion. 

There are several heat-related problems: increased body temperature, muscle cramping, reduced blood flow to limbs, and even tissue damage because of damaged vessels. 

All of these can be prevented with tendon boots when used during strenuous activity. 

Conclusion 

Horses can experience a wide range of issues with their tendons and ligaments, which is why it’s important to keep them as healthy as possible by wearing tendon boots. 

If your horse has any signs of injury or inflammation in the joints, we recommend consulting your vet immediately.