When applying closures, do the middle one first, finishing with the bottom and top straps.

Shipping boots are an easy thing to ignore in the rush of getting a horse ready to load into the trailer, but it’s just not worth the risk.

Horses trailering without shipping boots can hurt themselves if they kick, scramble during the trip or have trouble loading or unloading, resulting in skinned legs and coronet bands or worse.

Remember that some horses may do better wrapped in standing bandages for travel if they tend to stock up or just need more support than shipping boots can offer.  Shipping boots are really for protecting the legs, not for actual leg support. 

A Good Boot
We found a few things that make a successful shipping boot.  We like the hook-and-loop closures, such as Velcro straps, that all the shipping boots had on them, but we don’t want too many of them. Three bigger closures, like the ones on Weaver Leather’s boots or that Dover Saddlery Pros, hold the boot together and are easy to use. 

Also, we like hoof guards, also called scuff plates or striking plates. Hoof guards are basically just a section of tough-wearing Cordura nylon, vinyl, or leather that cover the hoof at the base of the boot.  Without them, though, shipping boots can get caught as the horses move and won’t offer as much protection for coronet bands and hooves.

With the guards, your horse’s feet look better at the end of the ride, as he’s had more protection throughout.  These guards, or scuff plates, also protect the bottom of the boot from urine and manure.

Fleece is a traditional lining for shipping boots, and it’s certainly cozy for the horses.  It keeps legs warm and alleviates any fears of rubbing. However, fleece catches so much bedding and dirt that it’s not ideal for lining a shipping boot, which is constantly exposed to these things. 

Nowadays, the nylon linings used in some shipping boots offer just as much warmth and comfort as fleece, so we don’t think it’s worth the extra cleaning.  If you’re a fleece-lover, however, a stiff brush works pretty well for cleaning off debris and dirt.

Most shipping boots can be hosed off adequately for routine cleaning. If the boots are machine washable, be sure you close the hook-and-loop straps before putting them in the washing machine. 

Horse Journal Top Picks In Fly Gear Fly Masks: Turnout: Cashel Crusader (www.cashelcompany.com, 800-333-2202); Horse Sense (www.pet-sense.com, 480-483-2217. Best Buy: Wrangler Professional’s Choice (www.profchoice.com 800-331-9421); Absorbine UltraShield (www.absorbine.com, 800-628-9653). For Riding: Cashel Crusader Quiet Ride (www.cashelcompany.com, 800-333-2202). Fly Sheets: Textilene Type: Schneiders Dura-Mesh Open Front Turnout (www.sstack.com, 800-365-1311); Glover Fly Sheet With Belly Band (www.gloverequine.com, 800-565-6646). Best Buy: Valley Vet Supply Brookside (www.valleyvet.com, 800-419-9524. Soft Mesh Type: Classic Cover-Ups Club Ultra-Fly (www.classiccover-ups.com, 610-932-9400) Saratoga Summer Turnout (www.horseworks.com, 800-848-1914). Best Buy: Schneiders Dura-Tech Interlock Mesh Euro Fit (www.sstack.com, 800-365-1311). Fly Boots: Royal Riders: (www.royalriders.com, 800-437-6676).

Put It To Use • Skip fleece; get a nylon interior instead. • Look for three large, secure closures. • Consider hoof guards to offer better protection. • Take time to acclimate your horse to his boots. • Fasten middle closures first, then bottom and top. Get Him Accustomed To It If your horse has never had shipping boots on before, he may need some time to get used to them. Start slowly, showing him a front boot and rubbing it in a “safe” spot, like his shoulder area. Repeat until the horse is calm. (This is Sacking-Out 101.) Be sure he’s used to the rip of Velcro next. Just hook and unhook the boot a few times. Next, move the boot down his leg and place it around the leg. If he’s quiet, go ahead and place it around his leg and close the boot properly. Apply the other front boot similarly. You can then lead him around for a bit, but expect that he may walk funny at first while he gets used to it. He may also over-react and leap into the air, so be prepared. Once he’s used to the front boots, go ahead and repeat the technique for the back legs (you should have a helper hold his head). If possible, practice loading and unloading in and out of the trailer before your trip, to complete the breaking in.

The Right Fit
Sizing depends on the brand of boot. We’d like to see industry standards, of course, but that’s not imperative, since the real key is that your horse has plenty of coverage. 

For example, JPC Equestrian’s Tuff Rider boots only come in one size. The Toklats come in sizes from mini small, 8 ½" inches, to 18" for a large horse (these have an extra closure).  The Schneiders Saddlery boots just come in one size, with the front boots at 23" tall and the back ones at 32".  And the Pessoas come in horse and pony sizes.  Weaver boots come in small, medium, and large, ranging from the small with a 19" front boot to the large, with a 21" front boot.  (Rear-leg boots are obviously always taller.) 

As a general guide, figure that a small boot will usually fit a 13- to 15-hand horse, a medium boot will fit a 15- to 17-hand horse, and a large boot will fit horses that are 17 hands and up.

Determining which boots are front and which are back can be confusing at first, if you’re not used to them.  Basically, the ones that look “bent,” are typically the rear boots, shaped to fit over a hock.  Tabs go to the outside, facing back—like they do on polo wraps, splint boots, and stirrup-spur straps—always pull back against the bone, not forward against the tendon. 

When you apply the closures, be sure to attach the middle closures first, then determine that you have the boot in the right spot with maximum coverage. That makes it easier to adjust the boot if necessary. Then you can close the rest of the straps, being sure they’re properly secured to the boot.

Bottom Line
The boot that fit all our criteria—hoof guards, plenty of coverage, three big hook-and-loop closures, and no-fleece interior lining—were the Dover Saddlery Pro Shipping Boots.  They cost a reasonable $89.90.  No shavings or straw clung to these, so the horses got off the trailer looking as fresh as when they got on. 

If economy's your thing, check Toklat’s quilt-lined shipping boots.  They do not have hoof guards (although we’re told they may on future models), but these boots are well-made, nicely shaped, and offer plenty of leg/hoof coverage.  At $39.95, we think they’re truly a Best Buy.