Education Zone

Caring for horses in winter can be tough, whether you're stabling your horses or turning them out... or just want to ride! We’ve put together a few tips on how to look after your stabled horse in winter, which brings about a few challenges. The number one challenge when stabling horses, is likely to be stiffness and or lack of circulation. The easy way to explain how they might feel is if you think about how you feel on a flight. You might not only feel stiff after sitting for long periods of time, but your feet and legs may begin to swell too – making you feel quite uncomfortable. The obvious solution would be to keep your stabled horse as mobile as possible. One way might be to use a Munch Block in a Munch Net. It encourages them to use their lips, neck and back in ways similar to when they are browsing in the field. Take a look on how to use it and the benefits here. Other ideas include: Using treat balls Putting hay in different areas (read our blog on feeding at variable heights here) and at different heights Taking them out for frequent bouts of exercise/hand walking Hand-grazing several times Sometimes it’s not always possible to keep stabled horses moving if you’re not around. In this instance, using a boot or chap can help. It will provide gentle compression to the lower leg, that can help keep it warm, this in turn will help keep the circulation moving. Stable Chaps are perfect for this, but if your horse needs a bit more help then Magnetic Chaps might be a better option. Hind & Hock Magnetic Chaps also provide coverage higher up their hind legs. Another common challenge when stabling horses is keeping their brain occupied. Keeping your horse occupied and mentally stimulated in the stable will help. Again, using a Munch Block in a net will ‘activate’ their natural foraging behaviour. Our Portion Pacer Haynets also offer a slower feeding net to keep your horse eating, and therefore occupied, for longer too. Other ways of doing this include treat balls or even just hiding carrots. Hanging the munch net in a spacious area (i.e. not against a wall) will make your horse have to work harder for it too. Sprinkling SimplyIrresisitible over hay or haylage will keep your horse occupied as they forage for it. It will benefit their digestive system too with the probiotic it contains!  Other challenges also include:  Feed and water freezing.  Using a tennis ball or similar in your water can help keep the water moving and less likely to freeze. The larger the body of water, the less likely it is to freeze too, so if you use a bucket, using the biggest one you dare could have it's benefits. If you use an automatic drinker it might be a wise idea to have a bucket of water too on colder nights as another option in case the water supplying the drinker freezes. You can also help insulate your water bucket, using bedding or even a Bucket Cosi. While these are predominantly used to help stop feed freezing, using them around your water bucket could help with their insulated material.  Keeping a calm environment. It isn't natural to keep horses in stables for long periods of time, but sometimes it's unavoidable and the best form of management we can offer. Allowing them to see other horses, playing the radio, installing a stable mirror (with safety glass) or even just letting them interact with other horses on the yard where appropriate can help satisfy those social and inquisitive behaviour needs.  In conclusion, you don't need to make expensive alterations to your stables to make a difference. Simply using a few techniques to keep them occupied, moving and socialised can help keep your horse happier in the stable throughout the colder months. 

Massage therapy isn’t just a luxury for humans; horses too can experience incredible benefits, including one that often surprises owners and riders — falling asleep during a session! Here’s a closer look at why massage has this effect and the physiological changes that create such deep relaxation. 1. Stress Relief Through Endorphin Release One of the most well-documented benefits of massage is its ability to reduce stress. During a massage, the horse’s body releases endorphins, often referred to as the body’s natural “feel-good” hormones. These chemicals are produced by the pituitary gland and are designed to promote relaxation and suppress stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This biochemical shift not only helps the horse feel calm but also has a direct impact on their pain levels. Endorphins act as natural analgesics, meaning they reduce the perception of pain. As pain decreases, the horse naturally enters a more relaxed state — paving the way for the drowsiness or sleepiness you might observe during a massage. 2. Improved Circulation and Cardiovascular Relaxation Massage therapy encourages better blood flow and circulation throughout the horse’s body. This increase in circulation leads to more efficient oxygen delivery and waste removal in muscles, which reduces tension and promotes healing. Interestingly, endorphin release also contributes to a reduction in blood pressure, which signals the cardiovascular system to operate more efficiently. As a result, the heart doesn’t need to work as hard, leading to a lowered heart rate. You might notice your horse beginning to take longer, deeper breaths, which is a strong indicator of relaxation. The combination of reduced blood pressure, slower breathing, and a calmer heart rate creates the ideal conditions for sleep. 3. The Role of Heart Rate Monitoring A horse’s heart rate is a key parameter to measure when assessing their response to stress, relaxation, or any physical intervention. During a massage, a noticeable drop in heart rate is often observed. This is a clear sign that the horse is transitioning into a deeply relaxed state. Paired with the rhythmic, soothing movements of the massage itself, this physiological calm often culminates in the horse dozing off. Did you know, in independent testing, the Equilibrium Massage Pad showed a significant reduction in heart rate in horses wearing the pad?  Conclusion Massage is a powerful tool for equine care, offering benefits that go far beyond muscle relief. From lowering stress hormones to enhancing circulation and supporting cardiovascular health, the therapeutic effects of massage can significantly improve a horse’s physical and mental state. If your horse falls asleep during a session, it’s a clear sign they’re experiencing the ultimate relaxation — and reaping all the rewards that come with it. Adding regular massage to your horse’s care routine could be the key to keeping them happy, healthy, and stress-free.  

Caring for horses in winter can be tough! We’ve put together a few tips on how to look after your horses living out 24/7 or those who are just turned out for a period of time. Turning your horse out in the snow. Some horse owners may decide not to turn out in the snow due to the risks. While fresh snow is fine for most horses, compact, icy snow can certainly cause a problem. As snow starts to melt, it can also cause the field to become incredibly wet and slippery. Here’s a few tips for dealing with the snow: Using grit or sand on areas which are likely to get slippery, i.e., gateways and tracks. Vaseline or similar under their feet can help prevent snow balling up and compressing in their feet. Keep a hoof pick at the field to clear their feet as much as possible. Make sure they have enough to eat. While horses will certainly browse for grass under the snow, eating forage will help ‘ignite’ their internal heating system to keep them warm. A warm settled horse is less likely to run around in the snow and wet. If your horse does tend to, a protective turnout chap might help. As the snow melts and the field becomes increasingly wet, you might want to think about shielding your horses’ legs from the elements. Using a breathable turnout chap can help create a barrier to keep skin healthy until the field has dried up a bit.  Leg protection for horses on limited turnout. While this might apply for ‘field hooligans’ who live out 24/7, horses on limited turnout in winter may be ‘fresh’ and exuberant. We know their legs are precious and easily injured. Using a protective turnout boot, such as our Hardy Chaps, will help reduce the impact of any potential injuries. They also provide some protection against the elements too, keeping legs drier and less muddy. Leg protection for horses living out 24/7. There are 2 main considerations you may want to use turnout boots or chaps for when your horse is turned out all the time. Skin protection and health. Being out in the wet and cold (and snow!) takes a toll on skin. There are arguments for and against feathers, which may provide a natural barrier for some horses. Using a breathable turnout boot, such as the Close Contact Chaps, to keep legs drier with the majority of mud off to keep skin healthier. This may be of benefit for horses prone to Mud Fever. Stiffness. Especially for the golden oldies out there. While we don’t want to wrap them up in cotton wool, stiff joints can be tough for horses living out. Using a turnout chap to keep the legs warm and dry, such as our Hardy Chaps, can help those stiff achy joints. Access to water, especially for horses living out 24/7. If you horse is just out for the day, you can break the ice on their water and that should last them in the normal UK winter temperatures. However, if your horse is living out 24/7, their water could potentially be frozen overnight… Using a tennis ball or a plastic bottle with water and salt in it will help keep the water moving. This helps to prevent it freezing. Other things to consider: Don't just break it, take the ice out. Using a bigger trough will reduce the likelihood of freezing over.  Other things to think about for your horse in the field: If they are out 24/7, make sure you check their rugs twice a day. Additional forage. They might need a bit of extra help or something to keep them busy if the grass is limited. Munch blocks are perfect for a fibre boost and contain added vitamins and minerals. If they aren’t getting regular hard feed, they may need a multivitamin. Essential vitamins and minerals help maintain healthy skin, bones, muscles, and digestion.  Is your horse in the stable overnight? Read our blog here about caring for your stabled horse in the winter.  Find out more about our Simply Nutrition range here. Find out more about our turnout boots here.

We look into the benefits of massage for horse riders, used alongside heat, to target the four main areas horse riders tend to commonly suffer with Hannah Donnelly, Chartered Physiotherapist BSc (Hons).

Product testing is an important part of our company DNA, and while scientific testing is important to us, knowing exactly what horse owners (and most importantly - their horses!) think of the products and the benefit they provide them is just as vital too! Our Massage Pad Heatsense development followed this same protocol. Working with equine physiotherapists and electrical experts, we designed the Heatsense to deliver therapeutic levels of heat consistently, but also SAFELY. Once we were confident in this, the Pad was trialled both in house and out of house by a number of different horses in different disciplines. Once the concept was tweaked and finalised, we took the product on the road and here's just some of the reviews from those who have tried it!  Emily Mustow Eventing I was lucky enough to be one of the riders who got to trial the Heatsense whilst at Osberton International competing in the CCI2* with 21 year old Prime Time II. At his age, getting through trot both trot ups was a little nerve wracking. However the HeatSense, along with the magnetic boots, helped keep Fred relaxed, warm and supple which meant he flew through both trot ups easily. On dressage day, Fred wore the heat sense about an hour before his test while he was being plaited up. He was so relaxed and seemed to really enjoy it. He then went on to do his best ever international dressage test to score a 33. He was so cooperative and on side. He can be a real nervous horse in this phase, so for him to finally show what he can do was very emotional. I will definitely be getting my own Heat Sense ready for next season!  Tamsin O'Connor Aero (Riversides Caballero) is a 15.3hh, 9 year old, Warmblood x Part-Bred Arab, chestnut gelding. It was a bit touch and go for the BRC Championships as it became apparent the week before that he had tweaked his back and required an emergency chiro treatment the night before we were leaving! However, we won both our Prelim Championships the day before our Music Championship, which was amazing, but he still felt a little tentative. On the Sunday I was very grateful that we had booked the new Heatsense pad to trial before my music tests. We finished 3rd in the Novice with 70%, and to top off an already incredible weekend we WON our Prelim with 73% - they were big classes and many superb horses competing so never did I imagine we could do so well! After using the Heatsense pad he really felt great, tried hard, and absolutely gave me everything.  Sophie Wymark This massage pad is incredible, my horse instantly showed releases when the massage and heat pads were turned on. She felt much more supple over her back and quarters during her warm-up when we trialled it at the British Riding Club NAF Five Star Introductory Championships. It has been added to her Christmas list!  Lauren Lanik - Adventures of Megatron Mega has been lucky enough to trial the Equilibrium Products HeatSense Massage Pad over the last month or so. I bought the standard massage pad for Mega over 2 years ago and I’ve always seen benefits of using it so was intrigued to see the differences vs the new HeatSense pad. - I love the extra length of the pad to provide full coverage across their entire back - the self temperature regulating heat element of the pad gives me complete reassurance that Mega is benefitting from the optimum temperature for her muscles - the elasticated belly straps make securing the pad fast and easy - no having to adjust them if you’ve put the pad on over a rug - the additional motors in the massage pad seemed to noticeably provide further relaxation vs the standard pad - the option to run just the massage function or heat or run them together! Full multi purpose/use item making it great value Katie Rogers Equine Physiotherapist - Founder of Sky Equine Rehabilitation We are very lucky to have been given the opportunity of trialling for a few weeks, the new Equilibrium Massage Pad HeatSense.  This was launched at the beginning of this month and so far it is proving very  much loved by our patients. Most of them have experienced it now and they all fall asleep.  We use an array of the Equilibrium Products anyway for the physio and rehab of our horses and the addition of the heat to the massage pad is a welcomed one. Each of our horses have an individual programme of treatments and plans and the massage pad features heavily in it.  It works amazingly at helping to reduce tension in their back, especially when on box rest and maintaining a good level of circulation.  With the heat addition, it helps to warm the muscles as well as providing that massage effect. We love it at Sky Equine and so do our horses.  It's on the Christmas Wish List

Horse fly masks are a common piece of equipment for horses, but many people don't realize that they also provide UV protection. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of UV protection for horses and how horse fly masks can help. We will also provide some tips on choosing the right fly mask for your needs.  UV rays can damage the skin and eyes of horses. Preventing sunburn. Horses can get sunburned, just like humans. Sunburn can cause pain, inflammation, and even skin cancer. Horses with pink skin are more susceptible to this, however prolonged exposure can still cause damage for all horses.  Protecting the eyes. UV rays can damage the eyes, leading to cataracts, corneal ulcers, and other problems. Just as you might buy sunglasses with UV protection for you own eyes, horse equivalents are available too!  Preventing photosensitization. Photosensitization is a condition that occurs when a horse's skin is overexposed to UV rays. It can cause the skin to become red, itchy, and painful.  UV and Headshaking.  UV light can be a trigger for headshaking in horses. Headshaking is a condition in which a horse shakes its head violently, often in response to a trigger such as wind, sunlight, or dust. The exact cause of headshaking is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of factors, including: Inflammation of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is the fifth cranial nerve and is responsible for sensation in the face. Inflammation of this nerve can cause pain, which can trigger headshaking. Allergies. Allergies to pollen, dust, or other environmental factors can also trigger headshaking. Nerve damage. Damage to the nerves in the head and neck can also cause headshaking.  Find out more about headshaking here.  Horse fly masks and rugs can provide UV protection.  Differing levels of UV protection are available. 100% UV is difficult to achieve in a fly mask as these are generally made from mesh to ensure visibility. The holes in the mesh will naturally allow some UV in - however if there weren't holes it would be unlikely that your horse will be able to see. Fly rugs with UV protection are commonly used not just for flies - but to reduce bleaching to your horses coat caused by the sun's rays. Think of it like garden furniture which usually has UV resistant fabric. The materials colour would fade much more quickly when left in the sun without any UV protection properties, when compared to UV resistant material.  There are a variety of horse fly masks available, so it is important to choose one that fits well and is comfortable for your horse.  Before choosing a mask for your horse, you should consider your horses full needs - do they have sensitive skin, are they easily irritated, what are the 'must-have' features for your fly mask? You might want to just shield their eyes, in which case a mask without ears or a nosepiece might do, however other masks are available offering more coverage if you need it. Other things such as padding, a close fit, the UV rating and protect guarantee are just some of the things you should consider. Read more about choosing the perfect fly mask here.  Conclusion Horse fly masks are an important piece of equipment for horses, and they can also provide UV protection. By choosing the right horse fly mask and cleaning it regularly, you can help protect your horse from the harmful effects of UV rays.  Tips: Choose a horse fly mask that fits well and is comfortable for your horse. Clean your horse fly mask regularly to prevent the build-up of bacteria and mould. Replace your horse fly mask if it becomes damaged. Apply sunscreen to your horse's exposed skin, such as its nose, even if they are covered by a horse fly mask. Where relevant, horses should be kept in the shade during the hottest part of the day in extreme temperatures. This will help to reduce their exposure to UV rays. Shade, be it natural or artificial, should always be accessible to your horse.

The Brushing Boot. Usually the first boot you buy for your new horse or pony, and the one that’s probably been around the longest too. Traditionally used to protect the inside of your horse’s cannon bone and fetlock against brushing, these boots are simple to fit, quick to take off and do their job.  But could they be better? Brushing Boot Materials:  Usually made of neoprene, there isn’t much to a brushing boot. There’s normally a strike guard on the inside to protect against brushing (where one leg strikes or ‘brushes’ the inside of the other leg).  Neoprene is generally a non-breathable material with a ‘closed cell structure’. Not only can this cause your horses’ legs and tendons to get hot, but it can also cause them to sweat more, leading to skin and tendon damage (find out why it’s important to keep them cool and dry here).  There are also some horses who are allergic to neoprene. So, for such a commonly used boot used for such a variety of disciplines – why did the industry choose neoprene as a suitable material for horses’ legs?  Although it compromises some vital aspects in horse leg care, the material does offer some benefits too. It generally doesn’t hold water, and it is normally flexible and comfortable for your horse to wear.  Brushing Boot Fit:  While a lot of horses can brush the inside of their legs, the rest of the leg is left vulnerable to overreaching, or potentially even hitting objects. Sometimes if you’re out hacking and need to open a gate your horse may step into it, you may decide to jump a log out in the woods and your horse could misjudge and hit it with the front of its legs. Your horse could slip causing their back legs to go underneath them, so they may want more protection down the back of their legs. Brushing boots provide what they are designed to – protection from brushing! But depending on the horse, the activity, and the circumstance, this isn’t always enough and there’s certainly room for improvement.  What is the answer to a modern-day brushing boot?  There are certain things we expect from a ‘modern’ boot.  Comfortable fit including flexibility while staying light on the horses’ leg. Breathable material to keep the legs cool and sweat free. Protective material to give some cushioning to the leg. Easy to use, maintain and long lasting.  Introducing the Tri-Zone Brushing Boot Expect MORE from a Brushing Boot. More breathable, lightweight and flexible, these boots have tested protection and are the MOST breathable in the Tri-Zone Range. Easy to use and care for, they are ideal for gentle schooling, hacking and turnout!  The Tri-Zone All Sports Boots A small 'step-up' from the Brushing Boot, providing all round tested protection for all disciplines – whether you’re hacking down the road or jumping cross country! With no neoprene, tested for breathability, protection and flexibility, all while remaining lightweight and comfortable for your horse to wear.  Rated 5/5 on Feefo "The Sport Boots have been tested jumping, cross country and on fun rides numerous river crossing where the boots stayed on and felt fantastic. The boots are easy to wash and would highly recommend."

Some horses, if in discomfort or particularly sensitive, may find massage over stimulating. Using heat on its own is a great tool in these conditions as it is very non invasive, and is usually accepted well by even the most sensitive of souls. Heat should be concentrated on a small area for best effect. For other horses, its a great tool either on its own or combined with massage that reaps several benefits. Lets explore them! The Benefits of Heat. Heat can help to: Support healthy muscles and soft tissue. Warm up muscles or joints before exercise. Maintain lymphatic function. Increase metabolic and nerve activity. But what does this mean? In essence, heat can help our horses feeling good and promotes healthy muscles, so that they can perform at their best. Not only that, but it gives some of that necessary R&R time that we all need. Which Horses can Benefit from Heat? In short - any horse! But here's a few specifics: -             Older horses. -             Horses that are slow to warm up. -             Young horses who are learning new things. -             Horses undergoing retraining and recruiting new muscles. -             Those returning to work after a period of rest. -             Horses working hard and/or competing.     -             For any horse or pony to enjoy!  How to Deliver EFFECTIVE Heat for Your Horse. Providing heat is one thing, but providing reliable, repeatable and safe heat that is effective is another! To have an effect it is thought the tissue temperature needs to increase by at least 3 to 5°C from the resting temperature (Bockstahler et al, 2004). Our solution to this is a handy, battery operated product. The Massage Mitt Hotspot has been tested and is achieving an average of 8.7°C increase to skin temperature whilst still remaining well within the safe limits. Comparing it to other alternatives currently used for horses, we look at the various challenges associated with these and how the Hotspot can help. Comparing traditional heat methods to the Massage Pad Heatsense and Massage Mitt Hotspot  Negatives of Hot Water Bottle/Wheat Bag Positives of Massage Pad Heatsense & Massage Mitt Hotspot Unpredictable temperatures. Set to a specific target temperature with a cut off to prevent overheating. Starts very hot – can be a shock to the skin. Starts at ambient temperature and gradually increases to pre-determined maximum temperature. Starts to cool down quickly. Set to maintain correct temperature. A lot of heat lost to the atmosphere. Insulated to help reduce heat loss. Need access to hot water/microwave. Battery operated to deliver numerous sessions. Covers need to be washed – not straightforward with a wheat bag. Easy to wipe clean - and you could even use the Hotspot on yourself!    Heated products in the Equilibrium Massage Range The Massage Mitt Hotspot Offering comforting heat and massage options, the Hotspot soothes and relaxes your horses hardworking muscles.  The choice is yours – pick from heat and 2 different types of massage. Tailor the massage with 3 different strengths. Fits into your daily routine with a 10-minute programme. There’s no muscle you can’t reach. Battery operated to take it with you wherever you go. Shop Massage Mitt Hotspot Here The Massage Pad Heatsense Combining reliable, tested, and intelligent heat with proven massage, the Heatsense is a great addition to your horse's daily routine to maintain good back health. Choose from heat, massage or both at the same time. Reliable, tested therapeutic heat output with sensors to the heart turn off/on depending on your horse’s temperature. Heat targeted to the most common areas of weakness. 6 Massage motors evenly distributed across the pad. Battery operated to take it with you wherever you go. Shop Massage Pad Heatsense Here

Jemma got in touch with us on Instagram with some photos of her horse Monty before he used the Massage Pad, compared to after. We were astonished by the immediate clear difference in how he looked so much more comfortable, we asked her to tell us a little bit more about him and their journey! Introducing Jemma & Monty Hey, my names Jemma. I’m 30 and I’m from (the sometimes) sunny Cornwall, I work as a HCA in the NHS and I’ve owned & ridden horses from a young age on and off, but have found my love for it again the last couple years after an awful riding accident left both me & my horse Monty with shattered confidence & no trust in each other at all, & so started the long & bumpy journey to getting back into the saddle & restoring our confidence again. Monty is a 17hh, 13yr old ID x TB & I’ve had the pleasure of owning him for 8 years now, despite it being pretty bumpy at times, he’s a horse with so much love to give, he has an incredibly huge character & many quirks too, he’s actually quite well known as the “Horse who sits like a dog” and actually made it into national newspapers being compared to Eeyore the donkey for the way he “sits” & takes in everything around him ? Since using the Massage Pad on Monty I have seen such huge improvements in his overall wellbeing and I just wanted to share with you those improvements, it’s the best thing I’ve honestly ever invested in and it’s now a strong part in our daily routine. Monty is so sensitive, cold backed and has also had the tendency to stand underneath himself which has caused many problems and issues with his back, however since using the Massage Pad and incorporating stretches into his routine, the difference has been incredible. His back is so much more comfortable in all aspects, he’s nowhere near as sensitive, he isn’t uncomfortable when tacking up, he doesn’t arch his back or appear uncomfortable when it comes to me getting on him to ride, he warms up so much better and his overall general wellbeing has significantly improved. I honestly can’t thank you guys enough, I just wanted to share a before and after photo around a year apart since we’ve started using the Massage Pad and I think you’ll agree that the change and difference is incredible. Onwards and Upwards Because of the many issues we faced with our accident & riding confidence in each other, Monty is still very much a blank canvas, but in the last year or so since we’ve really got back into our riding, he’s showing that he has lovely movement & 3 nice paces, once he puts his mind to it. So, for now we are continuing to work on our flatwork & schooling & building him up over the winter period with hopes next year of dabbling in a little bit of dressage or showing, he’s a big & powerful horse who can really strut his stuff when he wants to, so who know... watch this space? Do you have a story you would like to share with us? Get in touch using the link below.

From rescuing to rehabilitating to rehoming, Redwings Horse Sanctuary is a charity 100% funded by donations, with all funds going towards helping horses in desperate need. Redwings Caldecott is the largest Redwings visitor centre in the UK and is a forever home to nearly over 100 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. For many of these four-legged furry friends, their forever home will be at the sanctuary, with those that are fully healthy and have been successfully rehabilitated, are put on the path to finding loving homes too! Our Team Volunteer Day at Redwings. Back in August 2021, the team here at Equilibrium Products ventured to Caldecott near Great Yarmouth, for a day of volunteering at Redwings Horse Sanctuary. The team helped throughout the morning, doing various jobs including gardening and tidying the memorial garden, as well as sorting and labelling through various preloved items that had been donated that would be then sold on to help raise more funds for the charity. Thank you for your donations! As our day of volunteering came to an end, we took this as a perfect opportunity to present Redwings with our donation of £3,097.77, with a special thanks going to all our lovely customers who purchased our Crunchit Advent Calendar and Christmas Crackers back in 2020; to whom without we wouldn’t have been able to present such a large donation. There's still a way to donate! You can still donate now with every purchase on our website!

The Tri-Zone range of boots are trusted by owners and riders to offer tested protection for their horse. The Tri-Zone range undergoes independent testing to ensure each boot is up to it's respective job - whether its a Brushing Boot or a boot designed for High Impact. Regardless of the protection level, each boot design is maximised to ensure it remains as breathable, lightweight and flexible as possible to ensure freedom of movement and comfort for your horse.  Read on to see what each boot is suitable for, and which would be best for you. The Tri-Zone Brushing Boot. Expect more from a 'traditional' brushing boot - these boots are the MOST breathable in the Tri-Zone range. Shaped and tested to protect against brushing injuries to the inside of the leg, these boots are ideal for gentle schooling, hacking and turnout for horses at LOW RISK of injury. If your horse is young, a bit 'all legs' or participates in a high impact sport such as cross country or polo, you would want to consider a boot with more protection in terms of a higher level of protection covering more areas of the leg.  The Tri-Zone All Sports Boots. This boot is essentially the ‘step up’ from the Brushing Boot. Well suited to the all rounder who does a bit of everything, but equally the happy hacker who enjoys long or fast rides, or goes through water! The All Sports Boots provide protection to the entire lower leg, including an internal strike guard over the tendon area, all while remaining lightweight, breathable and flexible. These boots are great for cross country, jumping, schooling, hacking or even turnout! Available in multiple sizes, including XXS, Medium Wide and Medium Narrow to fit all varieties of horses and ponies.  The Tri-Zone Impact Sports Boots. If you want maximum protection for your horse, this is the boot for you. While normally recommended for high impact sports such as cross country, polo or racing, if your horse is accident prone, ‘all legs’ or if you’re concerned about them – this boot could certainly work for you. Unlike both the Brushing Boots and All Sports, the Impact Sports Boots have a specific hind boot for maximum coverage. They have a similar make up to the All Sports Boots, but feature thicker material, as well as external strike guards placed in high-risk areas. The Tri-Zone Open Fronted Boots. Essentially an Impact Sports Boot with a open front, these tendon boots provide maximum protection to the tendon area, as well as some protection to the sides of the leg, leaving the front of the leg open and more vulnerable. Commonly used for show jumping but could also be considered for other activities due to the open front nature allowing more air too the leg and the potential to keep it cooler than the Impact Sports Boots. Designed to pair perfectly with the Tri-Zone Fetlock Boots, which have a smooth lining and measurements to comply with governing body requirements*.  Still not sure? Get in touch for personal advice. *Always check with the relevant rule books