Rigid or inflexible boots have the potential to restrict joint movement, which in return can affect stride characteristics and performance, and possibly even compromise tendon function. Boots need to allow as much freedom of movement as possible while still providing enough protection.
Weight and Ability to Hold Water
The more weight added to a horse's leg, the more effort the horse will have to use to move that weight - resulting in unnecessary effort and wear and tear. It can also change the way the horse moves too. If the horse is likely to go through water, taking into consideration how much water will be held by the boot, will impact the weight on the horses' leg too.
Breathability and Insulation
Tendons naturally get warmer through the process of loading and unloading during exercise. The ideal boot would allow this heat to escape, instead of insulating it. It's a fairly well known concept, but also backed by research, that tendons are particularly sensitive to heat, and it can result in tendon damage and/or inflammation.
Fit of the Boot
The boot should of course be comfortable for the horse too - we know when we wear ill-fitting boots they can not only rub, but also cause you to change the way you move to try avoid the pressure the boot is putting on a certain area. A correct fit will also ensure debris and surface does not get underneath the boot to cause any irritation. Lastly, over-tightening of boots and/or bandages can cause restriction and rubbing too.
Our Unique 3-Phase Testing Process
Tri-Zone boots go through a 3-phase testing process, giving you the confidence that you are choosing the best leg protection for your horse. Materials are carefully selected to provide maximum protection but without being bulky, heavy and not make your horses legs hot and sweaty. Each individual layer in the Tri-Zone boot is researched and sourced for their advanced technical properties and tested in an independent laboratory before it goes anywhere near a horse's leg!
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A Guide to Horse Boots, Wraps and Chaps
As riders and horse owners, we ask our horses to live and work in ways that they would not in the wild. As a result we need to provide them with leg protection against injury from external impact, self-inflicted harm, and stress-related problems.
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.
The Tri-Zone Brushing Boots have undergone independent testing with Dr David Marlin to establish exactly how breathable they are, and how this compares to other similar boots on the market. The testing method was designed to measure the amount of moisture escaped from the boot. This was performed in a controlled laboratory environment to eliminate as many variables as possible that can be experienced when testing on a live horse.
