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Equilibrium Boots, Wraps & Chaps

Equilibrium at Derby House

Click here to see our range of Equilibrium products

Why 'boot up'?

Horses and ponies often need protection from leg injuries during ridden work. Trying to balance the weight of the rider can unbalance the horse which may lead to knocks and grazes. Poor conformation, the age of the horse, previous injuries, the type and degree of difficulty of the work they are being asked to perform can all increase the risk of leg injury. When selecting the type of leg protection to use, you should think about the type of horse, its age, its general way of going, its conformation and the work it is about to do, as this will determine the level of protection required.

The difference between boots, wraps and chaps.

There is a wide variety of equine leg protection on the market, which can make choosing the right one for you and your horse bewildering. Wraps and chaps hug the contours of the horses leg, they are generally lighter and more flexible than boots.

Wraps and chaps are closer to exercise bandages in fit and performance. Chaps differ from wraps in that they fit down over the horses hoof to give additional protection to the pastern and the heel. The soft and comfortable nature of wraps and chaps make them ideal for horses suffering from stiff joints and they provide gentle cushioning for sore splints, old injuries and scars.

Generally wraps and chaps are less hard wearing than boots, particularly for horses that brush, as they do not incorporate a hard strike pad. This is more than compensated for by the comfort they give your horse.

Whilst not as pliable as wraps or chaps, boots are generally tougher and more hard wearing. A boot will nearly always incorporate a strike pad either on the outside or just under the surface of the boot which has been made from vinyl. This makes the boot quite durable but has the disadvantage of making it rigid and inflexible.

New TRI-ZONE brushing boots use a resin nylon shell which keeps the boot flexible, without compromising on protection. Boots generally do not need to fit as closely as wraps and chaps, however care should still be taken to select the correct size for optimum results.

Our wraps and chaps are designed to fit snugly around the horse's legs so it is important that the correct size is selected. Take the measurements of your horse/pony's legs, then refer to the sizing charts for STRETCH & FLEX, EQUI-CHAPS and TRI-ZONE. We recommend trying the boots, wraps and chaps on clean, dry legs to check fit before use, as selecting the wrong size cannot be rectified once the product has been soiled.

What is Mud fever?

Mud fever is the name given to a common skin complaint that affects horses and ponies during winter and early spring. It is bacterial infection of the skin that causes painful sores and scabs to form. The continual wetting of the skin causes a breakdown of the protective barrier of the epidermis allowing the bacterium to enter. Horses and ponies standing for hours in muddy, wet paddocks and at gates are a common sight during the winter months and early spring. It is in these conditions that mud fever thrives.

As with any bacterial infection, mud fever can become a very serious condition very quickly. The legs can become swollen and sore. Open sores can become infected causing secondary complications. Such is the level of damaged skin, these open sores can become very difficult to heal.

Equi-Chaps are the best way to keep your horse's legs clean, dry and protected, which is ideal if you want to ride straight away. Prevention is always better than cure; especially where mud fever is concerned and Equi-Chaps are the solution. Covering the lower part of the leg from under the heel, Equi-Chaps fit like a second skin keeping your horse's legs dry and mud free as well as offering protection from knocks and grazes when turned out.

Made of Stomatex , Equi-Chaps are flexible, breathable and can be worn for long periods of time - up to 12 hours with minimum risk of rubbing as the material is so soft.