FAQ about boots and bandages for horses

1. Can I wash my hard shell boots in the washing machine?

Hard shell boots can be washed in the washing machine without any problems, as they are usually very robust. To protect your washing machine, you should not put them in the machine more often than necessary. It is often sufficient to clean the boots after riding in a bucket of water and with a brush or to hose them off under a jet of water. Furthermore, we recommend putting the boots in a laundry bag or a closed pillowcase so that they are not thrown against the drum so much.

2. Can I wash my hoof boots in the washing machine?

Careful maintenance and regular cleaning of hoof boots will prolong their longevity, as you can read in our leg protection care guide. In general, many hoof boot models are machine-washable. At the same time, you should bear in mind that hoof boots can have a very strong odour of their own and a possible idle cycle before the next wash is recommended. Also, spinning the boots back and forth against the drum can cause damage to the washing machine. Although a machine wash may work for hoof boots, cleaning with a bucket of water and a dandy brush or dish brush is perfectly adequate. If you want to be on the safe side and get all the sand grains out of the pads, you can wash your hoof boots in the washing machine.

3. Can therapy boots with ceramic fibres be washed in the washing machine?

Therapy boots with integrated ceramic fibres can be washed in the washing machine at max. 40°C on the gentle cycle. Avoid fabric softener, bleach or other chemical detergents. Afterwards, therapy boots may only be air-dried – the dryer can destroy the fibres and is therefore a no-no for therapy boots.

4. Are boots and bandages suitable for the dryer?

Most boots and bandages are suitable for tumble drying. Exceptions are therapy boots and elastic bandages, which must not be put in the dryer under any circumstances.

5. Are boots harmful to the horse?

The function of boots is to protect the horse’s leg from external influences such as blunt trauma. Contrary to earlier opinions, boots and bandages do not have the function of supporting the horse’s leg, but merely shield it from the environment. Boots and bandages therefore have a perfectly justified use.

However, if applied incorrectly and too tightly, they can damage the horse’s leg. On the one hand, if they are buckled too tightly, they can massively disrupt the horse’s lymph flow, which is why waste products and toxins can no longer drain away. On the other hand, there can be a strong rise in temperature under the boots, which damages the tendons underneath due to overheating. A warming function of the boots can be useful in order to better prepare the tendons for the subsequent strain through warmth and to make them more durable. However, heat accumulation can have a negative effect on the horse’s legs.

This way you avoid boots being harmful to the horse:

Avoid heat build-up by using breathable materials or spacer fabric.
Do not leave the boots and bandages on the leg longer than necessary.
Close them only enough so that they do not slip, but no skin is pinched or the blood and lymph flow is obstructed

6. Forgot to take off boots overnight – what now?

Bandages and boots should only be left on the leg as long as they are needed. Under no circumstances should they be left on the horse overnight or at rest. Bandages and boots can severely restrict the horse’s lymphatic flow, which is why filled legs can occur. This can damage the underlying tissue.

Exceptions to this are therapy and stable boots, which are designed to stay on the horse’s leg for an extended period of time, even when at rest.

7. Fat legs due to boots in the field?

Turnout boots can protect the horse’s legs from being kicked by other horses in the fetlock area during normal turnout. Since they sometimes remain on the horse’s legs for several hours, they must be sufficiently breathable and offer a high degree of comfort. Therefore, when buying boots for turnout, pay attention to these properties so that the horse’s lymph flow is not interrupted.

Nevertheless, keep in mind that the boots should only stay on the horse’s leg as long as necessary so that the sensitive lymphatic system is not overstrained and chronic swelling may occur. If necessary, talk to your vet about whether it makes sense to turn the horse out with boots on.

8. What happens if I bandage incorrectly?

In the worst case, permanent damage can occur to the horse’s leg, such as chronic swelling or a tendency to cellulitis (inflammation of the connective tissue). In general, bandages should only be used with leg wraps in order to compensate or soften pressure peaks of the wrapped bandage. If the bandage is wrapped too tightly and too wrinkled without a pad, the continuous lymph flow is interrupted. After unwinding, the horse’s leg first appears slimmer. This is because the pressure of the bandage has prevented fluid from being stored. However, if the bandage is permanently applied incorrectly, long-term damage is inevitable.

Be especially careful with stable bandages that are left on the horse overnight. Talk to your veterinarian beforehand about whether this makes sense in exceptional cases. Horses with a tendency to filled legs may be even more damaged by thick woollen bandages instead of the opposite, i.e. the legs may become less swollen. After all, there is only one thing that helps against filled legs: movement.

9. How should boots fit correctly?

Velcro fasteners are on the outside and face backwards when closed.

Boots with an additional flap that covers the Velcro fasteners face downwards when closed.
The same applies to boots with straps or quick release fasteners.
Boots must not be able to move or slip out of place.
Boots must not cut into the skin or cause bruising: Tighten the Velcro fasteners without using too much force.

10. Are boots allowed on wet/dirty horse legs?

Dirt and moisture can cause boots and bandages to rub on the horse’s skin. Keep both the leg protection and the horse’s leg clean and dry and clean the leg protection after each use. You can find out more about cleaning leg protectors in our care guide.

Be especially careful with bandages and rainy weather: wetness increases the pulling effect of the bandage, which can cause massive damage to the horse’s leg. When hacking, it is better to use boots instead of bandages, which also protect the leg better from sticks and stones.

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