If you are involved in any horse sport, chances are you care a lot about the health of your horse's legs. Particularly for a sport like eventing, taking proper care of the legs is paramount. I remember learning so much about different jumping boots and their purposes when I was growing up, and the importance of protecting the legs. As I was really getting involved in the sport, I was taught varied routines for aftercare following any strenuous work, particularly following cross country.
Right now, my aftercare routine following an event consists of icing and wrapping. The level of wrapping depends on the level of work, but that's for another post another day.
I have a few pairs of velcro-wrap ice boots that I will use if we do something that would be considered moderate work for Sophie, which includes a local jumper show or even a lighter cross country schooling outing. However, after a full horse trial, an even a more intense cross country schooling, or a gallop, I will want to put Sophie's front legs though a little bit higher level cryotherapy.
Meet The Drew Boot: an incredible newer choice of boot for icing your horse's whole leg, knee to hoof. Prior to these, I would borrow a trainer's old school whirlpool boots, and I had even considered trying to train Sophie to stand in a muck tub full of ice water. I think that after harder work, it is crucial to make sure that the hard working tendons and muscles receive cryotherapy to reduce inflammation, to get the blood flow back to a resting amount to reduce excess fluid to stressed areas, and to prevent injury (or re-injury). This article by Heather Smith Thomas for Equus does a great job of defining all of the benefits of cold therapy for horses.
The Drew Boots do everything I could ever need when it comes to full leg care and more. The regular ice wraps that I have work fine to apply some cold pressure to her legs after light work, but Drew Boots allow for cold to be pressed evenly and consistently from above her knee to the bottom of her hoof. Regular ice wraps don't often apply perfectly even amounts of cold, they do not stay cold for very long, and they usually don't cover the hoof. Having access to a boot like the Drew Boot assures that her legs and feet are receiving the maximum amount of cryotherapy after hard work.
Beyond the region of the leg they cover, they are so incredibly easy to pack, store, clean, and use. The material is sturdy enough that I don't worry about it tearing, but is also so flexible that if I am taking them off and Sophie spooks or moves in a way that she steps on them, they will fold easily and move out of her way as to not cause additional problems. Most of the old school whirlpool boots are made from super thick rubber that is very heavy, and does not fold easily if the horse missteps or spooks while wearing them. If the idea that the Drew Boots are made from a thinner material than the thick rubber causes concern about durability, let me reassure you that this material is akin to that used to make bounce houses - it is fascinatingly strong, and can withstand immense amounts of pressure and still feel and look new after each use.
The material is unique in that they can stand up on their own, but also fold neatly to be stored easily in a tack truck or trailer shelf. I folded mine and put them in my cooler in my trailer for future use, and when I take them out and unfold them, they stand right back up. Each side of the boot has a nylon pull strap for easy handling when putting them on and taking them off of the horse's legs. The boots also come with a strap that attaches the outside of one boot to the outside of the other going over the horse's back for additional support if needed.
Another problem I ran into with the old school rubber boots was keeping them clean. They are so thick that it is hard to access the interior of them in order to get them fully cleaned and dried out, and I can't count on one hand the amount of time's I've come across mold in dealing with them. Since the Drew Boots are made of thinner, more flexible material, I can fold them down and access all of the interior points easily, including the cushioned bottom. The material is also water-wicking, so they dry quickly after each use.
Sophie used to be challenging to work with when we first introduced her to the old style boots, and she would often try to get out of them during her icing session. There were even a few times where she panicked and would run backwards when the thicker material would get stuck on her legs as she was trying to escape them. She is much better now after continued exposure, and I think she senses my lower stress levels when using the Drew Boots because I can breathe knowing that should she panic, she could safely and quickly get herself out of these without destroying them or hurting herself. These boots are SO much more forgiving than the old style boots or even a muck tub. As you can see from the images below, I think she feels comfortable in them too! (Featuring Wally, who doesn't understand why he isn't the sole focus in all of these photos)
An additional fun feature about these boots is that they are available in multiple colors, and you can also get your logo of choice printed on to them. This might come as a total shock, but I of course had to go with the green ones. đ They also come in two different sizes: standard and pony. Sophie is wearing the standard size ones, and she is a leggy 15.3hh for reference. The Drew Boot company also makes a fantastic tote bag out of the same durable yet flexible material, and they are a company I hope to see more of in the future.
I am happy to answer any and all questions regarding the use of the Drew Boot. Click here for a link directly to their website to see all that they have to offer! Like I have stated previously, I will never write about a product that I do not whole-heartedly believe in, and I am just absolutely blown away by these boots. A massive thank you to The Drew Boot for supporting KMS Eventing, and I am so grateful to have these boots for taking the best care of my special horse's legs âĽď¸
K
Most of the high quality photos in this blog post are taken and edited by the amazing Kiera Finnerty đŚ
