Exercise Boots and Bandages Increase the Heat in the Tendons

Core tendon temperatures increase as the speed of the horse increases. This is due to the expanding and contracting tendon releasing energy in the form of heat. Using boots and bandages is common practice. However, just like us wearing too many clothes when exercising can cause us to get hot, the horse’s legs too will increase in temperature when wearing bandages or some exercise boots (1). 

While temperatures experienced in the central core of the SDFT are unlikely to result in tendon cell death, repeated heating when exercising can result in tendon central core degeneration, which weakens the tendon. Cooling the legs as quickly as possible may help minimise any damage. In the picture, you see the areas that are hotter on the leg, indicated by the white colouring, where the open fronted tendon boot was placed.

The Exoskeleton Tendon Boots: Lightweight Horse Boots

The Exoskeleton Exercise Boots by Cryochaps are new, lightweight horse boots designed to minimise the build up of heat in the lower legs during exercise. Our tendon boots use forced convection cooling to force air across the back of the leg as it enters the flight phase of each stride. The Exoskeleton exercise boots are available in black and tan with fetlock boots to match.

Use Cryochaps Ice Boots for Horses After Exercise

Using Ice cold Cryochaps helps quickly reduce the heat in the leg after exercise. Our ice boots for horses are designed to provide ultimate cooling and compression to the soft tissues in the lower leg. Our K2F ice wraps cover all the major soft tissue structures from the knee to the fetlock. Furthermore, the Cryochaps Absolute Wrap ice wraps for horses are versatile enough to be used on the knees, hocks or fetlocks. 

(1)The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Boots and Bandages on Tendons When Working a Horse – Emma Green 2014