Should neoprene be used in horse tendon boots?
Let us explore how neoprene used in tendon boots, fetlock boots, brushing boots and many others can alter the temperatures of the horses leg whilst exercising. Is neoprene the best type of material to use in horse boots over some of the newer impact resistant boot linings? This blog compares the results of testing two vented tendon boots one with neoprene and one without on leg temperatures.
Why is neoprene used in horse boots?
Neoprene has been the mainstay in horse boot manufacture for a long time. It can provide cushioning and is known for its shock absorption and is the most common material used in protective horse boots. It is soft and flexible and able to conform to the horse’s leg and in the cold days of winter having a tendon boot or a brushing boot with insulating properties could be advantageous. The insulating properties could however also cause issues when it comes to heat retention in the horses’ legs during exercise. Horse boots and bandages are renowned for heating the legs if they do not have airflow. Some horse owners find their horses can be allergic to neoprene lined horse boots.
How hot do horses’ legs get in neoprene lined horse boots?
Cryochaps have tested both open fronted horse boots and enclosed boots such as brushing boots or cross-country boots for horses and know that neoprene is not the only culprit to heat horses legs. The insulating properties of wool or imitation wool do heat the horse leg more.
The focus of this blog is the use of neoprene in horse boots. Two open fronted tendon boots were chosen for the test, one with neoprene and one that is known for its impact protective properties. Both boots were marketed as airflow boots or vented horse boots as they had similar small vents down the spine of the boot. A data temperature logger was placed on the back of the horses leg mid way between knee and fetlock. This is where the most heat is produced as the tendon creates heat by expanding and contracting.
Whilst these results were only one-off tests the results were interesting. The horse was asked to do a walk for a few minutes, trot, then another walk and a few minutes of canter. When in canter the horse was asked to change legs equally as it is known the leading forelimb leg will become hotter than the trailing one.
Results of heat tests of neoprene versus non-neoprene tendon boots
The results of the first test are below with the neoprene vented horse boot in orange and the non-neoprene vented horse boot in blue
The neoprene horse boot was excessively hotter than the non-neoprene horse boot but one seemed to start hotter than the other! Just to make sure we did not have a leg with more heat in, the horse was allowed to walk for a couple of mins with no boots and then the boots were swapped to the other leg.
Whilst there was not such a significant heat difference this time, with a similar work load, the neoprene horse boot overall maintained higher temperatures than the non-neoprene horse boot. Both legs were sweaty at the end of the testing as very little air flow through the boots even though tiny vents were present.
Again, this is a one-off test and there would need to be further testing to absolutely confirm neoprene insulates more than other materials but perhaps thought provoking?
Other disadvantages of neoprene in horse boots
One thing that we do know is that neoprene holds water well and when used as a wet suit helps insulate the body against the cold. This can be a negative in a horse boot as once sweaty or wet the boots do not tend to dry on the horse and make the skin wet and soft, which could lead to rubbing. Neoprene also takes a long time to fully dry out even in warm temperatures. Anyone that has ever used a wet suit knows the joy of it not drying overnight and having to wriggle into it the next day.
The Exoskeleton tendon boot is not made of neoprene, the materials have been chosen specifically so they do not insulate or hold water. The Exoskeleton protective horse boot dry so much quicker than a neoprene based brushing boot. This also means you are not putting soggy horse boots on if they have not dried out overnight.
Are there alternatives to neoprene lined horse boots?
Ultimately, the choice to use neoprene in horse boots depends on the manufacturer, neoprene is cost effective and therefore keeps the price of the boots at low levels. Some manufacturers are developing protection horse boots with innovative new materials that are not neoprene based.
At Cryochaps we have researched some of the best materials that are renowned for their impact resistance, lightweight and low insulating properties to provide a boot that is one of the most protective and coolest on the market, plus quick to dry! The Exoskeleton tendon and fetlock boots are NOT made of neoprene.