What are the best protective horse boots; Impact test results revealed!
Why strike injuries can be a real threat to horse legs
Strike injuries happen when one limb accidentally hits another, often during training, jumping or turnout. These injuries can range from bruises to serious damage like fractures or tendon trauma. And they’re more common than many think hence the need for horse boots.
A hind leg can strike a forelimb with up to 7,000 Newtons of force, that’s more than three times the force of a Premier League footballer’s kick. If you think about the physiology of your horse’s lower limbs, there isn’t much natural protection for their tendons and bones.
That’s why leg protection matters. But not all horse boots offer the same defence. Without safety standards in place for equine protection boots, it’s difficult to know whether your horse’s tendons are truly protected.
Cryochaps commissioned independent testing with leading equine scientist Dr David Marlin (AskAnimalweb.com) to determine which tendon boots truly deliver. The results? Our Exoskeleton horse boot ranked among the top for impact protection, with excellent strike absorption and minimal bulk or unnecessary insulation.
If you’re serious about performance and safety, it’s time to rethink your choice of horse boot.
Horse Boots tested:
Arma Oxi Zone by Shires, Cryochaps Exoskeleton, Eskadron, Equick, Equilibrium, Kentucky Bamboo, Le Mieux Exo Flex, Premier Equine, Stubben Flex, Veredus,
Impact Testing Results: Which Horse Boots Offer the Best Protection?
Ten tendon boots were impacted with a weighted horseshoe at energy levels of 5J, 10J, 15J, and 20J, simulating mild to severe strike scenarios. The boots that allowed the least force to pass through (measured in Newtons) provided the best protection.
Top 2 Best-Performing Boots at 20J:
| Boot | Mean Impact Force (kN) |
| E-Quick | 5070 N |
| Cryochaps Exoskeleton | 7400 N |
Leading brands, how did they perform at 20J?:
| Boot | Mean Impact Force (N) |
| Veredus Carbon Gel Absolute | 9450 N – 27% more force transmitted through compared to Exoskeleton |
| LeMieux Exo Flex | 9030 N – 22% more force transmitted through compared to Exoskeleton |
What Does This Mean for Horse Owners and Riders?
Choosing the right leg protection isn’t just a matter of brand loyalty or aesthetics. The forces in strike injuries can be severe, even if it is just brushing or a misstep. With no safety standards for horse boots, all that the horse rider has is belief that tendon boots provide adequate protection. That is why Cryochaps independently tested to prove their boots were the best protective horse boots, when it comes to strike resistance and lack of insulation.
If a boot allows 9000N of force to pass through at 20J, that’s akin to being hit with a blunt object at high speed, right on fragile tendons or bones.
Final Thoughts
Horses are powerful, athletic animals and can cause themselves injury from strike impacts. Whilst horse boots may not be a must for all, when you need high-quality leg protection with minimal insulation Exoskeleton tendon boots by Cryochaps are the best there are on the market when taking both impact resilience and lack of insulation into account. Exoskeleton is the best on the market for ventilated horse boots, see other blog.
Based on independent testing, boots like the Cryochaps Exoskeleton tendon boots clearly stand out for their impact resistance. Without actual scientific data to validate what are the best protective horse boots, how do we know what we are putting on our horses’ legs, does what it is meant to do?