Tack Talk #1: Product Review: Dressage Sport Boots

If I'm being honest, I didn't use any sort of leg protection on Kenna until early 2019 or so. Before that, I would occasionally throw on a set of polo wraps or a pair of splint boots if I felt like it. To be fair, we really only do dressage work and the only variation to that would be some cavaletti on the ground so I wasn't particularly worried. 

However, that changed when I bought my second horse, Remy, in 2018. I began using boots on all four of her legs every single time I worked her. As she was a green OTTB, sometimes she didn't quite have the greatest coordination, especially over where she was placing her feet. So, I pulled out a pair of expensive cross country boots, they originally for Kenna but they were too small, and those became Remy's boots. I also bought her a pair of fetlock boots and I'm very grateful I did make those purchases as after a few weeks of use, I noticed marks from Remy brushing her legs which meant the boots were doing their job. 

After that, I slowly started thinking about making another investment towards buying Kenna her own set. I had begun using Remy's fetlock boots on Kenna during that winter, just to have a little protection. As she began to come back into full work, more on that later, I began researching good boots for dressage work. The only difficult bit was that I was adamant about not using neoprene in her boots. Neoprene was originally created for scuba diving and is great for insulating heat. So while it might be fantastic to wear in cold water, it wasn't something I wanted boots made out of. If the leg is insulated and becomes warm during work, it is more prone to injury as the higher temperature makes it vulnerable. That took away a lot of options as many boots are made of neoprene, so it took a while for me to find a product I was happy with. 

Product photo

Anyways, about the actual topic of this post. I eventually bought a pair of Dressage Sport Boots for Kenna. They were pretty much the ideal choice for her as she typically does dressage work, ground work, hill work, and cavaletti. I've been using these boots for about a year now and don't have too many complaints. They're lightweight, soft, and conform to the horse's leg. I do try to only use them on dry footing to avoid getting dirt on the fleece lining of the boots and I brush them off after every use.

Storage is simple, I just roll one up, put the other around it, and put them in my tack box. They really don't take a lot of space in my box which makes them more convenient.

Kenna in the Dressage Sport Boots

So, let's recap the pros of these boots. They're lightweight, conform to the horse, store easily, and provide just enough protection for the routine of a dressage horse. Plus, they've held up very well with minimal care. I also appreciate that since they are soft boots and don't hold a rigid form, I have a little more flexibility in size so I was able to occasionally use them on Remy, even though she has a longer cannon bone than Kenna.

Remy in the Dressage Sport Boots

However, no product is free of faults. Though the fleece lining is great for fit and comfort, it isn't great for ventilation. This mainly means that they take a while to dry after a rinse or wash so make sure to place them in a well ventilated area if they do get wet for whatever reason. The only thing this results in is that I don't use them for hacking out if I'm going to encounter any water but they're great for riding in fields, arenas, and other drier areas.

Overall, I like the Dressage Sport Boots. I use them often during rides or lunge sessions. They're good boots and protect well while Kenna is being worked which is really all I'm looking for. They can be found online by most retailers like Riding Warehouse, SmartPak, etc.