What protective boots and leg wraps are available for horses and when should they be used?

Protective leg equipment for horses ranges from simple brushing boots that prevent the horse from striking its own legs during work to more specialized protective wraps used during trailer loading, recovery from injury, or sports with high impact demands. Understanding what each type of protection is designed to provide prevents both the under-protection of horses that need support and the over-use of equipment that can cause its own problems when used incorrectly. Splint boots and brushing boots protect the lower leg from the concussive impact of one leg striking another — a common occurrence in horses that travel close behind or that perform movements that bring the legs into proximity. These boots should fit snugly without restricting circulation, and the closures should be tight enough that the boot cannot rotate or slide during work. Polo wraps provide protection and mild support through flexible bandaging around the lower leg, but they require correct application to be safe. An incorrectly wrapped polo — too tight, applied with uneven pressure, or wound in a way that creates a ridge at the fetlock — can cause bandage bows, a tendon injury caused by localized excessive pressure. Polo wraps should be applied only by people who have been taught correct technique. Bell boots protect the heel bulbs and coronary band from being overreached — struck by the hind toe — during athletic work and are particularly important for horses that work at speed, jump, or tend to overreach naturally. Standing wraps applied over padded quilts provide compression and support for horses during shipping, after strenuous exercise, or during recovery from leg injuries, and like polo wraps they require correct application technique to be safe.