Many riders choose to put boots on their horse and often they own several sets so that they can use the ones that are best suited to a certain activity, such as hacking or jumping. There is a vast range of different styles, designs, colours and sizes of horse boots on the market to choose from. Technical advances mean it is now possible to buy boots that are designed to protect a horses leg from knocks, while ensuring good air flow to help keep the tendons cool.There are three main features to look for when youre buying horse boots: breathability (ie do they keep the leg cool), flexibility (can the horse move freely) and weight (how heavy they are). These three considerations are essential for your horses wellbeing, and understanding this is key to shopping for a set of boots best suited to you and your horses needs.1 BreathabilityThe most important thing for keeping a horses legs, and particularly tendons, healthy, is helping them stay cool. That means a set of boots with good air flow and that dont cause a leg to heat up unnecessarily is the most important thing to consider when choosing the right ones for your horse.As a horse moves their tendons and ligaments extend and contract, and this natural process creates heat. When you put a boot on your horses leg this heat potentially has nowhere to go, and its important to keep the leg cool as overheating can cause long-term tissue damage.Many boots are made from breathable materials that will help to keep your horses legs cool. Also consider the design of the boot you want it to encourage air flow to stop the build-up of heat.2 FlexibilityChoose boots that are made from flexible materials that allow your horse to move freely. If the boot is stiff and inflexible, it may restrict your horses joints and their natural movement, and possibly even compromise tendon function.Boots need to allow as much freedom of movement as possible while still providing enough protection.3 WeightThe weight of the boots is an important consideration. Adding even a small amount of weight to the end of your horses leg in the form of a boot increases the effort they must put in to move, resulting in more wear and tear on joints and possibly even affecting the way your horse moves. Also, go for a fabric that doesnt absorb and hold water a wet boot is heavy and may lead to your horse getting tired.How to fit horse bootsBoots that fit correctly have the best chance of doing the job you bought them for namely, helping to protect vulnerable areas on your horses lower legs. If the boots are too big they can slip down, and could rub or cause your horse to trip. Also, dirt and grit may get inside them, resulting in rubs and discomfort.Equally, if the boots are too small for your horse, they wont offer enough protection to their legs, will not be comfortable to wear and are likely to rub. Once the boot is fastenedin place check that your horse can bend their knee without the boot interfering. Its important to fasten the boots so that they are tight enough to hold the boot in place but they must not be too tight you should be able to slide a finger down the side of the boot once the straps are fastened.To check your horses boots fit properly, follow our simple step-by-step video guide:Do you need to buy horse boots?Before you rush out and buy a new set of horse boots, ask yourself this question does my horse need them?Not all horses necessarily need to wear boots, and the answer will vary depending on what activities you do and their conformation. For some disciplines, such as jumping, or if your horse has conformation that means they may be more likely to knock themselves, then boots are a good idea to potentially reduce the risk of injury.Horse boots are designed for particular jobs. Some offer strike protection, ideal for fast work and cross-country, while others only cover the back of the leg to support the tendon. There are also those designed for everyday wear, perhaps for a quick schooling session or to protect legs when going for a hack. Boots can offer some protection to your horses legs from knocks and bangs. Choosing boots that are designed to best suit the type of work you plan to do with your horse is key. This might mean owning several sets of horse boots. Dont worry, its normal! Most riders have more than one set in their horses tack room,especially if they enjoy several disciplines.In any tack shop youll find a selection of different types of horse boots that are suitable for different activities. Below I explain what the main types of boots are for use when training, hacking or competing.Types of horse bootsBrushing bootsBrushing boots are versatileIf your horse will benefit from wearing boots, brushing boots are a good option. Cost-effective and versatile, these boots can be used for activities including flatwork, hacking, lunging, jumping or turnout. They are called brushing boots as they are designed to protect the lower part of the horses leg from the opposite hoof knocking into it, which is known as brushing.Originally these boots were made from leather, but thanks to the arrival of synthetic materials they are now made from softer fabrics that follow the shape of your horses leg for a better fit and they are much easier to care for too.Neoprene is a popular choice of material as its lightweight, soft, durable and breathable. Most brushing boots also feature a strike pad on the inside of the boot, which offers further protection from impact.Tendon horse bootsTendon boots are designed to be used for jumping and are usually made from a tougher material than brushing boots to provide greater protection to your horses lower leg when theyre jumping. Open-fronted tendon boots are a popular choice for showjumpers, although theres a growing number of riders using this type of boot for other types of work too.Tendon boots are popular for showjumpingThese boots encase and protect the tendons on the back of the fore legs and cover the fetlock, which may be liable to injury if the hind hoof strikes the front legs when landing from a jump. The front of the boot is open, which means your horse will feel it if they knock a pole.Fetlock bootsFetlock boots are usually worn on a horses hindlegs and are much smaller than tendon boots as the name suggests, they cover and protect the fetlock joint from brushing injuries. These boots usually feature a strike pad made of tough material to protect the fetlock, and a single strap fastening. They are a popular choice for flatwork and sometimes showjumping, but fetlock boots wouldnt usually be recommended for cross-country or hacking as they dont offer enough protection of the legs.Cross-country horse bootsFetlock boots on the hind legsA greater level of protection is needed when your horse is jumping solid cross-country fences. Boots made specifically for this discipline are designed to offer superior protection. Often a more robust outer material is used that can cope with a direct impact with a solid fence. The lining of the boot is usually a soft breathable material and you may find additional protection on the back of the front boots and the front of the hind boots.Front cross-country boots need to protect the back of the horses leg/tendon area from strike injuries from the hind hoof, and the front of the cannon bone from knock injuries should the horse catch their leg on a fence, explains Ali Felton, sales director at WoofWear, whichspecialises in equine leg protection. The hind boots protect the front of the cannon bone, as horses, especially when tired, can sometimes trail a leg over a fence and the cannon bone can be very badly bruised or injured.Many hind cross country boots will also have a speedicut design. This is where the inside of the boot goes higher up the leg towards the inside point of the hock. This is to protect the area from the opposite hoof hitting it while the horse is galloping. Therefore, a front and hind boot will often look very different in their design.Cross-country horse boots: correct fitCross-country boots should be lightweight but toughBoots worn for cross-country need to fit snugly and be constructed from materials that do not hold water, so that they do not become heavy after a water jump. A well-fitting cross country boot, particularly hind boots, can look deceptively large compared to your day-to-day brushing boots, but this is because they are designed to cover a larger area.It is important to take some time to ensure you have the right size and fit for your horse, advises Ali. Boots should be lightweight but tough, have strike guards and be as breathable as possible. Dont forget that you will be putting these boots through some tough tests galloping and jumping in varying and difficult conditions, so they need to be the right size in order to do their job properly and stay in place.Always test your boots on a hack or schooling session first to ensure your horse is happy and that they fit correctly before using in competition.Over-reach horse bootsOver-reach (bell) boots are usually worn on the front hoovesAlso known as bell boots because of their shape, these boots are usually worn on the front hooves. Overreach boots surround the entire hoof, protecting the pastern, coronet band, and bulbs of the heels from overreach injuries, which occur when a hind hoof strikes the soft heel of the front hoof. An overreach injury can be very painful and take time to heal fully some even require stitching. Some horses naturally overreach more than others and wearing overreach boots is necessary for all activities.Putting overreach boots on horses during turnout is also popular again to reduce the risk of the horse damaging himself, but its also thought that it helps prevent a horse standing on the heel of a front shoe and pulling it off.Types of over-reach bootsRubber over-reach boots can be a pull-on style, meaning they need to be pulled over the horses hoof. They can be tricky to put on and require a good amount of arm strength, but once in place they are thought to stay on better than boots with straps.A rubber over-reach bootRubber over-reach boots (pictured right) can also have a Velcro fastening strap. They are inexpensive and quick and easy to use, making them a popular choice.Neoprene overreach boots are softer, thicker and more durable than rubber. Some riders also consider them more comfortable for a horse. These are secured in place with a touch-and-close strap.Some overreach boots use a combination of different materials. They can have a tough outer, making them more durable and offering greater protection. The lining is usually a softer material such as neoprene for comfort and to avoid rubbing. This type of overreach boot is a popular choice when showjumping or going cross-country.You dont see petal over-reach boots very often these days: this style has a number of plastic petals attached to a strap,whichdoes up around the coronet band. They are quite noisy as they flap when the horse moves off-putting for some horses and riders.Over-reach boots can also feature a fleece trim, which is great for sensitive horses and for added comfort. Its important to keep this trim clean so that it doesnt rub your horse.Whatever style you choose, over-reach boots should be long enough to cover the bulb of the horses heel and should sit snugly around the pastern. Once they are in position and fastened, you should be able to fit a small finger inside the top of the over-reach boot.Images and video: copyright Your Horse Library/Kelsey Media LtdRelated contentBrushing boots tried & tested for fit, value and level of protectionEssential hoof care guide for every horse ownerOver-reach boots: when to use them and our pick of the marketEssential buying guide to travel bootsSwollen legs in horses: why it happens, possible causes and action you should takeThe post How to choose the best boots for your horse appeared first on Your Horse.