Boot Testing

INTRODUCTION
In the absence of any approved standards for manufacturers designing and producing equine boots, we carry out our own rigorous ...

CONCUSSION AND PENETRATION
Our boots are tested for their ability to protect against concussive forces which can cause bruising and penetration which can ...

BREATHABILITY AND HEAT REDUCTION
Research has shown that when tendon cells are heated to 48°C for 10 minutes approx, 80% of them die. ...

FLEXIBILITY
If boots are constructed of inflexible (i.e. stiff) material or if boots are applied too tightly, they have the potential ...

WEIGHT
Adding even small amounts of weight to the end of the leg in the form of a boot significantly increases ...

FLEXIBILITY

If boots are constructed of inflexible (i.e. stiff) material or if boots are applied too tightly, they have the potential to restrict joint movement and cause other problems such as tendonitis. Stride characteristics and performance could also be affected. Boots need to allow as much freedom of movement as possible without compromising on their primary function of protection.

We test our boots to make sure that they do not restrict the horse's movement whilst still exceeding protection requirements.

An 8cm x 1m steel pipe is set up secured to a workbench. The boots are fixed to the pipe and a 10kg weight is attached with a clip on the boot and the downward direction measured.

The degree of flexibility is measured by how much the boot bends.

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