Description
Turnout Boots for Mud Fever Prevention
Equi-Chaps Close Contact Chaps are designed on the premise that with mud fever prevention is better than cure.
Why Chaps?
The Equi-Chaps range is designed to provide a simple solution to improve the horse’s welfare throughout the winter months. The Equi-Chaps Close Contact Chaps, Turnout Chaps for Mud Fever, do exactly what they say – they fit close like a second skin. They are made from Stomatex®, which is the same unique material that we make the Stretch and Flex wraps out of.
The Stomatex® used in our Close Contact Chaps not only repels external water but also actively pumps moisture away from the skin through tiny pores in the fabric meaning that they do not overheat the legs so can be worn for up to 12 hours of the day.
They are also supportive and protective so eliminate the need for a brushing boot (or similar) and an overreach boot when turning out. They are very easy to clean and dry quickly and the touch and close straps make them secure even around the fetlock area.
In addition, Close Contact Chaps offer mild protection from brushing and overreach injuries and come in an array of sizes to suit the smallest of ponies and largest of horses.
Please note however, they are not suitable for horses or ponies with a neoprene allergy.
More about the Materials
The Equi-Chaps Close Contact Chaps are made from Stomatex® – the same material used to make our Stretch and Flex wraps.
Stomatex® is a revolutionary material which mimics the way a leaf ‘breathes’ helping to keep the skin free from perspiration and maintains an ideal skin temperature over an extended period of time as well as repelling external water.
The way the material works is by efficiently moving trapped vapour molecules from beneath the fabric by the flexing action of minute dome shaped chambers which contain a tiny pore in the centre. In more detail, the way in which Stomatex® works is a replication of how a plant’s stomata transpires and passes vapour from inside the leaf to the atmosphere.
The chambers create a self-contained micro-climate, allowing cooler, drier air to pass through at a controlled rate to maintain this constant condition. This technology is based on the laws of thermodynamics and diffusion – that heat will always transfer from a region of high temperature to a region of low temperature and that, in an attempt to regain equilibrium, water vapour will tend to move from a region of higher density to a region of lower density. This process means that Stomatex® can overcome the problems of perspiration and over-heating traditionally associated with the use of closed cell foam materials such as traditional neoprene.
As well as ‘breathing like a leaf’ Stomatex® provides a unique four way stretch to enable use around mobile joints such as the fetlock and pastern. It is such a revolutionary material that it has been used in many different industries for many different products such as heat acclimatisation suits, padding for wheelchairs, special wetsuits and sport injury support bandages.
It is important that the close contact chaps fit the horse snugly so that mud doesn’t rise under the boots and cause irritation which could lead to mud fever. They can be worn for up to 12 hours with minimum risk of rubbing as the Stomatex® is so flexible, soft and breathable.
Horse Owner, UK –
“Fantastic fit and also good protection. Nice clean mud free legs when I bring my horse in!Love the fact that they are breathable.”
Horse Owner, UK –
“Mine is the only horse on the yard without mud fever! The boots were well worth the money. No lotions and potions or bandaging needed, brill product thank you Equilibrium!”