How do you choose bell boots for your horse?
The right protection depends on the activity, the ground and the horse's conformation. Depending on how intense the work is, several technical features can guide your choice:
- Impact resistance: for daily work, an absorbent material protects the heels. Riders often go for the Harry's Horse Basic Neoprene bell boots or the QHP Neoprene bell boots.
- Fabric toughness: on abrasive surfaces or over jumps, a reinforced outer delays wear, as with the NORTON "1680 D Kevlar®" bell boots or the NORTON "2520 D" model.
- Staying put under effort: every Norton bell boot gives a consistent fit around the hoof, and the Norton range meets a variety of riders' needs.
Other technical options such as the QHP Technical bell boots complete the kit for training.
When should you choose fleece-lined bell boots for work?
The pastern area has thin skin that is particularly sensitive to rubbing from sand. For horses with delicate skin or clipped horses, fleece-lined bell boots provide a soft protective layer that helps prevent skin irritation.
- Synthetic fleece protection: the Horsena Synthetic Fleece bell boots surround the top of the hoof without a hard edge against the pastern.
- Soft trim: the Norton Soft bell boots have a padded edge, like the NORTON "Soft" fleece bell boots, to help prevent marks.
With fleece-lined bell boots, horse and rider both get a soft barrier against repeated rubbing in the arena.
Why ride in no-turn bell boots for flatwork or jumping?
Over fences or in extended paces, a boot that rotates can leave the heels exposed or shift its fastening:
- Stability: by stopping the boot from turning, the Lami-Cell No Turn bell boots keep the reinforced area directly over the heels.
- Anatomical shape: to follow the joints without restricting flexion, the anatomical Lami-Cell No Turn bell boots give a precise fit.
- Combined with a soft edge: for stability and comfort together, the Lami-Cell No Turn fleece bell boots combine both protective benefits.
Covalliero also offers its Noturn protective bell boots to help secure every stride in the arena.