Best XC Boots

[Nomini]

Ok, I've been lurking for a while but now I need your help. So I need new xc boots. My Woof boots have been great for several years up through the levels, but are starting to break down. The thing is, I just moved my pony (yes pony, she's 14.2) up to intermediate. I need some serious protection, especially since she likes to clear the big tables on course with the telltale clunk as she pings her hooves on the wood. My other problem: she's got short legs. She wears the 3-strap small Woof boots on the front. I'm afraid most boots that come in one size front and hind will be too big for her. Are there any serious boots that come in little sizes? Does anyone know what Teddy wore? :) Thanks for your help...

[NZEVNTR]

I use the Eskadron XC boots for our horse. They seem to fit really well. I believe they come in a smaller size.

[Eventrgrl]

New Boots, size S
Or use porters and trim them down

[cleozowner]

The Prestige boots come in different sizes...I use them on my mare (granted, we only do baby stuff right now but hope to move up).
http://www.vtosaddlery.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VTO&Product_Code=PCFJB&Category_Code=HRSBT
(I believe I special-ordered the smalls from VTO. My 16.1 mare wears the medium, but my friend's 15.1 mare took the smalls.)

[avezan]

VTO has some small sized Prestige boots in stock, but they may not be on the website. Congratulations on moving your pony up to Intermediate! I evented a 14.2 pony about 10 years ago. It was terrible trying to find little boots for her. But most brands do come in small, you just may need to call around and get a tack shop to order them for you.

[flypony74]

My gelding is 14.3hh, and goes in N.E.W. Lightweight Competition boots, size M. They are available in S-M-L, so I bet that either S or M would fit.

I seem to remember seeing Teddy run in N.E.W.s? Pwynn?

Good job with your pony. As someone who prefers small horses, I love it when the little guys do well.

[Shortstroke]

Pelham Ascot. They are leather and they double velcro. They come with changeable liners - neoprene, sheepskin or felt - which velcro on. (You pay extra for the liners.) The Small size fit a large pony. They are really sturdy and provide tons of protection.

[eventrider]

I ran Teddy is Porter's, Karen ran him in NEW boots, size Small.

Christan

[happyhaffiehaley]

I also event a pony (14 hh) and use Dalmar eventing boots. They seem to be quite versatile and could probably be used on a larger horse, but since you can wrap the velcro all the way around, they fit the pony just fine. They have carbon fiber in front and back as well as ventilation on the sides. They're very lightweight and seem to wear nicely, as well.

Haley

[joharavhf]

I can't help you at ALL but I want to know more about your PONY!!!!! I have a little guy in a big package :)

[TheHunterKid90]

NEW Boots are nice and I'm pretty sure that that's what Teddy ran in.
I also think that Nunnfiner makes little boots...and of course there are the pony eskies. :)

[beeblebrox]

So much depends on the horse. A little like jeans, you know they have hundreds of styles for a reason.

I love my expensive leather ones but the can slip on some types of legs. I also love my ballistic material ones with solid inserts for back of leg that I bought in Ireland but they can rub some horses. Adore my wool lined woof boots but they slide on some horses.

I have found porter boots the most versatile although they are for one horse only if done and cut properly and especially if horse has leg oddity like a splint you have cut around or something. Your Saratoga that goes over can be used on several horses but my porters have the name of each horse they are used on.

Lots of my students like the eskadron's but I do not own one pair as I DO not like them and I see many horses who do not like the rigid-ness of them too! But of course they come in all those colors (gag) so they can color coordinate and what not! ;-)

[WakeRider]

My 14.3 Connemara who runs at intermediate uses NEW size small

[keeneland]

I love the porter boots with saratoga's around them. The nice thing for your pony would be the fact that you could customize them by cutting them down in order to fit properly. Obviously this might not be ideal if you are running many horses of different sizes, but they work great. I also put tubi-grip around the porters, which helps them stay in place and not to mention helps with those sensitive horse legs. I would have to look at what size tubi grip i have, i dont remember off the top of my head; as it comes in different sizes and you don't want to get it too large. Hope you find this helpfull, good luck with the pony!

[Tabwrdd_ridge]

another vote for the new eskadron xc boots, they are hardy, can take a beating, fit well and are long wearing. They do come in a pony size, but i'm banking they'd probably need to be ordered because they are top of the line and I havent seen anyone whose got them in stock.

[Speedy]

Smidgeon uses eskadron xc - she is 14.3 and uses the horse sizes, not the pony sizes. I can't remember for sure off-hand, but I think small for the front and medium for the hind.

[Nomini]

I can't help you at ALL but I want to know more about your PONY!!!!! I have a little guy in a big package :)


First of all, thanks to everyone for their suggestions. You guys all recommended the types of boots I had been looking at, I guess I'll just have to ask to get the smaller sizes in stock since they don't have them readily available.

I'm more than happy to share (brag) about my midget! Maddie is a 9-year-old 14.2 dark chestnut mare out of my childhood (crazy but awesome jumper) Welsh/Arab pony and a very cute Morgan. I broke her when I was 16, and she turned out to be a freak of nature. We just keep moving up and she just keeps on jumping! She is your stereotypical little red mare, all attitude, but jumps anything you point her at. She has been known to duck under stall guards at shows and refuses to be caught for half an hour, and she pins her ears at every horse she passes in a warm up ring. She used to hate dressage, she now tolerates it to get to the jumping. But her best quality, and the reason I felt comfortable moving her up to intermediate, is her sense of self-preservation. If a jump isn't going to happen (she gets to it on a half-stride, she's behind my leg, or one of a million other things that can go wrong), she comes to a very polite stop. I usually pat her because she was right! She always comes around and jumps them the second time though! We were on the USEA leaderboard in 2005 at the training level, then we did several seasons of prelim, 2 CCI*, and now 2 intermediates. She ran around Waredaca last month in the pouring rain, and only had one rail in sj and one smart stop on the 4th fence of xc (of course I got TE'd for missing the finish flags, but she doesn't know that!).

I you had told me 5 years ago I would be taking this little mutt homebred around intermediate, I would have laughed at you. But she has proved to be the coolest thing I've ever sat on. I ride a different horse everyday, and she's as sound as they come!

Hope that's what you wanted to know! Thanks for tolerating my gushing!

[Merle]

:) That is so exciting! It makes me giddy just reading your post. It's so nice to have a horse you really truly enjoy!

[Jazzy Lady]

ummm... pictures are ALWAYS supposed to accompany a story :p

It's standard COTH protocol.

[Nomini]

ummm... pictures are ALWAYS supposed to accompany a story :p

It's standard COTH protocol.


OK! Of course I don't mind sharing...

http://s360.photobucket.com/albums/oo46/NominiEventer/Maddie%20the%20Rockstar/

[mcm7780]

WOW! She's a keeper! Such a cute, flashy little mare! If she ever needs a home, feel free to call me...;) I've always felt at "home" on smaller beasts!

My friend evented her pony through Intermediate and I think she used the Nunn Finer boots. That or maybe the NEW boots. Her boy was a little smaller than your so they may come in a size small enough for your mare.

[Lincoln]

OK - the pictures are totally fantastic. I love the @#$@ eating grin you've got on your face, and her "OH YEAH, I'm on it" ears pricked expression. Way fun to see. What a great pair! Good luck and keep everyone posted!

[lilypondlane]

I LOVE your pony mare! What an awesome jumper -- you guys look great together! I'm also a huge fan of small horses and wish I were good enough to ride my own 15 h mare. She's doing the jumpers (Level 3, still moving up) with an ammy who rides like a pro. She doesn't wear boots, so can't help you there. My big boy eventer (who I also don't ride) wears Woofs.

[Eventcrazy]

Second love your pony!!!

I love porters but I'm looking at the NEW boots. Maybe put them on my christmas list! The only problem is I have a welsh cob and his front legs are hard to fit boots to. Short but fat cannon bones!