I can't say that I've ever reviewed a product before that I didn't first research and later buy. Until now. Some time ago, my friend Jen gave me a pair of Back on Track splint boots that had been left over after a show. They'd been hanging around the show office for several months with no one claiming them, so she passed them on to me.
They've definitely seen better days. They're no longer bright white, and they carry some stains that no amount of scrubbing will remove. The velcro is still super sticky though, and there are no major wear marks. Interestingly, it is because of these blemishes that they really impressed me.
For many years, I stuck with the DSB Dressage Boots from Riding Warehouse. They're well priced, they fit well, and they clean up pretty easily. But. It gets HOT here, and my horses' legs get really sweaty underneath the boots. That wet attracted a lot of sand from the arena which dirtied up the boots. That meant a lot of constant cleaning. In the winter, the same thing happened due to rain or puddles, but the boots took forever to dry when I washed them. Out of sheer laziness, I simply quit using them.
A week or so ago, I saw the Back on Track splint boots laying around untried (again, laziness) and decided to give them a try. This pair is a small, and they fit Speedy's front legs perfectly. In fact, it was like they were custom made for him. Even old and previously worn, the fit was excellent.
Speedy didn't even notice he had them on. Since he hasn't worn boots in at least six months, I figured there would be some of that weird high stepping thing as he tried to shake them loose. Nope. He walked straight off, oblivious that he had on new old boots. It was when I took them off that I was truly impressed.
Rabbit photo bomb!
At 15 years old, Speedy is starting to show his age. He has bumps and lumps from previous injuries, scars, and a few things that I keep my eye on. He doesn't generally stock up since he lives outside, but his legs aren't as tight as they used to be either. After I took those boots off, there was not a single bit of excess fluid in his legs. They were cleaner and tighter than I've seen them in a long while.
Brown horse photo bomb!
Without the fluffy fleece, the Back on Track boots were easy to hose off and they dried fairly quickly, faster than fleece anyway. And while I haven't tried them on a hot day, it's been in the mid-80s here, warm enough to show me that they do seem to let the excess heat escape.
These boots are now going on my wish list. I need to buy Izzy a brow band first, but after that, I am going to be buying a pair here and there. Izzy will need a pair, and then Speedy will need a new pair in front, and after that I might need hind boots. At 70 bucks a pair though, it may take a while until both horses are booted all the way around.
Christmas is not too far away though ... and neither is my birthday!
These boots are now going on my wish list. I need to buy Izzy a brow band first, but after that, I am going to be buying a pair here and there. Izzy will need a pair, and then Speedy will need a new pair in front, and after that I might need hind boots. At 70 bucks a pair though, it may take a while until both horses are booted all the way around.
Christmas is not too far away though ... and neither is my birthday!
