Equine Tendon Supports Installation

Serious equestrians use tendon boots to protect the horse's fragile flexor tendons located in the back of all four equine legs. Show jumpers use open-fronted tendon boots to protect the tendons from being injured by overreaching of the horse's back legs during extended canters and jumps. Those boots marketed specifically as "tendon support boots" use well-placed straps to buttress the tendons of those animals engaged in fast take-offs and quick stops, including dressage, reining, cutting and racing horses. If you are a rider engaged in any of these fast-moving equine sports, learning how to apply support boots to your mount can prevent injuries that can take your horse out of the action permanently.

Things You'll Need

  • Halter
  • Lead rope
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Instructions

    • 1

      Halter your horse and tie it in its stall or place it in cross-ties.

    • 2

      Move to the left side of your horse and place the mitered bottom edge of the left tendon boot around the back of the fetlock --- the joint just above the hoof --- on your animal's left front leg. To make sure you have the correct boot, ensure that the three front fastener straps are facing the back of the horse's leg and the tendon support strap wraps to the left around the front of the leg.

    • 3

      Hold the boot in place and tighten the front fastenings, beginning with the middle strap, then the top strap and finally the bottom strap. Closing the straps in this order allows you to maintain even tension on all straps and ensures that the boot stays in place without slipping down the leg.

    • 4

      Draw the tendon strap around the back of your horse's fetlock joint. Pull it under and around the bottom of the joint and fasten the strap to the front of the boot at a 45-degree angle. Keep the line of the strap straight to get the correct angle.

    • 5

      Place the right tendon boot on your mount's right front leg using the same procedure. If your horse wears back tendon boots, begin with the back left leg, then move to the back right leg applying the same techniques.