Just one step!
Please confirm your registration using the link we sent you by email.
New
Horse
rider
Care & stable & feed
Dog
Collections
The advantage of gaiters is very clear - they are much easier and faster to put on than bandages and the impact protection is also higher. In addition, gaiters do not soak up water so quickly, which is particularly useful when training outdoors. Dressage boots protect the fetlock and the cannon bone and are usually closed tightly with Velcro fasteners. As a rule, they are cut a little lower on the inside than on the outside. Nowadays there are dressage boots mostly matching the respective collection colors of the individual equestrian sports brands such as Eskadron, Equestrian Stockholm or Ps of Sweden.
Dressage boots are usually made of a durable synthetic material or leather. In contrast to hard-shell gaiters or jumping gaiters, they are usually more flexible. They can be wrapped around the horse's leg rather than pushed onto it. In addition, dressage gaiters are usually cut slightly higher than the usual hard-shell gaiters. By the way, dressage boots are the right size for front and hind legs. As a rule, you need the gaiters one size larger at the back than at the front. When buying, make sure that they are neither too big nor too narrow. Gaiters that are too large can slip and chafe during training. Gaiters that are too tight cut off blood and lymphatic flow and cause uncomfortable pressure. If the gaiters close snugly around the horse's leg without having to use too much force, then they are the right size. If you can slide your fingers into the gaiter without much resistance, then it's definitely too wide.
Dressage boots with faux fur or lambskin are particularly popular. Instead of a simple neoprene, the inside is lined with fur, which is an advantage especially for sensitive horses. There are fewer pressure and chafing points. But always make sure that the fur is free of dirt and Sand at a hunt.
Fetlock Gaiters completely enclose the fetlock head. They are suitable for horses that step particularly far with their hind legs.
Of course, you can also use hard-shell gaiters for training. But there are also dressage boots reinforced with plastic, like these Veredus Piaffe Evo boots. These offer extra protection against streaks and impacts.
You are not allowed to put on bandages or gaiters in a dressage competition, as the judges want and have to judge the natural movement. This can be made more difficult by bandages or gaiters. In addition, your horse should walk as balanced as possible so that it does not injure itself during the test.
