Bell boots that stay on: fit and styles

Horse & Hound's guide to overreach boots, published in May 2024, says overreach boots are sometimes called bell boots, that they cover the hoof and heel, and that they protect from the hind feet 'overreaching' and striking the heels. The magazine adds that 'bell boots' comes from the bell-like shape and is the common term in the US. HorseJournal says they protect the coronary band and heel bulbs. Our LeMieux horse boots page adds that bell boots help guard against pulled shoes in turnout, in the stall and under saddle.

Not every horse needs them. Horse & Hound says boots are most commonly used for jumping, for turnout and over uneven ground, and that some horses have a longer stride and are more prone to overreaching. Horses with corrective shoeing or sensitive heels can also benefit. Horse Illustrated says the risk goes up with a compact build, disproportionately long legs, work that engages the hindquarters, and deep or muddy footing, and that an overreach can mean a lost front shoe, a bruised or cut heel, or acute lameness.

If your horse keeps pulling shoes or cutting his heels, a boot is protection, not a diagnosis. Ask your farrier about the shoeing and your vet about injuries. Our overview of horse boots explained puts bell boots next to the other leg boots.

HorseJournal's test says pull-ons are made of rubber or a similar synthetic that stretches somewhat, and are harder to put on over the wider hoof and coronary band. Velcro-style fastening boots are easier to apply, but there is a risk the horse pulls them off. The test also says that in wet or muddy conditions the closures are more likely to fail, because moisture reduces stickiness and mud adds weight.

Horse Illustrated, in an article about pull-on boots, agrees: one solid piece stays on in any environment, which suits wet footing and winter, while fastening styles collect dirt and lose adhesion when wet. The same article says to choose pliable rubber, sometimes called gummy rubber.

No-turn boots add a feature to keep the boot from rotating. Horse & Hound's product descriptions mention an anti-spin bump or nodule, and say it should sit between the heel bulbs. HorseJournal's test did not cover no-turn boots, so we have no independent comparison to give you. One rider told us the no-turns didn't rub her sensitive-skinned horse.

One caution about all three: the HorseJournal test was subjective and covered simple rubber boots, so it shows how those boots behaved, not which brand is best.

HorseJournal says to measure the pastern circumference where the top of the boot sits, usually just above the widest part of the lower pastern, and add a quarter inch of room. It also says online sizing is approximate, and suggests calling the company or visiting a tack shop if you want a real measurement. The boot should not touch the ground either, or the horse is more likely to step on it.

Horse Illustrated gives rough guidance by type of horse: small for ponies, medium for Arabians and smaller Quarter Horses, large for Thoroughbreds, larger stock-horse breeds and warmblood crosses, and extra large reserved for sport horses. That is from a 2008 article and is not a rule; makers' charts differ.

For one maker's numbers, our LeMieux horse boots page lists the sizing for its rubber bell boots (measurements in centimeters, which LeMieux says are approximate).

Horses at the top of the size range can be hard to fit, and riders say so. A rider with an 18.1 hh Dutch gelding told us which boots fit him, and which did not.

Horse & Hound says overreach boots sit around the pastern: too tight and they're uncomfortable, too loose and they're likely to rub. They should cover the heel at the back but sit above the ground, and an anti-spin nodule should sit between the heel bulbs.

For how much room, the sources use slightly different words. HorseJournal says a proper fit admits a fingertip between the top of the boot and the skin, and the boot should move slightly side to side but not 'piston' up and down the pastern. Horse Illustrated says to leave about a finger's width between the rim and the pastern. Either way, the point is the same: snug, not tight.

Loose is a problem too. HorseJournal says a boot that's too loose will eventually come off, and Horse Illustrated says one that's too large can be ripped off during an overreach. If you can't get a good fit between two sizes, ask the maker which to choose.

Horse Illustrated's steps: pick up the foot as if cleaning it, start the inverted boot from the bottom, stretch the sides until the hoof pops through, let the horse set the foot down, then flip the boot over the pastern. HorseJournal says a light grease on the neck of a pull-on eases application, and warns not to overdo it or put any grease directly onto the hoof.

Dirt is a boot's enemy. HorseJournal says to clean boots thoroughly after each use to remove dirt and sweat, and Horse Illustrated says that if boots stay on for several days, check regularly for mud, sand or pebbles trapped between the boot and the heel, which can abrade it. Horse & Hound says most manufacturers recommend turnout boots shouldn't be kept on longer than 12 hours at a time, and that boots that hold water can do more harm than good. Some riders tell us their horses wear bell boots around the clock, so ask your farrier and read the maker's directions for your horse.

If a boot is hard to put on, a rider's trick may help. One of ours says she flips the boots inside out and pulls them on upside down.

HorseJournal says chafing is the main problem, caused by tightness or by dirt or mud caught between boot and skin. Horse & Hound says it's essential that boots don't cause rubbing, and that a horse with sensitive skin may do better in a boot with a fur lining. It also says no-twist designs and soft roll collars let a boot move around the pastern without rubbing.

Check the skin when the boot comes off. If you see raw or hairless patches, heat or swelling, or he is sore, stop using the boot, and call your vet. Check the size and the style. Horse Illustrated recommends pliable rubber, and HorseJournal says rigid materials make pull-ons harder to put on, so a stiff boot is worth a second look.

Our broader horse boots page lists the options if you want to compare.