The Complete Handbook of Horse Boots & Leg Wraps
A Professional's Field Guide to Selection, Fit, Maintenance, and Business in Horse Leg Protection
by Alumigogo Books
non-fiction
The definitive practical guide to selecting, fitting, caring for, and profiting from horse boots and leg wraps.
About this book
From routine stable bandages to high-impact competition boots, protecting a horse's legs is a core responsibility for any equine professional or serious owner. Yet the sheer variety of products, materials, and conflicting advice can be overwhelming. This handbook cuts through the noise, offering a clear, systematic approach to leg protection based on anatomy, biomechanics, and practical experience.
Inside, you'll find detailed breakdowns of every major product category—including materials, structural features, and the specifications that genuinely affect performance and safety. Learn how to match protection to specific activities, conformations, and risk factors. Master correct application techniques that prevent rubs, pressure points, and circulation issues, and develop routine maintenance habits that extend the life of your gear.
Written for professionals and serious enthusiasts, the book also addresses the business of leg protection: how brands are positioned, and how you can build a service or retail offering in this space. It concludes with a forward-looking view of industry trends and a guide to the expert resources that will keep your knowledge current.
Reader Reviews
Nicholas Lopez
★★★★★Finally, a reference that treats leg protection like the technical subject it is. The chapter on understanding boots alone was worth the price, especially the breakdown of where boots actually sit relative to the tendons and ligaments. As a barn manager, I'm buying a copy for all my staff. It's already settled a few heated arguments in the tack room.
William Young
★★★★★I run a small retail tack shop, and this is a solid, sensible guide. The chapters on types and specifications are the most useful I've seen for explaining to customers why a cheaper boot might be fine for turnout but not for jumping. I docked a star only because I wish the brand section had a bit more depth on international manufacturers, but for the US market it's spot on.
Deborah Wilson
★★★★★The explanation of why polo wraps stretch differently than elastic bandages, and how that changes the wrapping technique, finally made it click for me. The troubleshooting section also saved me from throwing out a pair of boots that I thought were ruined. This is not fluffy advice; it's the kind of knowledge you get from years of experience distilled into one book.
George Clark
★★★★★I've been a farrier for over twenty years and I'm a stickler for detail. This handbook gets the small things right: the direction of the wrap, the pressure points to avoid, the way different materials behave when wet. I've recommended it to at least a dozen clients already. The business chapter is a bonus, but the core practical knowledge is the real value.
Laura Robinson
★★★★★Bought this hoping it would just be a better buying guide, but it's really a complete manual. The maintenance and troubleshooting chapter is exactly what I needed to stop my boots from smelling so bad and to fix a persistent rubbing issue on my OTTB. It's a bit dense to read cover-to-cover, but I keep it in the tack room as a reference now.