Cross Country Boots

Cross country boots are an essential part of your cross country horse wear. Protecting your horse’s legs is essential in nearly all equestrian sports, especially cross country, which involves fixed obstacles, water jumps and vertical drops. When thinking about leg protection, the first thought that comes to many is hitting an obstacle; however, proper leg protection is essential even in the most perfect rides. Horses’ legs must withstand the challenges of the course along with carrying your weight. Some horses are naturally prone to suffer interference injuries, which are the consequence of their limbs hitting or rubbing against each other; however, cross-country requires performing some manoeuvres that may lead any horse to over-extending their legs, increasing the risks of self-inflicted wounds. Horse boots for cross country protect their legs from those incidents and provide extra contention to prevent ligament distension, excessive torsion, and other issues related to such a demanding sport.

Of course, it’s also fundamental to protect your horse’s legs from any incidents, including rubbing or hitting a fence, landing awkwardly, slipping or stumbling, stepping over a stone or a branch, and stepping into uneven soil, among others. Considering all this, it’s evident why it’s good practice to invest in the best possible cross country boots for your horse and enjoy the sport with the peace of mind that your horse will be as much protected as possible.

Cross Country Boots for Horses & Ponies

When choosing a set of cross country boots, it’s good to know how their materials, construction, and design can benefit your horse so that you can make a fair comparison and informed decision.

Unlike tendon boots, cross country horse boots are entirely closed to provide full shock protection. They are designed to protect your horse from all the potential issues described above, so they can’t be open fronted. The hindleg boots are also fully closed for extra protection. Cross country boots are longer than other kinds of boots, but their design is not restrictive as you may think. They are made of strong yet flexible and light materials and are extremely breathable to prevent tendons’ overheating, which may result in lameness and deterioration. When doing demanding, high-performance activities, it’s crucial to keep your horse’s tendons cool. Also, due to the nature of the sport, which involves mud and water contact, most x country boots are waterproof or are made of materials designed to absorb a minimal amount of water.

Cross country boots for horses come in different synthetic materials, from neoprene to hardened plastics, such as polyurethane and PVC, and more advanced boots made with materials like Kevlar and carbon fibre. Depending on the model, they may feature internal and external paddings and strategically reinforced zones. Some models feature foam paddings made of materials that prevent rubbing and skin irritations while don’t absorb water. These added features ensure cross country boots have superb properties to protect your horse’s legs, especially the cannon bone, suspensory ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues, without restricting your horse’s movements to clear the jumps as a champ.

Whether you are a top cross country rider, a novice, or just like to jump some natural obstacles during your hacks, cross country boots are the best way to protect your horse’s legs and prevent unnecessary injuries.

The Best Cross Country Boots at Discounted Prices

At Discount Equestrian, we are a team of passionate equestrians just like you. Our team includes horse owners, trainers, and instructors, and we always put horses' well-being first. That’s why we are constantly seeking the best products from the top brands at discounted prices, to provide our fellow equestrians and their beloved horses with the best possible protection to suit everyone's needs and budgets. Whether you are a seasoned cross-country rider or a hacking enthusiast, you will find a wide range of cross country boots to suit all budgets from our fantastic collection, from affordable entry level boots, to high-end models such as ventilated cross country boots. Our selection includes products from renowned and well-known brands like Elico, Equilibrium, HY, Kentucky Horsewear, LeMieux, Mark Todd Collection, Premier Equine, Veredus, WeatherBeeta, and Woof Wear.

Below, you will find our staff’s top picks from our large collection, which features the most innovative and protective products available from the best brands in the business.

Equilibrium® Tri-Zone All Sports Boots – “These multi-purpose leg protectors work perfectly as horse boots for cross country but are also excellent for schooling, show jumping, hacking, and turnout. They offer outstanding strike protection and are designed to meet the needs of amateurs and top competitors alike at a reasonable price. The Tri-Zone boots are checked by an independent safety testing laboratory, offering proven protection against concussion and penetration injuries. They are highly breathable and lightweight, making them one of the most versatile leg protecting products in the market, with the extra advantage of their versatility to be used in different disciplines.”

Veredus® eVento Cross Country Boots, Front – “These cross country horse boots are a must-have for riders who want the best. This model is used by Andrew Nicholson and Oliver Townend, two of the most successful eventing riders today. These x cross country boots for horses are made from technical, lightweight, and breathable materials, including Veredus proprietary microperforated AEROX neoprene that allows your horse’s skin to breathe and prevent tendons’ overheating. These cross country boots are waterproof; they don’t absorb or hold water despite weather and terrain conditions, making them perfect for diving into the water jumps. They are lightweight and feature a shock absorber system with polyurethane protective pads, designed to offer ultimate protection while riding and landing after jumping big obstacles.”

LeMieux® Carbon Air XC Boots Black, Front – “These affordable yet effective cross country boots for horses from LeMieux provide excellent shock absorption and tendon support thanks to their flexible polycarbonate strike guard. Their superior protection prevents injuries without increasing weight. They are also highly breathable, allowing air to flow through them to keep the tendons cool. These cross country boots feature a new close-fit system with perforated EVA lining to provide extra comfort to your horse and prevent slipping. They are perfect for the cross-country track as well as for schooling and training.”

Kentucky® Eventing Boots Air Tech, Hind – “The Air Tech Eventing boots offer ultimate protection and comfort for your horse during cross-country. They are made of five layers, including a breathable knitted lining that ensures a soft feeling against the skin and prevents ribbing, slipping, and turning. A second 5mm layer of EVA foam absorbs shocks and provides stability. This layer is also perforated with ventilation holes to allow heat to escape and prevent overheating. A third layer of 2mm thick TPU hard shell stops the strongest impacts and prevents penetration from horseshoes, studs, and other sharp objects.

Premier Equine® Carbon Tech Air Cooled Eventing Boots - Brown – “If you are looking for a perfect set of brown cross country boots, this impressive set is an ideal match. Sold in pairs, both front and hind-leg boots are specially designed to provide superior protection and ventilation to your horse’s tendons. The outer is completely made from carbon tech microfibre leather. This technical material is stronger than natural leather and contours the horse’s leg for a perfect fit. It’s ultra-light but equally strong, offering excellent durability.

The front cross country boots mould around the fetlock without restricting the horse’s natural movements. They feature a strike guard on the back to protect the tendons and ligaments from knocks and over-reach injuries. Six air vents strategically distributed allow a constant air stream to keep the legs cool at all times.

If you need help finding the right cross country horse boots, feel free to reach out to our friendly Discount Equestrian team. We are always happy to help!

For more leg protective gear for your horse, check out our fabulous range of Brushing Boots, Leg Wraps and Pads, and Magnetic Horse Boots.

Our mission is to bring you the finest products from top equestrian brands at unbeatable prices. That’s why we developed our Price Match Promise program. If you find a product listed at a lower price on a competitor's website, we will strive to match the price. (Terms and Conditions Apply).