The best travel boots provide excellent protection to the horse when he’s being loaded, unloaded and while in transit in a horsebox or trailer. They need to be hard-wearing, so they can protect your horse’s legs from knocks and scrapes, as well as suitably padded to absorb shock.

When transporting horses, along with travel boots you might also want to consider one of the best tail guards and best travel rugs as part of your travel kit checklist.

Best travel boots for every budget

Should horses wear travel boots?

Travel boots protect horses’ legs during transport. They shield against cuts, bruises, and other injuries caused by the confined space and movement of trailers or lorries. Covering from hoof to knee or hock, they absorb shock and stay secure, ensuring consistent protection throughout the journey.

However, improperly fitted boots can cause discomfort, rubbing, and skin sores, stressing the horse. Some horses may also react negatively to the restrictive feeling. Therefore, ensuring correct sizing and gradual introduction is vital for a safe, stress-free experience. High-quality, well-adjusted travel boots significantly enhance horses’ safety during transport.

How to fit travel boots

Start by choosing the right size, ensuring the boots cover from the hoof to just below the knee or hock. Place the boot on the leg, ensuring it aligns properly and covers the intended areas. Secure the straps, starting at the top and working your way down. You want a snug fit without being too tight to avoid restricting blood flow.

Check for any gaps or areas where the boot may rub against the skin. Have the horse walk a few steps to observe if the boots stay in place and don’t cause discomfort. Adjust as needed, ensuring the horse can move freely without the boots slipping or causing irritation.

Can you travel a horse without boots on?

Travelling a horse without boots is possible but it leaves the limbs exposed to a greater risk of injury. Without boots, they are more likely to suffer cuts, bruises, or more severe injuries from kicking or stumbling. For safety, especially on long or rough journeys, using a pair of the best travel boots is strongly recommended.

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Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Rambo’s official description

Rambo Travel Boots are luxury travel boots with reinforced panel, smooth inner and easy to use closures. They co-ordinate with the Rambo range.

The Brooms’ first impressions

These boots had a really good weight to them without being restrictive.

Overview of performance

We were really, really pleased with these boots. They didn’t move, even on our horse that wriggles a lot when travelling, they gave great protection and came up nice and high on the leg. They also washed really well.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

I liked everything about these boots, particularly the good big straps that you can easily get hold of. The height of the boots was generous. If your horse is under 16.2hh, you might want to try the cob size.

Verdict

I would definitely recommend these, but the full size needs to be on a 16.2hh+ horse as they do come up tall.

Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Equithème’s official description

Equithème Tyrex 1200D Shipping Boots are made from 1200 denier waterproof and breathable ripstop polyester with 12mm foam padding, and a 450g synthetic sheepskin lining. They are secured with three wide self-gripping straps with reflective logo in centre.

The Brooms’ first impressions

I thought these looked similar to the Eskadron ones, but with better straps.

Overview of performance

They were a great fit and were on a par with some of the more expensive boots in the group test. The straps are strong and easy to use, they offer good protection and still look as good as new after multiple uses.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

The straps make these boots very easy to take on and off. I put them on the youngsters as you can put them on and removed them very quickly. Very hard to fault and great value.

Verdict

I would 100% recommend these to a friend

Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Eskadron’s official description

Eskadron Pro Traveller Travel Boots are full-height travelling boots designed to provide maximum protection and comfort. The Pro-Traveller fits superbly and comes in front and hind pairs. The boots’ features include a tough polypropylene outer shell, 20mm foam filling, soft woven fleece lining and edged in complimentary colours.

The Brooms’ first impressions

We really loved the look of these boots, including the fleece lining

Overview of performance

These were a really, really good set of travel boots. They fitted very well, stayed in place and offered good all-round protection. This fleece lining washed well, but the straps are quite thin and have folded a bit.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

These boots are good quality and our horses travelled well in them, but we think they may come up a bit snug on a big boned horse.

Verdict

I would recommend these for thoroughbreds and fine warmbloods, but not for a horse with a lot of bone

Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Weatherbeeta’s official description

WeatherBeeta Deluxe Travel Boots are durable and strong with 1200 denier outer protection plus a dense foam inner and nylon lining for comfort. They have extra length for combined knee and hock protection, with PVC strike pads around the bottom and an additional strike pad on hock point. Each boot has three easy touch tape closures.

View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, naylors.com or rideawaystore.com

The Brooms’ first impressions

We thought these were nicely designed and really liked the reflective edging.

Overview of performance

These boots are very protective, but they did slip slightly when being worn which caused the plastic bottom part to get trodden on and fray. Despite this, they are well made and the straps are very strong.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

I really like the florescent piping, which was very good for the shows that finished in the dark. But the boots lost their shape once they had been washed, so they may be better to be cleaned with a sponge, rather than washing.

Verdict

Best suited to an owner that will only use them occasionally and is happy to sponge them to keep them clean.

View now at amazon.co.uk, viovet.co.uk, equus.co.uk, naylors.com or rideawaystore.com

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Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Rhinegold’s official description

Rhinegold Ripstop Full Length Travel Boots are a set of four long travel boots with tough nylon outer, a full fleece living and Velcro fastening for a secure fit. There is an extra strengthened strike pad at heel and the extra wide Velcro straps make for quick and easy use.

View at amazon.co.uk

The Broom’s first impressions

We like the design of the straps and the boots were very thick and solid.

Overview of performance

These boots offer great protection in all the key areas, but are very thick and made my horses legs sweat on not a particularly hot day. Apart from that they were hard to fault and the straps worked really well.

The Broom’s likes and dislikes

While I liked how protective these boots were, but I disliked how hot the horses’ legs got while wearing them.

Verdict

These boots are good value for money, but don’t keep the horses’ legs cool

Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Masta’s official description

The Masta Avante Travel Boots have been designed to offer your horse maximum comfort and protection while travelling without a hefty price tag. The set of four travel boots are made with a 600 denier polyester outer and soft fleece lining. Hook and loop fastening straps ensure a correct, secure fit. All of the boots feature the Masta printed logo.

The Brooms’ first impressions

These boots aren’t particularly eye-catching, so we wouldn’t have chosen these off the shelf.

Overview of performance

These boots fit well and did the job to a certain extent in that they didn’t slip and were easy to use, but they are quite flimsy and don’t offer superb protection. As a result I was slightly loathed to use them on our top competition horses.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

I like the fit and the tough straps, but thought they could have been more padded to give better protection.

Verdict

The lack of padding would put me off recommending these to a friend.

Welcome to our group test of travel boots. All of the boots in this group test have been put through their paces by dressage rider Jamie Broom and his wife Georgi, who run a busy livery and training yard near Windsor. Find out what they thought below.

Shires’ official description

The Shires Arma Travel Boots provide sturdy protection for your horse against knocks while travelling. They feature stylish colours, tough nylon outer, comfy shock absorbing inner and strong touch close straps.

The Brooms’ first impressions

These boots look very wide.

Overview of performance

I tried these boots on a variety of sized horses and I couldn’t get them to fit anything as they were just so wide. I think they may suit a heavy horse or may be suitable if you like to put bandages on underneath them. I also wasn’t a fan of the straps, which I felt were slightly over designed.

The Brooms’ likes and dislikes

It was really hard to test these boots as I couldn’t get them to fit anything and we do have a range of sizes and types of horses on the yard.

Verdict

Best suited to a very big boned horse that finds other travelling boots are not big enough.

Masta has launched a new range of travel boots and tail guards which will keep your horse protected and comfortable while travelling.

“These great new travel boots from Masta are made from tough outer fabric combined with soft fleece lining for durability and flexibility” said a spokesman from Masta.

The set comes with two front and two hind boots and a matching tail guard.

It is available in a variety of colours; black, red, navy blue and royal blue. It is priced at £46.99 in pony, cob and full size.

For more information visit www.masta.co.uk

Bucas has launched its new Freedom travel boots.

The boots are new for the 2012 competition season and are designed to keep horses’ legs safe and clean.

“With three large Velcro straps, these boots can be fitted in no time at all and stay firmly in place, keeping white socks white and offering top protection from the risk of knocks when travelling,” said a spokesman for the company.

They are made from tough nylon in black with a silver trim and cost £65.

• For more information visit: www.bucas.com

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PolyPads is on a mission to reduce bulk, banish lumpy gel pads and make sweaty sheepskin numnahs a thing of the past.

The company’s thinnest saddle pad yet, the Spacetec Pad is designed to provide protection and cushioning with a minimum of under-saddle bulk.

Its polycotton construction encourages airflow beneath the saddle while shielding both horse and rider from the impact of concussion.

With no straps, it has been carefully developed to stay put throughout all disciplines and keep your horse cool and comfortable. Made in England, it retails at £59.99.

The PolyPads range includes saddle pads, travel boots, leg protectors, tail guards, girth wraps and bandage pads.

Contact PolyPads on 01842 752020 or log on to their website.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now