Homemade Ice Boots
Most horse keepers who condition and jump their horses use cold therapy to prevent injuries. I've used cold hosing and ice wraps, and Jack Ice Boots, but I admit to coveting Jack Whirlpool boots. I'm not interested in the compression of the whirlpool boots so much, as we aren't working that hard yet, but riding a pony barefoot on hard ground makes me wish for those boots to get legs and feet chilled at the same time. But, the price tag for whirlpool boots are currently prohibitive. So, I've done my research and made my own ice soaking boots that goes sole to knee. Below are the humble but effective "Wild Pony Eventing Ice Boots."
Ok, so the beauty of these homemade boots is that they work and they are cheap. They consist of a tire inner tube (I used an 8 inch tube but for a bigger horse you may want to go larger). $12.99 for one, but beware, they smell bad! Cut out the valve stem and then cut the inner tube in half, which leaves you with material for two boots. Using duct tape, I taped up one end of the tube, and then rolled it up and reinforced with more duct tape around the end flap and under the area where the foot will rest. Then cut the top to fit the height and contour of your horse's leg. You can use suspenders to hold them up, or use the suspenders from your Jack boots. Total cost about $15 and time about 20 minutes to make and fit.
Voila! It works! It's cool! It's the epitome of Wild Pony Eventing! Of course I may have to decorate them with some pink pony frillies...hehehe.
Ok, so the beauty of these homemade boots is that they work and they are cheap. They consist of a tire inner tube (I used an 8 inch tube but for a bigger horse you may want to go larger). $12.99 for one, but beware, they smell bad! Cut out the valve stem and then cut the inner tube in half, which leaves you with material for two boots. Using duct tape, I taped up one end of the tube, and then rolled it up and reinforced with more duct tape around the end flap and under the area where the foot will rest. Then cut the top to fit the height and contour of your horse's leg. You can use suspenders to hold them up, or use the suspenders from your Jack boots. Total cost about $15 and time about 20 minutes to make and fit.
Voila! It works! It's cool! It's the epitome of Wild Pony Eventing! Of course I may have to decorate them with some pink pony frillies...hehehe.
Posted by ponyeventer at 7/25/2010 8:34 PM 
Categories: Eventing, Frugal Horsekeeping, Barn Marnagement, Horse Management
Tags: Frugal Horsekeeping Wild Pony Eventing
Categories: Eventing, Frugal Horsekeeping, Barn Marnagement, Horse Management
Tags: Frugal Horsekeeping Wild Pony Eventing
Love your creativity!!! Those jack boots are up to our small horses elbows! How tall is frosty? Mr. Nick the one with the really big blaze, at Traumhof has probably said hello
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Thanks! Frosty is only 14.2 so you can imagine where the Jack boots come up on her! I read about people making hoof soaking boots out of inner tubes, so I figured it should work for foot and leg too and it does! I'm glad that you like the idea and hope it works for you too.
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