Ice Boots & Cold Therapy

Ice boots for horses can be used to help manage to reduce heat and swelling after acute injury. The ease of using ice boots means that they now also offer a practical solution for use after exercise to help improve recovery and reduce tendon temperatures.

Recent research has highlighted the importance of icing your horse’s limbs after strenuous exercise. The elastic nature of the tendons means that heat is created as a waste product of energy transfer. This heat can accumulate and reach temperatures that are potentially damaging for the cells. High temperatures may weaken the tendons over time and increase the risk of injury. It is best practice is to remove your protective horse boots as soon as you have finished exercise and use ice boots for 10-20 minutes to reduce the limb temperature.

Some ice boots for horses also provide light compression. This helps by providing a close contact for cold transfer and may aid fluid clearance.

Very few ice boots for horses actually use ice. Gel inserts are used instead, these offer a number of advantages. They are actually slightly less cold than ice, preventing the risk of damaging the surface tissue with excessive cold. They also maintain a more consistent temperature for longer and mould to your horse’s leg. 

If you do not have access to a freezer, Premier Equine’s Cold Water Compression Boots are an excellent alternative. Their specialist fabric is activated by water, helping to maintain effective cooling. They are also great to keep on the lorry for competition.