How to Choose Bell Boots How to Choose Bell BootsBell boots, sometimes called overreach boots, cover the horse's pastern, coronary band and hoof wall down to the heel, helping to protect this sensitive area from injury. Try bell boots if you notice dirt marks, scrapes or abrasions on your horse's front feet. In some cases, such as during transport, bell boots may be helpful on hind feet, too. Bell boots should always be worn when horseshoe studs are in place.
Bell Boot Styles- Pull-on: Some riders say pull-on bell boots offer the best security for staying on during a ride or turnout. They can be challenging to pull on and take off.
- Single- or double-lock (open): These are easy to manage- they simply wrap around the hoof and close with hook-and-loop fasteners at the front (to ensure full protection at the back). Double-locking boots have an extra flap for added security on the hook-and-loop closure.
Both of these styles rotate as the horse moves. The rotation doesn't usually pose a problem and most horses don't mind wearing bell boots. However, horses prone to chafing, scratches or those in rigorous activity may benefit from a no-turn style.
- No-turn: These have a hidden anatomically shaped soft knob inside that nestles into the heel area to prevent turning.
Bell Boot MaterialsMaterials are waterproof or water-repellant and offer varying degrees of durability. Traditional gum rubber bell boots are lightweight and stretchy. If your horse is hard on bell boots, try a heavy rubber bell boot or heavy-duty PVC bell boot. Horses that are extremely hard on bell boots (vigorous jumping activity) may benefit from those with carbon-fiber strike pads; lightweight but extremely strong, they offer a high level of impact protection.
Super-sensitive horses may do best with bell boots made of textiles, such as soft neoprene. This type is often more cone-shaped than bell-shaped.
Your horse's bell boots fit when:- The bottom rim of the boot barely brushes the ground while the horse stands on level footing.
- One finger fits between the pastern and the boot's inner rim.
How to prevent skin issues:- Brush away dirt on the hoof walls and pasterns before putting on bell boots.
- Remove bell boots after activity or turnout to allow skin and hair to dry.
Our Guarantee 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
The Easiest and Best Guarantee in The Business
Shop with 100% confidence at Dover Saddlery. If something doesn’t fit you or your horse, return your original purchase within a year, and we’ll make it right with a refund, exchange or replacement.
Our experience as riders and horse owners ourselves is that in most situations a year’s time is fair enough to evaluate proper fit and function. PLUS: For manufacturer’s defects, we’ll extend the manufacturer’s warranty to a maximum of 24 months, regardless of their individual policies. (AND: Manufacturer warranties longer than 24 months will be honored and supported by us as well up to the length of those warranties).
Exceptions: Safety items such as helmets and protective vests may only be returned within 30 days, with their original tags intact. Saddles and riding boots may be returned within the one year period, but are subject to a prorated refund based on usage. Used saddles may be returned for 30 days only. For everyone’s protection, treats and vet meds which have been opened are not returnable, and returned blankets must clean and free of debris. Underwear is not returnable or exchangeable.
Special Conditions
To protect all customers and ensure that every return or exchange is handled fairly, we may require a receipt or decline a return in these situations:
• Item was not purchased directly from Dover Saddlery. (It was purchased at a used tack sale or from a retailer or online seller other than Dover Saddlery.)
• Item is missing a label or has been defaced.
• No receipt and no valid identification in our stores.
• Item is wet, dirty or contaminated, or until it has been cleaned. (For health and safety reasons, we cannot accept returns on used, defective or poorly fitting blankets if they are UNWASHED.)
• Item has been lost, stolen, damaged, or misused.
• On rare occasions, based on the nature of prior transactions.
• Supplements have been opened or used.
• Multiple returns of the same item.
• Personalized items may not be returned unless defective.
Security Guarantee
Dover Saddlery understands your concerns regarding online security. We share in your concerns and therefore work hard with experts in the field to maintain a highly secure ordering environment. Along with our comment to security, we offer you a Secure Order Guarantee - this gives you 100% protection for your credit card transactions on Doversaddlery.com.
Our Secure Order Guarantee means that you will never have to pay any money related to unauthorized charges to your credit card account, as long as those charges are a direct result from a transaction on Doversaddlery.com.
How it works: If you experience credit card fraud, the Fair Credit Act specifies that your credit card company can hold you liable for no more than $50.00 in fraudulent charges to your account. Our Secure Order Guarantee will reimburse you for any amount up to $50.00 billed to you by your credit card company for unauthorized charges to your account, if those charges result from an order you placed with Doversaddlery.com. For this protection you must promptly notify your credit card company of fraudulent charges and follow their procedures as outlined in your credit card agreement.
