LeMieux Capella Leather Brushing Boots

Treat these boots the way you treat your bridle. After every ride wipe the sand and the sweat off with a damp cloth and let them dry at room temperature, not next to a heater or in full sun, because dry heat turns leather hard. Feed them regularly with a leather grease or leather oil, certainly after a wet ride. Store them dry and flat, not rolled up with the fastening closed. Check the elastic straps now and then: elastic is the first thing to lose its tension, and a slack strap lets the boot turn. If you ride through wet sand every day, keep a second, machine-washable pair to hand.

Choose the Capella if your horse brushes and you want a leather boot that matches the rest of your leather tack, for daily work in the arena, for dressage training and for hacking. You have to be willing to take on the care: cleaning, drying off and feeding, and not the machine. If you want something you can simply drop into a wash bag after the ride, the LeMieux Fleece Edge Mesh Brushing Tendon Boots or the LeMieux Arika Mesh Boots suit you better. If you really go over fences and want a shaped shell over the tendon, a tendon boot such as the LeMieux Exo-Flex Tendon Boots is the logical choice.

Lay the boot around the leg so that the leather brushing pad sits on the inside, against the fetlock. Close the elastic hook-and-loop fastenings from top to bottom, always in the same direction, and pull them up until the boot no longer turns; a finger should still fit between the binding and the skin. After the ride wipe the sand and sweat away with a damp cloth, let them dry at room temperature and feed the leather regularly. Store dry and flat.

What is the difference between a brushing boot and a tendon boot?

A brushing boot closes all the way around the lower leg and the fetlock and catches the knock from the opposite leg. A tendon boot for the front legs has a shaped shell over the back of the tendon, is open at the front and is made for jumping work. The Capella is a brushing boot.

May these boots go in the washing machine?

No. LeMieux prescribes cleaning with a leather cleaner, drying off with a soft cloth, feeding with leather grease or leather oil and storing dry.

Which colours and sizes are there?

Black and brown, in sizes S, M and L.

Is the fastening elastic?

Yes. LeMieux states elastic hook-and-loop fastenings, so the strap gives as the leg changes in circumference.

What about heat under a leather boot?

Both the leather on the outside and the neoprene lining are perforated, so air can pass through the boot and heat and moisture can escape. A closed leather boot does stay warmer than an open mesh model.

May I use them in the dressage arena?

Not at international dressage competitions. Boots and bandages must be removed before entering the space around the competition arena. In the warm-up arena and during training they are allowed.

Which legs are they meant for?

LeMieux does not mention that in the product information. A brushing boot closes all the way round the lower leg, so the shape itself does not distinguish between a front and a hind leg.

How much do they weigh?

LeMieux does not state a weight per boot for this model.

• Classic brushing boots in oiled leather
• Leather brushing pads on the inside, against brushing
• Perforated leather over perforated neoprene, so air can pass through
• Elastic hook-and-loop fastening and a soft leather binding along the edges
• Black or brown, in S, M and L
• For daily work, dressage training and hacking
• Asks for leather care: cleaning, drying off, feeding; not in the machine
• No shaped tendon shell, so not a jumping tendon boot