Zilco Sprint Pull On Bell Boot
$24.95
Bell Boots
Browse bell boots that sit around the hoof and coronet so a hind foot striking forward hits rubber or plastic instead of the heel bulbs.
They are part of our wider Boots collection.
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What Is a Bell Boot?
A bell boot is a flared guard that hangs around the hoof so an overreaching hind foot hits the boot instead of the heel bulbs and coronet.
It is named for the bell shape, not for a sound. Coverage is the coronary band and bulbs, not the cannon. Typical parts are:
- A flared skirt that sits over the hoof wall.
- A neck or collar around the pastern.
- A closure that must stay done up through mud and grass.
How Is a Bell Boot Different from an Overreach Boot?
A bell boot is the shorter, flared shape over the hoof; an overreach boot is usually taller and covers more of the pastern.
Shops often mix the names. Use this page when you want coronet and bulb cover with a classic bell. Use the overreach page when you need extra height up the pastern for horses that grab higher. Do not buy two pairs that cover the same zone just because the titles differ.
When Do Horses Overreach?
Overreach happens when a hind foot strikes the back of a front hoof, often in deep going, on landing from a jump, or in a young horse still finding balance.
That is a different mark from fetlock brushing. If the hair is rubbed on the bulbs, stay on bell or overreach boots. If the mark is on the hind fetlock, switch to fetlock boots.
Pull-On vs Fastened Bell Boots
Pull-on bells have no strap to snag, but they must stretch over the hoof without cutting the pastern. Fastened bells are easier to put on a shod hoof and easier to replace a worn closure from horse boot accessories.
A strap that works loose in the paddock is a lost boot, not extra protection. Check closures before turnout as well as before work.
Can Bell Boots Be Used in the Paddock?
Some riders leave bell boots on at grass because overreach can happen in the paddock as well as in the arena. They still need a snag check.
Exercise shells and tendon boots are a worse paddock choice. If you need wrap support after work, that is horse bandages, not a bell left on overnight. A pad from our saddle pads range does not change overreach.
How to Care for Bell Boots
Knock out stones and dry the inside so grit cannot sit against the bulbs. Rubber and plastic can split at the flare if they stay folded in a wet heap.
Follow the maker's wash instructions. Do not assume every bell is machine-safe. A split skirt no longer covers the coronet even if it still goes on.
How Should Bell Boots Fit?
A fitted bell boot covers the bulbs and coronet without rubbing a ring around the pastern or flying off at the canter.
Too long and the horse can step on the skirt. Too tight at the neck and the pastern swells or loses hair. Size names vary by maker, so use that product's own chart rather than a shared cob or full label.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do bell boots protect?
Bell boots protect the heel bulbs and coronary band when a hind foot overreaches onto a front hoof. The flared skirt takes the strike instead of skin and horn. They do not protect the cannon tendons or the hind fetlock. Those jobs belong to tendon boots and fetlock boots.
Are bell boots the same as overreach boots?
They cover the same injury, but the shapes differ. Bell boots are the shorter flared skirt over the hoof. Overreach boots are often taller and cover more pastern. Some products are labelled both ways. Choose by how high the horse grabs, not by which word is in the title.
Can horses wear bell boots in the paddock?
Sometimes, if the boot is made for turnout and cannot snag on fences. Overreach can happen at grass as well as in work. Check closures and the skirt after the horse comes in. Do not leave tendon or exercise boots on in the paddock and assume a bell is doing that job.
Do shod horses need bell boots more than barefoot horses?
A shod hind foot can do more damage if it grabs a front heel, so many riders boot shod horses for jumping and deep going. Barefoot horses can still overreach. Fit and going matter more than a blanket rule. If you see chips or bruises on the bulbs, address overreach rather than tightening a tendon boot.
