Chapter XIX: Horse Boots

The artist who pictured a horse on the track with his legs encased in boots, etc., from the bottom of the hoof up to the body, was not so far from the truth as many persons would suppose, for there is no part of the limb, from the knee down, for which boots are not made. The illustrations in this chapter represent the general styles, though not all the varieties in the market. There are many patented boots, some of them possessing merit, a description of which would be of no practical use to the harness maker. There are several classes of boots, such as the knee, shin, ankle, quarter, and combination, each of which has its distinctive name.

The illustrations in this chapter have an advantage over those found elsewhere, in that nearly all are drawn in exact proportions; and the descriptions are such that a harness maker may readily furnish a customer with any desired pattern. Making horse boots is not a simple operation: success depends upon their being so constructed that they will retain their position without being strapped so tight as to interfere with the freest movement of the horse’s leg. To accomplish this, the leather used for shields must be worked up firm and the securing straps placed where they will draw in direct lines. When fullness is to be given to the shields, the best plan is to cut out a V and stitch the edges together; they may, however, be stamped up with dies. For convenience, each class will be described separately.

Fig. 1 represents one of the best styles of knee boot in use; it is made of heavy bridle leather, cut in two pieces, as shown by A and B; the former is worked up nearly flat, except that portion below D, where it is shaped to fit to B, which is worked up full in the center; a gore is taken out at C, and the edges joined to secure the shape. The securing strap, D, is of medium weight bridle leather, and is stitched to the shield before the lining is put in. The lining, which is of buckskin, is turned in all around, so that the edge is placed between the two pieces, and stitched down all around; a very little wool or hair is placed between the two, and the center is secured by stitching at the highest point in the shield B. The securing strap is also lined with buckskin and stuffed with felt; the billet, which is twenty inches long and one half inch wide, is stitched to the securing strap. The buckle chape is stitched to a strong loop at the other end of the main strap; the two small loops hold the billet in position, it being passed around the boot before it is buckled; the drawing is one quarter size.

Fig. 2 is a plain, heavy knee boot. This is cut from one piece of leather; that portion above the securing strap is flat, the lower part has a half inch raise in the center; the lining is of buckskin, wool or hair being used for padding. The securing strap is cut of good, firm leather, and lined with buckskin, padded with felt. The billet is cut one half inch wide and fourteen inches long. There are five small loops, each one inch long, placed as shown on the main strap. The drawing is one quarter size.

Fig. 3 represents a peculiar shaped but desirable knee boot. It is cut from one piece of harness or bridle leather; the cap piece is gored in two places, to produce the requisite fullness; it is lined with buckskin and padded with a single thickness of felt; the lining is cut large and the edge turned in so as to form a roll all around; two heavy pads are attached to the under side as bearings; one is shown by the line X, the other is placed directly under the buckle; the center-pad is nearly one inch thick, the one under the buckle is about three quarters of an inch thick; both are made of felt placed under the buckskin. This boot when made up is nine inches long. The proportions in the drawing are based upon that measurement.

Fig. 4 differs but little in shape from Fig. 3, but is made up plainer. The proportions are the same.

Figs. 6 and 7 represent two patterns of knee boots of an entirely different model from the above. They are also much lighter. The body of Fig. 6 is made of enameled leather, lined throughout with buckskin; the shield is of heavy harness leather struck up full, and slightly padded with felt. The bearing pads, shown by the dotted lines, are raised about three quarters of an inch; they are of felt, covered with buckskin. The long or top billet is cut eight inches long and three quarters of an inch wide; the bottom billet is cut six inches long and three quarters of an inch wide; a small gore is cut at X; the edges are drawn together and blind stitched before the lining is stitched in. The drawing is one third the full size.

Fig. 7, though designed for the same purpose as Fig. 6, is much lighter, and, being more open, is less likely to bind when on the knee. The lower billet is so placed that it does not bear upon the cords sufficiently to displace it when the knee is bent. It is made up in the same manner and of similar material as Fig. 6. The upper or leg strap is cut nineteen inches long and five eighths of an inch wide; the lower billet is cut ten inches long and one half inch wide. The other proportions, as shown, are one third the full size.

Fig. 5 represents a knee pad or breaking boot; the body is made of heavy felt; the leg strap is stitched to the felt and lined with buckskin; the knee safe is made of several thicknesses of bridle leather, worked up full in the center.

Combination boots are made in a great variety of styles, there being at least fifty different patterns in use. The principal portion of the shield is designed expressly to protect the shin; to this is attached a cap piece for covering the knee or ankle. The styles illustrated comprise the regular lines, and, with the slight variations necessary to secure a good fit, are all that are needed.

Fig. 8 represents a shin and ankle boot. The body is made of heavy felt, the shield of harness leather, worked up full at the ankle end; the latter is stitched to the body with a single row around the edge and a few stitches at each end. The shaded spaces on each side represent strips of leather; the blank space A, strips of elastic web; these are attached to the body by the stitching shown on the strips nearest the shield; the remaining portion of the webs and the straps to which the buckle chapes and billets are attached are left loose, the portion of the body under them acting as a safe; by the use of these elastic strips the boot is freed from the rigidity so often noticeable, and the horse is relieved from any undue pressure. The shield when made up is eight inches long; the reduced size of the drawing is based upon that measurement.

Another style of shin and ankle boot is shown by Fig. 9, which may also be used as a shin and knee boot. The body is of heavy felt, bound on the top and bottom edges with thin leather, and lined throughout with buckskin; the shield is padded with hair. The dimensions of this boot are: body, nine inches wide and six and one half inches deep; the billets are four inches, and the buckle chapes three inches, long. The shield is reduced in the same proportions as the body.

A light cord and knee boot is shown by Fig. 10. The body is made of black enameled leather, lined with buckskin, double stitched. The shield is of heavy harness leather, worked up full and padded with hair, the buckskin lining extending the full length of the shield. The billets are cut three eighths of an inch wide and seven inches long, the buckle chapes the same width and one and one quarter inches long; the proportions are one sixth the full size.

Fig. 11 illustrates a knee and cord boot of another pattern. The body is cut of medium weight harness leather, and bound with light enameled leather; the leg strap is made of strips of black enameled leather, stitched together on the edges and through the center, and stuffed with hair; it is attached to the body by two thicknesses of black enameled leather; the shield is of heavy leather, padded with hair. The billets on the body are five inches long and one half inch wide; the billet on the leg strap is five and one half inches long and one half inch wide. The drawing is one sixth actual size.

Fig. 12 represents a combined shin, ankle, and cord boot. The body, B, is of heavy felt, bound with buckskin; the shield, A, of heavy harness leather, worked up full at the lower end; D, a piece of heavy leather, lined with buckskin, stuffed with hair so as to make a cushion about one half inch thick; C, two pieces of elastic web, the outside piece being cut a little wider than the other; the web is secured in position by the stitching which is used to attach the shield A and piece D to the body and lining; the billets are attached at the shield, and pass through small loops near the outer edge of the body; E represents the cord piece, made of heavy leather, lined with buckskin at the lower end, an inside layer being attached at the top of the cap and extending up to the top, where there are two holes, as shown in E, through which a round leather lacer passes, and by which the top ends are joined. When the cord piece is used, the thin piece is placed between the two pieces of web, C, and the top, secured by the lacer. The drawing is one fourth the actual size.

Two other styles of combination boots are shown by Figs. 13 and 14, an ankle and wrist boot. Fig. 13, the body, is of heavy blue kersey, bound with light enameled leather; the shield is of heavy harness leather; the ankle portion is worked up full and hard; owing to the thickness of the material used in the body, no stuffing is used. The wrist strap is of elastic web; it passes between the shield and body, and is held in position by the stitching. The billets for the top are cut five and one half inches long and one half inch wide; the kersey body is cut nine and one half inches wide across the top and eight inches long; the shield is three and three quarter inches in diameter; all other parts are drawn to the same scale.

Fig. 14 represents a combined shin, ankle, and wrist boot, made up of the same materials and in the same manner as Fig. 13. It is cut two inches longer than the latter, otherwise the proportions are the same; the billets are cut five inches long and one half inch wide. The wrist web is seven eighths of an inch wide.

Fig. 15 shows a design of shin and ankle boot intended as a protection to the hind legs. The body is made of black enameled leather, lined throughout with buckskin. The shin shield has but little fullness, and is padded on the under side with hair placed between the enameled leather and the buckskin, the padded section being quilted to hold the hair in position. The body to the ankle portion is also of enameled leather, lined in like manner as the shin body; the shield is of harness leather, worked up full and hard. The set of this piece depends much upon the position of the billets and buckle chape; these are shown in their proper position. The body of the shin boot is eight and three quarter inches across the top and ten and three quarter inches across the bottom; the shield is seven and three quarter inches long; the ankle shield is two and three quarter inches in diameter, all other proportions being relatively the same. The ankle billet is cut eight inches long and five eighth inches wide, about one half the length being rounded and covered with buckskin.

A shin, ankle, and speedy cut boot is shown by Fig. 16, which, like the preceding boot, is designed for the hind leg, the pattern being one of the best in use; the speedy cut portion, C, is made up separate from the shin boot, and is held in position by the lower billet of the latter passing through a long loop on the top end. The body, B, is of heavy kersey; the shield, of harness leather, worked up slightly in the leg part and full at the ankle; the under side of the shield is padded with hair; the pastern piece, C, is of black enameled leather, lined with buckskin; the shield, D, of harness leather, slightly rounded up; the billet attached to the pastern piece is covered for about one half its length with buckskin. The two upper boot billets are five inches long and five eighths of an inch wide; the lower billet is cut nine inches long; the pastern billet is cut eight inches long, one half inch wide. The illustration is drawn to one quarter the full size.

Fig. 17 represents an improved ankle boot, lighter than most other kinds, and the location of the shield is such as to give greater protection to the ankle than that of the ordinary boot. The body is cut of harness leather; the shield, which is two and one half inches in diameter, is made of harness leather, worked up full and hard; a gore is taken out of the body, the edges are closed up smooth under the concave of the shield. Two bearing cushions are used, one under the buckle chape, the other as shown by the dotted lines near the billet; these are of felt, covered with buckskin; the one under the chape is two and one quarter inches; the other, one and one half inches long and seven eighths of an inch wide; the boot is lined throughout with thin patent leather. The full measurements are: length on the top line, eight and one half inches; width of square ends, one inch; depth at the widest point, four inches. The center of the shield is six and one quarter inches from the top corner at the billet end and five inches at the buckle end; the billet is six inches long and one half inch wide.

Fig. 18 represents a plain, cheap ankle boot; the body is of heavy kersey, single or double; the shield is of harness leather, worked up full and hard at the ankle; the shield is six inches long and three and one half inches wide at the widest point and two inches wide at the top; the proportions of the body are based upon this measurement. The billets are five and one half inches long and one half inch wide; they, as well as the buckle chapes, are stitched to the body two and one half inches back of the edges.

A more expensive boot is shown by Fig. 19. The shield is of heavy russet leather struck up full and hard; the body is of heavy kersey, bound with buckskin; the leg strap is of russet leather; it is nine inches long and one inch wide; it, as well as the shield, is secured to the body by a single row of stitching. The various proportions are: shield, four and one half inches long, three and one half inches wide at the broadest point and two inches at the leg strap; the bearing pad, A, is one and one half inches long and one half inch thick; the billet is cut six inches long and one half inch wide.

Fig. 20 represents the hard leather cup ankle boot. The body is cut of heavy harness leather; a large gore is cut out of the top side, the edges of which are afterwards joined and blind stitched on the outside; the edges of the gore must be cut with a slight curve, in order to secure a regular circular fullness; the layer is cut of heavy leather, worked up full and stitched to the body; the buckle chape is cut three and one half inches long, and the billet eleven inches long. Two bearing cushions are used; one is shown by C, the outlines of the other by the dotted line near the top of the shield. These are of buckskin, stuffed with hair. The inside of the boot is skived off smooth all around the lower edge, care being taken to avoid all irregularities. The small cut A represents a side view of this boot. The large drawing is one half actual size.

Heel boots constitute a distinct class, of which there is a great variety; but those shown by the illustrations are all that are required for general use. Fig. 21 represents a well fitting boot of this class; the body is cut of medium weight harness leather; the layer is cut of heavy stock, worked up hard and stiffened by the layer under the shield; three gores are cut out of the top of the body, and the edges are joined and secured by blind stitches; a small section is gashed to form a fringe. The body is cut nine and one half inches long on the top line, four and one half inches deep in the center, and three inches at the ends; the shield is six inches long and two and one half inches deep; the billets are three inches long and one and one half inches wide.

A plain, serviceable quarter boot is shown by Fig. 22; it is made of a single piece of heavy harness leather, lined with felt; the top edge is cut as shown to provide a yielding surface and prevent injury to the horse; six gores are taken out of the bottom; the edges are joined to produce the required shape; the felt lining extends to the top and within one half inch of the bottom, and is secured as shown by the lines of stitching. Buckles are not used, the ends being fastened by means of loops attached to one, and holes cut through the other to admit their passing through; they are then locked by a heavy billet as shown. An ordinary boot is fourteen inches long on the top line of stitches, the line being described by a twelve inch radius; the lower line is contracted by the goring to twenty inches; the depth when made up is four inches.

Fig. 23 represents a toe boot for the hind foot; this is made up of heavy harness leather; the top section, indicated by the dotted line, is lined with buckskin and padded. The full length of the body is twelve inches; depth, five and one half inches; the bottom line has a sweep of three inches; the buckle and roller loop chape is cut three and one half inches long.

Another boot designed for the same purpose is shown by Fig. 24; this is cut of heavy leather, the top being lined with buckskin to make a cushion one inch deep.

Toe weight boots are designed for an entirely different purpose than those previously noticed, but they properly belong to this department.

Fig. 25 represents a boot with two weights, A; these are of lead, covered with leather. The body of the boot is of heavy leather, cut twenty-one and three quarter inches long on the lower line, and three and one eighth inches deep in the center. The billet is fourteen inches long and five eighths of an inch wide; the buckle chape is nine and one half inches long; it is attached to the lower edge of the body, and passes through a slot on the opposite side; the billet is attached in like manner and passed through a similar slot.

Another toe weight is shown by Figs. 26 and 27; the body, A, is of leather, having two slots as shown by X; the weight, B, is of lead, secured by an adjustable hook shown by Fig. 27; this is secured by a single strap which passes through the slots in the body and hook. A combined weight and quarter boot is shown by Fig. 28. The body is cut of one piece, of heavy leather, the quarter form being produced by gores; the quarter is lined with heavy felt and stiffened by layers; the toe weight and securing hook are secured by a piece of leather stitched to the body; the securing strap is stitched to the toe, and passes through a roller loop back to the buckle.