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Review: Horze Rovigo Tall Boots

3/23/2015

7 Comments

 
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The Horze Rovigo Tall Boots offer style and warmth in a saddle-ready winter tall boot. These boots are warm, featuring a synthetic wool lining that runs throughout the entire boot, including around the top of the foot area. This lining definitely kept my legs warm, though I would have liked a little extra lining in the foot area.

These boots are wonderfully stylish, and I have received countless compliments on them from both horse people and non-horse people. They look great paired with breeches, but are also loose fitting enough that I've worn them with jeans without a problem. These boots could easily double as a standard pair of winter boots for someone who doesn't ride.

The grip on the sole is good, and these boots are intended for riding use. However, the foot is somewhat bulky, and I found myself feeling a little stuck in the stirrups. Because of the thickness of both the footbed and the ankle area, it was difficult to tell just where my leg was pressing against my horse. Because of this I don't favor these boots for riding, but they've become my go-to pair of winter barn boots.

The two elastic straps along the sides are adjustable with Velcro, allowing you to tailor the fit of the boots to the outfit that you're wearing. These boots themselves are made of nubuck leather, which has held up well; I've used these boots for an entire season now.

I did have one major problem with these boots, in that the back of the heel area is made of a plastic or metal cup which irritated the back of my ankle and tendon. While breaking in these boots helped, I am still irritated by this area if I walk any real distance - hand walking my horse in these boots is out, unless I wear two pairs of socks. The double-sock method is effective in solving the issue, but it's not ideal.

All in all, these boots are great for working around the barn, and if you're not bothered by their bulk, then you can also ride in them. I'm impressed by their quality, and enjoy the warmth that they provide. The Rovigo Tall Boots are available from Horze.com.

7 Comments

Review: The Water Bucket Cozy

3/22/2015

2 Comments

 
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It seems almost too good to be true: A water bucket insulator that, when wrapped around a bucket, can help to keep the water from freezing during the winter without any need for electricity.

I was skeptical at first, but in testing The Water Bucket Cozy out in New England winters, though, I quickly became a believer in this product. The Water Bucket Cozy wraps easily around your standard 20-quart bucket, and large Velcro tabs allow you to adjust the Cozy so that it fits snugly. The top of the Cozy then fits over the top of the bucket, and secures to the bottom of the Cozy with more Velcro. The whole process takes just a few seconds, and your horse is left with a decent sized hole through which he can drink.

I have now used The Water Bucket Cozy for three winters in a row, and it has made dealing with water buckets SO much easier. I used the Cozy in an unheated barn, and not once did my horse's water freeze overnight or throughout the day. Additionally, I used the Cozy to help keep a bucket placed out in the pasture from freezing, which it did successfully. All of the horses (five of them) drank from the Cozy without hesitation.

The Cozy's length of effectiveness in preventing or slowing the development of ice partially depends on the temperatures that you're dealing with. Even in negative temperatures the Cozy kept water buckets from freezing overnight, though I did replace and refresh the water each morning. The Cozy presents an excellent solution to breaking open thick ice on water buckets, and it makes winter horse care much easier in this respect.

One potential issue you might encounter with the Cozy is that some of the more playful horses might see it as a toy, as was the case in my barn. The horses never did much damage to the Cozy, a testament to the product's durability, but some did play with their water buckets and made a bit of a mess in their stalls.

The Cozy held up remarkably well, especially considering the wear and tear it sustained. I managed to get between two and three seasons of use out of the Cozy before it was really time to replace it due to warn-out Velcro and hard-playing horses.

I would highly recommend The Water Bucket Cozy to any horse owner who is sick of breaking open iced-over water buckets. The Cozy eliminates the need for a heated bucket or a hammer, and it does so impressively successfully even in bitter temperatures.

The Water Bucket Cozy is made by Wild Angel Cozy.

2 Comments

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    Disclaimer

    The Equine Insider receives no compensation for product reviews. Our experiences with the products and with the companies may not be the same as your experiences. All product reviews are opinion and are based on our personal use. We are not responsible for any experience or interaction you may have with these companies or products, and we make no guarantee or warranty that the products will perform in the same or similar manner for your intended use.
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