Barefoot advice - horse sore on stones

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emfen1305

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So we are 9 weeks post shoe removal and my horse is still struggling on the 10 metre stony path up to the main bit of the yard. The farrier came to do his first trim since having them off (he's been checked twice in that time just to rasp the edges where the nail holes have grown down) and noticed some bruising on both soles near the white line - worse on the left. Farrier hoof tested but no reaction and said it will be old bruising (30-60 days) which would make sense as he was quite sore just before Christmas. He's fine in the school and on the concrete and tarmac, landing heel first but he is really struggling up the cobbles or if he walks on a stone. I have gone back to putting medical boots on to walk him to the field but is there anything else I can do to help? I know 9 weeks isn't very long but our hacking is quite stony and worried about getting back on him in March.

He is fed TB chaff, Equimins balancer, linseed and a couple of hay cobs and Hay. I know boots seem like the sensible option so I am doing a bit of research if I need them but just wondering if there is anything else I can do to help.
 
It took a long time for frank to be ok on stones as he was very flat soled. It is worth remembering that they usually avoid bruising because they can at least feel it.
He was booted until 6 months for all road work, after that reduced and would do all bit the worst tracks without. So you are way ahead of where we were!
Early days but the movement will help lay down additional sole. Frank’s remained fairly flat but were very thick.
 
My horse is almost 9 and has been BF for 8 of those years and he is still footy on stones. He has thin soles and no amount of low sugar/starch high fibre diet with Forage Plus balancer tailored to our grass has made a jot of difference so just be aware it doesn't work for every horse. Haven't given up though 😁 He wears boots all round for hacking.
 
He's coped so well behind I am just disheartened that it's not going as smoothly in front but he is built downhill so I suppose he's putting a lot of pressure on them. I am working to try and get him to lift himself so he's a bit lighter on his feet. I have drastically reduced the walking as he went quite sore and was worried but he seems OK now so I think i'll go back to our daily walks. I am looking at Scoot Boots as I think they will best suit his foot shape but any other recommendations appreciated, the medical boots are a PITA!
 
I use gloves, with power straps but with the latter do need a mallet to get them on usually. Without the power straps in can get them on and off with a wiggle and used to take them off for the grass stretches and put them back on for the road.
Scoot sizing can be a bit odd, they seem to come out larger than the size suggests.

I’d only ever use a low profile boot like those/renegades for full work as the breakover can be compromised too much in others- I do think the easyboot shell probably wins out on that side of it for me. But as I’m sure you’re aware fit is everything :)
 
I just like the jazzy coloured straps :p My farrier is keen to keep him barefoot so I said I would make a decision on the next trim about the boots which is in another 8 weeks, hopefully then we can measure and get a good fit but who knows!
 
I think a lot of horses will be a footy on stony ground, my barefoot one still will feel a sharp stone but his happy on the road and in the school so I just avoid really stony tracks when I can, his been barefoot for about a 1.5 years now.
 
The easy boot gloves are fantastic! My lad has IR and had laminitis. After it was all over he was foot sore on stony ground and has been for some time. I use the gloves when hacking him out as they stop this. I have soft innersoles for him too and he goes wonderfully. I've been using them two years now. He no longer needs the innersoles but goes better on stony ground with the boots. I tried two other makes and they just weren't anywhere near as good. On one occasion I had a easy treck boot fly off and nearly knock out my friend!!!
 
lol, we have lost the odd glove at speed (I think he steps on the back of them). but they have always just flapped attached to his fetlock.

you do bring up a good point, the lower profile the boot the fewer the padding options but I think most are fine without, I never used any, I have some just in case they are in my wardrobe!
 
Sorry hellfire couldn't help but giggle at that image!

I've looked at them and they look like a good option too, I think I might contact the hoof boutique - i think its called as I think they stock and help with sizing! i've gone back to walking him on the concrete as the ground is so soft in the field and can't imagine he does much walking and will look at boots once pay day comes on January 300th (not a typo, definitely feels that long!)
 
emfen1305 said:
Sorry hellfire couldn't help but giggle at that image!

I've looked at them and they look like a good option too, I think I might contact the hoof boutique - i think its called as I think they stock and help with sizing! i've gone back to walking him on the concrete as the ground is so soft in the field and can't imagine he does much walking and will look at boots once pay day comes on January 300th (not a typo, definitely feels that long!)
Click to expand...

I must admit after my friend explained the horror of the boot flying towards her face as we were galloping along I had to laugh!!! Took us ages to find the thing! Never lost one of the easy boot gloves as like a glove! Ive done (well Sparky has) all sorts with the glove with no issues. I had a size set sent to me. It's ideal and then you can know for sure what size and order from them or try second hand. Get your lads feet the size they are about a pair of weeks after trimming. They have to be a tight fit and the power strap really helps too. The first few times putting them on you will struggle. Then it just becomes second nature like saddling up. Sparky automatically lifts his foot ready and pops it down to press his own foot it!! He even un does the velcrow fetlock wraps when we get back😂. Here's him sporting his boots. Sorry couldn't help the purple power strap!
 

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lol I got silver as I thought would look snazzy, they've mostly been coverd in mud ever since.

We did use them again last spring and as just light hacking suggested to mum she could take them off for easier fitting - which she did but left the grommets in from the inside of the boot in place, she'd lost 2 by then!
 
THIS IS A GAME CHANGER - you can get coloured straps!? I found green ones, I am sold! I think I prefer the fetlock straps too, they look sturdier! I shall ponder, there's not much price difference between those and scoot boots!
 
pmsl! I do prefer them over scoots, I strongly suspect rub prone ginger would have had an issue with scoots. Never had a rub in the gloves even when wearing them all day over the newforest (in very wet boggy conditions for june).
They also stayed on in some proper deep boggy conditions at a walk (which was handy as I wouldnt have wanted to get off to find them!) the only time they irritate me is they do rely on their rough inside to grip the hoof a bit so if you do loose one going fast, then your horse gets a wet muddy hoof, you loose it again the next time you canter ;).

You can also heat fit them a bit I think :) but definitely rely on a good close fit. saying that ours were less than perfect to start with, in part due to his wear pattern and he had bullnosed fronts but they worked fine. They are 'designed' for barefoot feet so don't fit all for transition- F's unusual to still fit in the same size albeit the 6yo ones have stretched a bit. I've not used scoots or renegades myself but have seen others use them and the profile on the gloves is better and even using a mallet they are less faffy than the cables in a renegade.

this was 6yo ago, still have the boots.
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I was going to ask if they stay on "at speed" - not that we go all that fast but we do like the stubble fields in the summer but the track to get there is really rocky and he even struggled a bit in shoes in summer! We've got one more month before I can get back on so have one more month to overthink my decision :p
 
generally I found sometimes they did and sometimes they didn't less so in company ;), less so with the power straps, I bought some muller tape to try with them but then he broke so never did. Jumping logs etc never lost one.
I suspect because they will still delay breakover a bit they can catch them from behind as the front hoof is a little slow to leave the floor.
 
We've been miles over all terrains in all conditions and boy some bogs and speed! Not at the same time may I add aquaplaining bogs!! Never have they come off. The other two types I gave a good fair try did. It's really important to get a good tight fit. I learned trimming years ago so keep his foot a nice snug fit but if you don't they will still generally go 6-8 weeks or get a rasp and in between just take a tiny bit off untill your farrier comes. A axle stand is very handy! Do pay the deposit for the fit kit as its really good for getting the right size as its so important if you want them to stay on. They are so snug they generally don't interfere like some boots do with their feet and walking. If your horse over reaches you can still use over reach bell boots. The power strap makes the top tighter especially if your horses hooves don't fully fill the top. My friends up the road have used them for years and do demonstrations with their gorgeouse Spanish horses. They swear by them too over any others. If you was local to me you could come see and try as they were so taken by them they now sell them when they tour.
 
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