Barefoot shoes

Wow, that looks really interesting, could they be used instead of a hoof boot? would be great to have the convience of a shoe but with the benefits of being bare !
 
Be interesting to see if these do the job. Might be useful for laminitics and frog infections amongst other things. Wonder how affordable they would be.

You going to be a test pilot Oberon ?
 
especially as it is created for the same reasons as shoes-i.e. hooves need protection and don't cope and negates to use the open air properties of shoes so will encourage thrush. Additionally grip and concussion are going to be an issue as is wear and glue damage to the hoof wall/problems if loosing it midway round a ride - not quick and easy to replace! i don't really understand why any barefooter would be interested in this exceot that thet also produce hooft boots...
 
Certainly would be interesting to see how well they stay on. Their Glue on boots have proven themselves before.

I wouldn't be adversed to using nails with them....

As someone with a horse ravaged by metabolic disease, I would be happy to consider these over conventional shoes. To be able to have full time protection WITH a workable tread, frog stimulation and heel involvement would be wonderful.

There are many horses out there who's hooves are so very unhealthy :(. Sometimes removing the shoes is the best option - but for some, the damage is too far gone and living barefoot and being comfortable in work is impossible.

I'm hoping for more innovation and a future that isn't just the polar opposites of SHOD or BARE......
 
I think it could have benefits in certain circumstances.

Where concussion is a problem and the shock absorption would be useful.

For horses that become footy in Spring and don't cope with hoof boots, so for a short period of time, that protection would enable them to exercise.

For temporary hoof conditions, such as recovery after an abscess until the hole in the hoof has grown back.

To give horses with poor feet that can't hold a nailed on shoe, a bit of recovery time.

That's if they stay on..
 
I agree, horserider :).

From memory, I believe they came up with these in the US originally because they had a barefoot racehorse that was not allowed to run in most races due to track officials insisting on shoes. Some allowed Glue On Boots, but mostly they were insisting on a shoe....so Easycare decided to move laterally and design a shoe of their own :D

racehorsehoofboot_zpsad2e8e94.jpeg
 
apologies-some spelling probs-typing one handed. I mean they are seen as good because a barefoot company produce them. plastic shoes have been done before with poor long term success and couldnt quite see are these plastic or rubber?
 
SusieT said:
apologies-some spelling probs-typing one handed. I mean they are seen as good because a barefoot company produce them. plastic shoes have been done before with poor long term success and couldnt quite see are these plastic or rubber?
Click to expand...

They are rubber hence all the flexing demonstration (which frankly gave me the Heebie jeebies lol). They look to be the same stuff as the hoof boots, very interesting re possibly nailing on Oberon, hadn't thought of that option.
 
I wouldn't like to nail them on. Nails are one big source of problems. Don't know what I think about them tbh. Just seems to me another way to keep on doing what we want regardless of the health of the hoof and horse. I realize comfortable exercize is important for health and development of the hoof, I think I prefer boots because pads etc. can be fitted easily and the hoof can be bare the rest of the time. Mud and gunk can still get stuck in this sort of device. I know my views are at the more extreme end of the scale. :p
I'd prefer better and more varied boot design. Having said that is the choice is only these or nailed on shoes, I'd go for these.
 
Very interesting.

I would be worried on how to pick out the hoof?? If the only access was that hole in the middle how would you remove stones etc? But I like the idea that more thought is going into newer/better designs. Nothing's perfect to begin with, but can and hopefully will improve with time and more research into them/design.
 
If there was a way to use these just for a day ie. glue that allowed you to re use them and if they could have stud holes added so studs could be used then I would be very interested.

So, keep horse barefoot but when needed pop on shoes for a day to use studs...
 
It would be interesting to see how they stay on and how easy they are to keep clean.

My IR horse has to have his boots on when turntout and ridden as he can't cope completely bf...,but that's due to a very bad rotation in his front tootsies from two years ago.
My WB and old mare are completely fine without shoes.
 
rubber-oh dear! people had this great idea about rubber shoes years ago - problem was they discovered they causd more concussion as the spring in the rubber seemed to travel up the leg. Definitely not an advance!
 
picolenicole said:
Very interesting.

I would be worried on how to pick out the hoof?? If the only access was that hole in the middle how would you remove stones etc?
Click to expand...
My eldest mare, after 11 years barefoot, has had to have hoof protection for various age, metabolic problems and her comfort, I'm importing Hoof-it plastic composite shoes which also have that sort of 'hole in the middle' the glue only goes on the underside with these and so that stops dirt etc getting under the shoe. I poke the hoof pick through the collaterals and out the back under the heel part as the heels are free to move so can wiggle underneath. It's early days and only on 3rd set but she has a new lease of life at the moment. Hers are glued and 2 nails each side as glue only seems to last 3 weeks in this country due to the weather lol!! Interested in the look of these too but expect it will be the usual problem of them not being made large enough sadly.
 
SusieT said:
rubber-oh dear! people had this great idea about rubber shoes years ago - problem was they discovered they causd more concussion as the spring in the rubber seemed to travel up the leg. Definitely not an advance!
Click to expand...

And yet hoof boots have been used successfully all over the world......

These 'shoes' will be made of the same material as the boots.

I don't think anyone other than yourself is suggesting they are good just because of the company who makes them :confused:.

The reason I am interested over plastic shoes is that these will be marketed towards performance, rather than remedial use.

But if you just wish to offer snarky comments - please enjoy yourself :rolleyes:.
 
and yet hoof boots don't bend like that-they're plastc. I am just constantly amazed at the hipocrisy involved in this..
 
SusieT chooses unfortunate ways to express herself, but buried in that lot she makes one valid point.

Research on human running shoes has shown that soles that return energy to the foot allow the transmission of much greater forces into the joints. I think the same thing may well be true of these rubber/plastic/? shoes.

Having said that, I would far rather see these on my horses' feet than steel and they look like a very good option between shod and barefoot for horses with badly compromised feet, especially temporarily while waiting for the foot to become tough enough to go without shoes.
 
What would worry me is that they will probably come off - just as shoes can, and especially if nailed on will start to destroy the hoof as the nails do - and as the owner of TBs who couldn't keep shoes on for a week, I've dealt first hand with the damaged hooves as the ripped off shoes tore more and more hoof away........I think I'll stick with my Cavallo hoof boots!
 
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