Best boots for big footed horse and will they help my horse?

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canteron

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I have quite a chunky 16hh horse. She had an abscess last November from a very deep blackthorn puncture (ouch!). Despite currently having a shoe and pad it has reinfected, so I have to try something else as after 4 months this isn't any fun for either of us.

My thoughts are that the pad clearly isn't protecting the wound enough and some dirt must be getting in, so I need to be able to get to the wound and keep clean for a good few months. She isn't a great horse to stable so I like to keep her out pretty much 24/7.

I am thinking I can poultice for a couple of weeks until we are sound, but then try just plugging with karatex if the weather is dry (so I can take out and clean the hole every few days but use hoof boots (with extra vetwrap/duct tape if necessary) if wet (luckily I am on sandy soil at the top of a hill so we the ground does tend to dry out quite quickly.

Any thoughts on will this work and more importantly, on the make of boot would be best.

Thanks you so much to anyone/everyone who can help.
 
Ecrozier, have just read up about Cavallo and they are the first boot that they actually say can be used for turnout.

Are you thinking that if it has drainage holes then dirt can come is as well as out? I think I could probably plug the hole (it is so deep, with cotton wool, and then if the boot would just help keep it in place that would be work. I quite like the fact that the hoof can breathe - as it is going to be an extended use.

Do you use paston wraps? They look as if they could be just the thing.

Final question, does your horse have big feet!! Or do you have any thoughts on whether they would be OK for the chunkier person?
 
please note = Cavallo Pastern Wraps are only good for one thing, and that is filling a space in a rubbish bin ! They are useless. ;)

Cavallos are suited to horses with round feet - I would do some searching on here before you take the plunge. I like mine, but because the wraps are so useless, have had to use them without, and yes they have rubbed - it's a work in progress.

If I bought again, I would go for something that sits below the hairline, as obviously feathers are involved, and it makes thing awkward. I think Easy boots sit below the hairline ?
 
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Boots won't help if your horse is slopping around in the mud. If it keeps reinfecting either you are not keeping it clean enough or there is possibly a foreign object in the hoof. It may be time to consider xraying the hoof. If your horse won't stable can you at least keep him on an area of concrete or hard standing?
 
I used hoof stuff on mine once the hole had finished draining, made by red horse products. Did the trick!
 
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