Best hoof boots for laminitic? Please help!

[Janesomerset]

I'm seriously thinking of getting some hoof boots for my laminitic to potter round in. His hoof measurement is 4 and seven-eighths inches length and four and a quarter inches width, as measured by my farrier after a trim last Wednesday. Having looked at the Old Macs website, this seems to put him in between sizes, the bigger size being size 3. What boots do you recommend, if you use or have used them? I've read you can use "comfort pads" in Old Macs, which is why I was looking at them first. Is there anywhere you can buy secondhand in case they don't fit or don't suit his needs? (have looked on eBay) Grateful for any help.

 

[AngieandBen]

I like the Cavallo ones, they are easy to put on and stay put! Have a look on here:

http://www.cavallo-inc.com/


Easily got off Ebay, you can buy the comfort pads and cut down to size either off Ebay too or from the Easycare website

 

[LucyPriory]

Cavellos over old macs every time!

and they are currently supplied with free gel pads for extra comfort.

 

[Janesomerset]

Ooh, thank you, not heard of Cavallo, but this is all new to me. Our pony is normally shod but I would love to try him without shoes, but he is not able to wander around unshod yet, particularly on our concrete yard. He is just getting over a flare-up of his laminitis caused by my being unable to soak his hay (long story, think 6" of solid ice and a yard at the top of a one-in-four hill, meaning I had to ask others to feed him for a while...it was OK when I could get the hay home to soak it myself...no water on at the yard for weeks!)

 

[Kallibear]

Def cavallo's - by far the easiest to put on. They don't rely on a tight grip to keep them on (which can be painful for a laminitic pony) and are really good for putting pads in too

They are basically round in shape (only a couple mm longer than wide) so go with the correct length fitting. If they are too wide then it's very easy to glue a bit of neoprene or similar to the inside edges to make them a little narrower. If you're going to use pads (mousemats or gardners kneeling pads are cheap and easy to cut to shape) then you'll prob need a size bigger.

I used them for our severely lamintic shetland X and they were literally a lifesaver for him.

 

[Janesomerset]

Thank you, Kallibear; looks like a unanimous vote for Cavallo then! Thank you for the advice re sizing; I'm hard up following the vet bill so want to be sure I get this right! I'd never have thought of kneeling pads...brilliant!