Do hoof boots provide any shock absorption?

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Scot123

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Hi. Am struggling to find any good articles on this - most info I can find is on hoof boot manufacturers websites...

I've a pony with chronic tendon problems in fore knee. Have to exercise on hard surfaces and wondering if there'd be a benefit in not shoeing but using boots.

There was a tv program not long ago dishing fancy trainers saying they don't really provide any extra cushioning. Obviously hoof boots will protect the hooves from eg sharp stones, but will they cushion the leg at all?
 
If you think about how the concussion rates might differ between solid metal with no cushioning hitting the ground, compared to an inch of heavy duty rubber with the option of adding extra padding too.........what do you reckon?
 
and the fact that an unshod hoof works as it's own shock absorber, albeit not quite so much in boots as bare depending on the boots I imagine.
 
Maybe. But when you also think of the weight of the horse, is an inch (optimistically) of rubber really that effective?

Because back to the trainer thing - I would have presumed a significant difference there, but when looked at under controlled conditions there wasn't actually.

So would rather not just go on what I reckon...
 
I'm not sure any of the ones with increased padding and therefore potentially more shock absorption are that suitable for riding in either iirc. Is the horse shod currently? It would potentially be better without whether you boot or not as they are quite good at producing their own shock absorbers ;)

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Point taken!! Frogs are kind of good I guess!!

Not shod at the moment as had to be given several months rest. Had fronts on prior to that.

Definitely do no harm as you say. Would just like to find if they do any good - next stop will be to ask the vet.
 
The problem with asking the vet is that most vets won't know, because they won't have been trained to know, and comparative studies are thin on the ground as you have found.

There's a few points for your consideration:

As far as I am aware, no one disputes that the bare hoof is a better shock absorber than the shod hoof.

Also, work on surfaces such as tarmac is often recommended by Barefooters to help stimulate hoof growth, so long as this work is built up in a sensible fashion to allow the hoof to adjust its growth rate to wear.

While I don't know if hoof boots offer more or less shock absorption than bare, they will be better than shoes, at any rate. And they will protect the sole from bruising/protect from excessive wear.

To me it's a no-brainer: in terms of shock absorption, which I think you're trying to maximise to help with the tendon thing, metal shoes come off worst of the lot.
 
If I were you I would leave the shoes off and boot if you need to for comfort. I wouldn't be keen to put metal shoes back on.
 
We have recently (last year) taken all four shoes off our pony, He has been chronically lame in the past with x 4 PSD. Our aim is to help him as much as possible in staying sound by creating support for his legs, and we thought what could be better than his own feet - after all they are designed for him.

It has taken a lot of courage though, as our Farrier (who is good but is a shoer nonetheless) advised to keep him shod "for support" and the vet said shoe also.

He is doing well without though, and we have the support of a barefoot trimmer
 
Hi and thanks. I think the forums here are great as you're all like the voices of common sense! I get so wound up in the problem that it's easy to overlook the simplest answers and overcomplicate things.

Yes, makes total sense not to shoe the pony again. And because some sort of protection is needed, to boot when necessary whether they help concussion or not (still like to know out of interest!)

I would be very interested to hear more of your pony's story Smurfs Gran, having had a quick read up of psd there are some similarities there.

Arrrgh - now on the route (again) of investigating the most suitable boots.
 
Give Liz at hoofbootique.co.uk a shout (though she's moving just now); she's extremely helpful! The most suitable boots depend on what you want to do, and your horse's foot shape. Most important is the fit, especially if you want to do more than fairly slow hacking. I'm a Renegade fan myself, but they are a harder material than the Easyboots, which may be important to you. Equine Fusion may also be worth a look in your situation.
 
Hi Scot 123.
Our pony is aged 11, have had him since he was six, and he is my daughters. Went lame in hinds after we had had him less than a year, and bone spavin was diagnosed along with PSD in hinds which was "chronic" and prognosis guarded. Had shock wave and hocks injected, sound - ish and rehabbing, then went lame on fronts and PSD also diagnosed. Vet one advised us to retire him. Vet two ( following second opinion) did more shockwave in fronts ( and also more in hinds) and course of Adequan also. Following loads of box rest he came soundish ( apart from on a tight circle)
Advised he was good for hacking, and advised to put shoes on also (had tried to go barefoot at that point, but he was very footy - which I now think was more to do with his diet that needing shoes) Vet two advised shoeing him "wide" he was shod in Jim Blurton sports bars in hinds, and egg bars in front - since this he has stayed sound to date for hacking and showing ( he is still slightly unsound on tight circles so we don't do anything where he would be asked to do this)

I couldn't help feeling though that his own feet might just the the best thing for him - they would wear the way they need to, and would be good shock absorbers. I did not feel confident about taking the plunge re going barefoot -specially as out farrier was advising keeping shoes on, and particularly as the pony has had so many problems - but the support and advice of a reputable barefoot trimmer has helped us. Good luck. I cant help feeling that if we give nature a helping hand our horses can thrive.

We have Back Country Easyboots. Not been using them very long but they seem fine
 
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Definitely speak to some of the suppliers, the lady at equine podiatry supplies is nice too ref boots. To get on with them and for them to work fit is definitely crucial so I think advice really helps.

I got my first pair of easyboot gloves 3/4 years ago (I've lost count! 3 I think!?) they don't get used much any more but they are still going!
 
OK, let me have a little waffle.
I am a barefoot convert, did a lot of study on it, ... good idea... concussion from steel shoes [try running in crampons!]
Then I tore a meniscus in my own knee [age related apparently] So I had to be careful as anything eg a bit of gravel would cause a twist and I would be on crutches again.
So I thought, I'l wear thick soled walking shoes ................ WRONG!!!!! The thing to wear is thin soled shoes outside, no slippers in the house. WHY? same reason as horse, PROPRIORECEPTION ..... the automatic responses are generated by the nerves etc , if you wear walking boots you block the propriorecption.. Its simple, a human runner can't use thick soled and cushioned trainers as it blocks the balance. there are now people who run "barefoot", there are special barefoot trainers, no thick soles, just the minimum sole thickness.

So I suggest you use nothing to to "stop concusssion" only use pads to prevent pain from the sole, but not if the pain problem is further up.

Interestingly, I continue to wear nothing on my feet in the house, and they have sort of "opened up" relaxed, I can almost feel them reaching for the floor, it definitely is something that has changed over time.

I have a tub of pro hoof minerals , perhaps I should sprinkle some on my porridge?
 
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Barefeet have to be best let's face it. From a concussion perspective metal has to be worst. Boots somewhere in the middle (they are more grippy on Tarmac in some ways so possibly cause some concussion because of that).

I would agree with the suggestion to go bare as much as possible and use boots if you need them. Having now got renegades after using cavallos and easy boots, I wouldn't use anything else. Expensive yes but the closest thing to her own feet and so easy to put on
 
I perhaps wouldn't go for renegades straight off though as most feet change size,frank was unusual not to I think.
 
Hi FfionWinnie - how easy are the renegades to work out correct size and how easy/quick are they to put on? I currently use cavallo which took a few goes to get the right size, I like them, especially as they are so easy to put on/take off but would idealy like a boot that is less clumpy..
 
Maybe there's part of me that just wants to do something and feels that getting boots would be me at least trying to help. But then again maybe that's what boot manufactures want me to feel...

I'm really glad you're having some success with your wee pony Smurfs Gran. Hope it keeps going well. Similarly we've been told to retire ours or if we're lucky then some hacking. We're hoping for the latter as she's quite young too and enjoys being out and about.

Just want to do something, it's very frustrating!!
 
scot if she is well enough start some road walking, 5 mins and build up slowly. Good for the feet and for the knee I should think. Good diet, someone who is barefoot friendly to hold your hand if needed ;) (I switched to a trimmer as my farrier admitted he had no idea about bf rehab), boots if foot sore (not if not) and time.

the patience bit is a bit frustrating as I just wanted to know if it was going to work!
 
Brandy77, the Renegades take seconds to put on and off. Now there's also the Renegade "Viper", which is really lean and mean (but I'm told is less forgiving of fit?).

Scot123, at least you're critically evaluating your own thought process! :) I can understand that the transition is difficult for so many people in the UK. I grew up in barefoot-friendly surroundings, where there was also not a centuries-old guild with a stranglehold on hoofcare. The thought that "the pros" might not have all the answers all the time isn't that strange. What bothers me is that so many pretend that they do, and then horses suffer. It's no wonder that the average horse owner doesn't know whom to trust any more.
 
I'd think very carefully before using any form of boot with excessive rubber grippiness (for want if a better word).

The horses foot and gait is designed to allow some slippage - change that and you will likely exert a force higher up the limb. Exactly what you don't want!

I'm sure there are boots out there that do the job you want but research carefully
 
ihatework said:
I'd think very carefully before using any form of boot with excessive rubber grippiness (for want if a better word).

The horses foot and gait is designed to allow some slippage - change that and you will likely exert a force higher up the limb. Exactly what you don't want!

I'm sure there are boots out there that do the job you want but research carefully
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yes, have a look on the easy care website as they talk about the grippy versus not so grippy-in fact I think they've stopped the Grips (which were only ever intended for use on very slick surfaces such as ice anyway) and the Old G1s whereby they were a bit too grippy (and the G1s had a longer break over) due to that in part.

None of mine have shoes on, all wear boots at times (including G1s!) but boots are only for specific things or for certain times of year for us (i.e. going over a particularly rough road which has now been tarmacced yay-or when their feet aren't fit coming out of winter). Proprioperception is a good point too and I find that some horses dislike more clumpy boots (such as cavallos and trails) and won't really walk out in them whereas stick them in some gloves/back countries and they are completely happy.
 
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The bottom of the easyboots, and I think the renegades are more like plastic and the grippiness comes from the super large treads for want of a better word that engage on softer ground only.

Some (though I've not seen any) like the fusions seem to have more of a rubber/trainer like bottom.

I think the need for a degree of slip is probably speed related, at walk I don't think we get any but the marks Frank acquires on the back of his frogs suggest we probably do at higher speeds.
 
Hi, yup we've been building up inhand road walking over the last few months. Going well - then a couple of trips/stumbles recently. This was a sign of the knee problem before - but she also used to do this with a bit of footyness when out without shoes previously. So another thought was if I pop on some boots then at least i can rule out sore feet if she trips.

Yes I've heard you don't necessarily want too much traction for normal work. I liked the cavallos I had for a previous pony and remember the time spent investigating them. But doing the homework definitely worth it...

Patience?! Now if I could just buy some of that please.
 
Nothing to add except I love my renegades and having seen my sister try cavallos, trails and fusions as her horse transitions I will definitely stick to my renegades! The fit is perfect for my horse who has really round little feet.
 
Brandy77 said:
Hi FfionWinnie - how easy are the renegades to work out correct size and how easy/quick are they to put on? I currently use cavallo which took a few goes to get the right size, I like them, especially as they are so easy to put on/take off but would idealy like a boot that is less clumpy..
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They are on a par with Cavallos in terms of ease of application I would say. I got lucky and got a second hand pair of renegades for half new price so my advice would be to keep an eye out for a bargain. I thought my mare would be hard to fit but they are a perfect fit. She has enormous feet for the height of her.
 
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