Happy hackers- which hoof boots do you use?

[cobbycobgirl]

Happy sunday!
I’ve decided to go ahead and try out hoof boots after my last thread.
I have a young ex racer (tb) who is being brought into light work soon and seems to be struggling with the hard rocks on the driveway a bit.
We will only be hacking and doing light schooling whilst out on hacks.
The majority of the ground surface will be grass but we do have a very lengthy driveway with tarmac and harsh rocks. Hard ground will make up about 10% of our rides. For this reason, I really don’t want to put shoes back on her (unless she needs them!).

Could you guys throw some recommendations for hoof boots my way?
Thanks in advance

 

[pistolpete]

The ones that fit your horse. They can be many contributory factors for fit. I liked cavallos initially as very forgiving on fit and can take good thick pads. So much choice nowadays.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

The ones that fit your horse. They can be many contributory factors for fit. I liked cavallos initially as very forgiving on fit and can take good thick pads. So much choice nowadays.

Would it be best to just measure her THEN find something that fits her measurements the best? I don’t have a barefoot trimmer nearby who would have any on hand to try out

 

[pistolpete]

Urban horse or hoof boutique will advise if you provide them with good photos.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

Urban horse or hoof boutique will advise if you provide them with good photos.

Thank you!

 

[Gloi]

You may get away with just boots on the front. It's worth trying before you spend on all four.
I use hoof armour on mine which I find really good and now just use the boots if I'm doing an unusually challenging ride. You may find it helps yours.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

You may get away with just boots on the front. It's worth trying before you spend on all four.
I use hoof armour on mine which I find really good and now just use the boots if I'm doing an unusually challenging ride. You may find it helps yours.

Thanks for the advice! Someone on Facebook got really upset at me asking about hoof armour and essentially told me I was “poisoning my horse” if I ever tried it lol.
Would you recommend it? The sharp rocks consist a very small part of the ride!

 

[Mrs G]

I started my TB with cavallo treks on the front (back feet were already unshod). I got advice from the Hoof Bootique and emailed them some photos and measurements, and that’s what she recommended. As others have said, they are quite forgiving to fit and easy to get on/off. They are often used as a ‘starter’ barefoot boot but I’ve stayed with them - they do for us and our type of hacking (ambling about for an hour or two on a mixture of grass paths, muddy lanes, stoney tracks and tarmac roads). I’m on to my second pair in 8 years; I wish my yard/riding boots lasted so well!

 

[Peglo]

I used the hoof boutique. I sent them measurements and I got some shells to try for fit. I wanted scoots but they didn’t fit my mares hooves so ended up with easyboot gloves. Liz at hoof boutique was so helpful and was so glad to have her help to get it right.

 

[Gloi]

Thanks for the advice! Someone on Facebook got really upset at me asking about hoof armour and essentially told me I was “poisoning my horse” if I ever tried it lol.
Would you recommend it? The sharp rocks consist a very small part of the ride!

I find it really good though the effectiveness seems to build over time as it allows a thicker sole to develop. My experience anyway.
I've used it for about two years now.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I started my TB with cavallo treks on the front (back feet were already unshod). I got advice from the Hoof Bootique and emailed them some photos and measurements, and that’s what she recommended. As others have said, they are quite forgiving to fit and easy to get on/off. They are often used as a ‘starter’ barefoot boot but I’ve stayed with them - they do for us and our type of hacking (ambling about for an hour or two on a mixture of grass paths, muddy lanes, stoney tracks and tarmac roads). I’m on to my second pair in 8 years; I wish my yard/riding boots lasted so well!

Thank you so much! The hoof boutique seems fab I’ll definitely get in touch. Is there a charge for their advice?

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I find it really good though the effectiveness seems to build over time as it allows a thicker sole to develop. My experience anyway.
I've used it for about two years now.

Do you apply it yourself or is it something you’d need a professional to do for you?

 

[Gloi]

Do you apply it yourself or is it something you’d need a professional to do for you?

You do it yourself. Once you've done it a time or two it's easy. You just need the feet clean and dry.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I love my scoots urban horse sent me a fitting kit with three sized shells for £45 after I sent them pictures and measurements. Once I sent the boots back I got £30 back. Bought the boots and pads from them and I’ve went back to them for other items as I’ve been impressed with the service

 

[expanding_horizon]

Thanks for the advice! Someone on Facebook got really upset at me asking about hoof armour and essentially told me I was “poisoning my horse” if I ever tried it lol.
Would you recommend it? The sharp rocks consist a very small part of the ride!

I think you are mixing up Hoof Amour and Keratex hoof hardener (which contains formaldehyde and many people have strong objections to using).

 

[Zoeypxo]

I use cavallos all round on my warmblood. The terrain i hack on is mostly rough stones so i do wear through them quicker than some. Highly reccomend them if they fit your horse.

 

[paddy555]

to my mind cavallos (or similar) are too bulky especially for a TB and the break over is not good enough. I only use vipers.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I used the hoof boutique. I sent them measurements and I got some shells to try for fit. I wanted scoots but they didn’t fit my mares hooves so ended up with easyboot gloves. Liz at hoof boutique was so helpful and was so glad to have her help to get it right.

Thank you!! I’ll definitely try them out

 

[cobbycobgirl]

You do it yourself. Once you've done it a time or two it's easy. You just need the feet clean and dry.

Thank you

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I love my scoots urban horse sent me a fitting kit with three sized shells for £45 after I sent them pictures and measurements. Once I sent the boots back I got £30 back. Bought the boots and pads from them and I’ve went back to them for other items as I’ve been impressed with the service

This seems fab! Thank you for telling me

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I think you are mixing up Hoof Amour and Keratex hoof hardener (which contains formaldehyde and many people have strong objections to using).

I think you’re right. The conversation was about hoof hardeners and someone brought up keratex and she lost it

 

[cobbycobgirl]

I use cavallos all round on my warmblood. The terrain i hack on is mostly rough stones so i do wear through them quicker than some. Highly reccomend them if they fit your horse.

how long do they tend to last you?

 

[cobbycobgirl]

to my mind cavallos (or similar) are too bulky especially for a TB and the break over is not good enough. I only use vipers.

I’ll have a look at vipers. Thank you!

 

[Zoeypxo]

how long do they tend to last you?

About a year, still cheaper than shoes but i know alot of people get alot longer

 

[Caol Ila]

Like Paddy, my favourite boots are Renegade Vipers but ultimately you need the brand that fits your horse.

I found it easier to take the measurements and then send that info to the Hoof Bootique, who advised on what was likely to fit. The advice is free, but sometimes they advise you to use their fit kit, which is a bunch of shells of different boots. That costs £50. But it was worth it because you work out what fits your horse, and you don't have the faff of trying boots, then sending them back, ad infinitum.

 

[ycbm]

I think you are mixing up Hoof Amour and Keratex hoof hardener (which contains formaldehyde and many people have strong objections to using).

Hoof Armour is an epoxy resin glue like Araldite, I think people have (unwarranted) objections to both that and Keratex. Neither product is remotely unsafe used as directed.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I use hoof armour as we only have a few bits of very stony ground and it does the job most of the time, in the depths of summer when it's very hard and stony I get off and lead then jumpm back on once on the better ground.

Works for us but my Arab is only barely 15h and his good to mount anywhere and I found the boots a big faff especially as 90% of my hacking he doesn't need them.

 

[cobbycobgirl]

About a year, still cheaper than shoes but i know alot of people get alot longer

This sounds great. Thanks!

 

[cobbycobgirl]

Like Paddy, my favourite boots are Renegade Vipers but ultimately you need the brand that fits your horse.

I found it easier to take the measurements and then send that info to the Hoof Bootique, who advised on what was likely to fit. The advice is free, but sometimes they advise you to use their fit kit, which is a bunch of shells of different boots. That costs £50. But it was worth it because you work out what fits your horse, and you don't have the faff of trying boots, then sending them back, ad infinitum.

They sound great. Im gonna Wait For my girl to have a fresh trim then do exactly this! Thanks

 

[cobbycobgirl]

Hoof Armour is an epoxy resin glue like Araldite, I think people have (unwarranted) objections to both that and Keratex. Neither product is remotely unsafe used as directed.
.

Thanks! Honestly she scared me a bit. “You wouldn’t put those things on your youngster if you CARED about her” did seem a bit extreme lol