Hoof boot recomendations

[hellspells]

Hi, looking for hoof boot recommendations for a Dartmoor pony. They don’t need to stand up to hours and hours of hacking. More for an hour maximum work and going to and from the field (current hoof issues and a stony path).

Many thanks

 

[PapaverFollis]

I've heard good things about scoot boots. My mare is too big for them though so we use Cavellos which do the job. The most important thing to to measure the feet and get boots that fit. Look up Hoof Boutique online... I think they have a helpline so can help you pick the right boot. 🙂

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Liz at the Hoof Boutique is excellent. Measure, photograph and send her the information and she will sort you out with the correct boots for the size and shape of the foot. I use Viper Renegades all round which last two years on average but Scoots are brilliant for getting on and off fast.

 

[hellspells]

Thank you both! I’ve never heard of the hood boutique so that’s my first port of call!

 

[ImmyS]

I use scoot boots, they’re awesome. So easy to put on and take off. They stay on, haven’t rubbed even on 3 hour hacks and don’t clogged with mud/wet as all rubber and plastic! They are also quite forgiving in fit throughout the trim cycle. Love them!

 

[ImmyS]

Arlo modelling his scoots last summer -

 

[hellspells]

Thanks ImmyS! Alro is lovely!

 

[meleeka]

Different shapes suit different boots so I’d definitely recommend the Hoof Bootique to help you choose which are best. I have Equine Fusions which I like because my pony has stupidly small feet and I also have Cavallos which are more ‘clumpy’.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Scoots are great if they suit your horse. Cavallo Simples or Treks would be easier to pop on and off for trips to and from the field, and they are also suitable for all day turnout (up to 12 hours). I've used Urban Horse and the Hoof Bootique, both are very helpful. I went with what they suggested, and for the Scoots I got a fit kit to try different sizes.

Scoots


Molly testing her Cavallo simples. She's transitioning to barefoot after disastrous foot balance issues.


Although they look clumpy she can wear them happily for 12 hours a day without any rubs or twisting. Her feet have improved so much that she rarely needs them now, except when it's frosty.

 

[hellspells]

Thanks both! I’ve used cavallos before on other horses so that’s good to know.

 

[PapaverFollis]

What size Scoots is your big horse in, Tiddlypom? Do they wear well? I really want to try them eventually but the Beast is right at the top end of the biggest size measurement and the farrier said she'd probably go through them quickly because shes so heavy! But I'm not sure if I buy that! I can't afford to try them yet when she's good in the Cavellos but thinking in future. I prefer the look of the Scoots.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Tammy's in size 8 fronts, size 7 behind. They go up to size 9, I think. She's 16.1hh and weighs c630kg. They are wearing very well on the soles, although the toes were understandably getting a bit scuffed when she was dragging her hind toes before her hocks were jabbed (bilateral hock arthritis). I haven't as yet done any fast work in them, but they've been very secure when we'd had to go on a boggy bit of verge to get out of the way of traffic.

She loves them.

I got a box of shells in size 7,8,9 from Urban Horse and tried each size on each foot, and sent the pics back for evaluation.

.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The Beast measures out the top end of a size 9 by 1mm so I may order a fit kit at some point. She's only a bit heavier than Tammy (650kg ish on a good day... she has hit over 680kg ☹!) and around the same height... big feet though!

Thanks for the info on the wear. 😊

 

[Suechoccy]

Contact Hoof Boutique. The owner will ask you to send measurements/details of your horse's feet, details of your horse and what u do with him/her, and advise you excellently.

 

[Remi'sMum]

I use scoots on my boy. A friend recommended them and also said that the scoot measurement chart always seems to end up suggesting a size too big. I measured and the chart suggested size 6. I was able to borrow a 5 from a friend and they fit perfectly. 6 would’ve been too big. So definitely worth using the fit kits. I love them. So easy to get on and off. No rubbing. Secure even though claggy sucky mud and good grip down a steep tarmaced hill. A bit slippy in wet greasy mud and haven’t yet been faster than trot in them out hacking. But so far so good!!

 

[pansymouse]

Going slight against the grain; I've got Scoots which rubbed my mare red raw and are harder to get on and off that their marketing lead me to believe they would be. I've only used them two or three times. I initially had Old Macs which are a pig to get on and off hence me investing in Scoots. Mostly I don't bother with boots at all these days.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sorry for the thread diversion, OP, as PF and I discuss the merits of boots for larger feet .

The Beast measures out the top end of a size 9 by 1mm so I may order a fit kit at some point. She's only a bit heavier than Tammy (650kg ish on a good day... she has hit over 680kg ☹!) and around the same height... big feet though!

Scoots do come up big, I believe. The 9s were huge on her. These are the measurements (in cm) that I took (sorry about the scratty piece of paper) when her shoes first came off. Carolyn at Urban Horse said that she thought that she'd be in 8s in front, 7s behind and she was right. I use the gaiters (?) behind to refine the fit.

Tammy also fits size 5 Cavallo Simples in front.



Pansymouse, I've not had any issues with the Scoots rubbing, maybe they just don't suit your horse. I was lent a pair of Old Mac G2s for the drama diva mare and they are indeed a right faff to get on and off, I'll not be buying any.

 

[hellspells]

Divert away! It’s always useful to share this information.

I contacted hoof bootique last night so looking forward to hearing back in due course and can hopefully find something suitable to keep the pony comfortable. Thank you all for that recommendation!

 

[Landcruiser]

The Cavallos are more forgiving on size. The new front fastening design is a big improvement on the design in the photos above - the fastening straps are a separate velcro strap and come with spares. The old design the velcro used to get filthy/worn and stop holding eventually. They were also harder to tighten properly. The Cavalos have never rubbed, they are my cheap and cheerful fallback boot, and last for literally years.
I bought some scoots recently and while I like them in principle, I've already had one sucked off in mud and I am fairly convinced they would rub the heels if I used them for any length of time.
I also have some Renegade Vipers, very expensive but excellent long distance boots.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I think Beast is 152mm long and about 155mm wide on the fronts. But I don't think her foot is properly established yet even though shes had shoes off for about a year they are still changing.

She's worn through the toes of her old Cavellos at the break over after maybe 6 months of daily wear... the sand in the school is silly abrasive though which is partly why she has boots. School is hopefully being resurfaced soon and she will be able to work in there without boots and keep boots for hacking.

We've just got new Cavellos and have had to revert to the old ones, holes and all, after 2 wears as the new ones (size 6 so can't go bigger) are too tight. They go on but she's shifting her weight and stamping and is obviously not comfortable. The old ones fitted without any breaking in. But the shape over her heal bulbs is observabley different between the two boots. Suspect old boots have stretched as her heal bulbs have grown. Going to see if the new ones fit better after a trim in a couple of weeks then I think I'm going to be on to Hoof Boutique myself!