Hoof boots flying off in canter

Hormonal Filly

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Went for a lovely hack in the sunshine.. my mare walking out lovely in her Flex boots I bought mid last year.

Walked through a few puddles, they didn’t move. On the way home we had a canter, she did an uphill powerful canter and queue one boot flying off, and one somehow stayed attached around her fetlock but really upset her. Jumped off, located the other and walked back barefoot.

Got back to the yard very much ‘she’s being shod, that was scary!’ But she has such good feet.. I would love to keep her barefoot.

Any tips for keeping them on? Should the bottom (foot) strap be done up as tight as possible? Equally.. any experiences with hoof armour?
 

Caol Ila

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Are you sure they are the perfect fit? Strapping them tight enough? They should stay on no matter what if they are right.

I’m using Hoof Armour on Hermosa’s hinds and I’m happy with it, but felt she needed a bit more support up front so she has her Renegades.
 

Hormonal Filly

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Are you sure they are the perfect fit? Strapping them tight enough? They should stay on no matter what if they are right.

She has quite high heels and I understand Flex were made for lower heeled horses but she’s had them about 10 months and they look a good fit to me (trimmer said they look good)

I know the fetlock strap should have 2 finger gap.. but wondering if I didn’t do the other strap around the back of her foot tight enough.
 

Peglo

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I assume the flex are a similar design to easyboot Gloves. I use the gloves and they are tight around the hoof and a bit of a menace to get on but tend to stay on. Do yours slip on fairly easily or do they need a bit of effort? I’ve only lost a boot on 2 occasions but never in canter.
 

Hormonal Filly

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I assume the flex are a similar design to easyboot Gloves. I use the gloves and they are tight around the hoof and a bit of a menace to get on but tend to stay on. Do yours slip on fairly easily or do they need a bit of effort? I’ve only lost a boot on 2 occasions but never in canter.
I need to ‘bang’ her foot into the end of the boot or it doesn’t tend to go in properly, but I’ve always had to do that. Her feet are wider than they are long so shape wise.. Flex aren’t perfect but she’s really hard to fit (according to Hoof Bootique)

I’ve ordered some pads.. maybe they will fit ‘snug’ a bit better.
 
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GinaGeo

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Flex boots aren’t renowned for being the best for staying on at higher speeds.

I use Renegade Vipers for faster work where necessary, which baring human error, I find rarely come off.
 

Zoeypxo

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Im having trouble with my flexs twisting and hanging off, turns out I bought the wrong size 😖
If the fit is correct i think you can buy flat rivets to try and keep the straps on incase your horse is brushing the rivet and knocking it off
 

Fieldlife

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Im having trouble with my flexs twisting and hanging off, turns out I bought the wrong size 😖
If the fit is correct i think you can buy flat rivets to try and keep the straps on incase your horse is brushing the rivet and knocking it off

That’s what I was going to add. You just use on inside. Also think some people put oversized overreach boots over the top.
 

Hormonal Filly

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Im having trouble with my flexs twisting and hanging off, turns out I bought the wrong size 😖
If the fit is correct i think you can buy flat rivets to try and keep the straps on incase your horse is brushing the rivet and knocking it off

They were the right size when purchased.. but seems her feet have changed shape again. 😣 I tried them back on this evening and her feet aren’t going into the boot enough (her feet to wide)
 

HappyHollyDays

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They were the right size when purchased.. but seems her feet have changed shape again. 😣 I tried them back on this evening and her feet aren’t going into the boot enough (her feet to wide)

That happened with my Connie, newly bf and he was in Cavallo Treks 2 slim and I can’t get them on his feet now. The best fit for his longer than wider feet are now Scoot 4 slims. Without wanting to start WW3 it really goes to show just how restrictive metal shoes are and how the feet revert to their natural shape within a short space of time.
 

Hormonal Filly

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That happened with my Connie, newly bf and he was in Cavallo Treks 2 slim and I can’t get them on his feet now. The best fit for his longer than wider feet are now Scoot 4 slims. Without wanting to start WW3 it really goes to show just how restrictive metal shoes are and how the feet revert to their natural shape within a short space of time.

She’s always been barefoot, her feet are wider than longer which is what I’ve been told is really difficult to fit. Scoots are the wrong shape for her.
 

Hormonal Filly

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gloves come in a wide fitting. I have taken those in knee deep bog and they stayed on.
Originally tried Cavallo, Gloves and Renegades. All twisted or came off. Flex were the only ones to stay put.. 135 isn’t available in wide yet sadly.

I’m wondering if I just keep her on the soft ground until she grows more foot, and try to not use boots at all.

It’s only when she’s trimmed I have a problem.. tempted to get a rasp and do what I can, rather than pay someone!
 

Hormonal Filly

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You could use hoof armour instead of boots.

Will it make a big difference? It’s only when walking up a tarmac track with lots of ‘bitty stones’ she doesn’t like it after being trimmed.

Just been thinking of not using boots and having her totally barefoot all the time, and looking at hoof armour.
 

Gloi

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I've been using it for about a year and the only used boots when we went on a holiday and did extra work.
I ride maybe 15 miles a week on roads at the moment but will increase over summer.

It should help you on the little stones.
 

cjwchez

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She’s always been barefoot, her feet are wider than longer which is what I’ve been told is really difficult to fit. Scoots are the wrong shape for her.
this is interesting, I'm in the process of finding some hoof boots for my cob and have been told his hooves are wider than longer and been recommended scoots!

What was the solution in the end, did you buy a different type of boot?
 

Hormonal Filly

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this is interesting, I'm in the process of finding some hoof boots for my cob and have been told his hooves are wider than longer and been recommended scoots!

What was the solution in the end, did you buy a different type of boot?

I didn’t, I tried 6 different brands of boots and had issues with all. 🙁

She’s been shod in front for the last 3 months. There are some flex boot wide versions now.. might look into those end of summer.
 

cjwchez

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I didn’t, I tried 6 different brands of boots and had issues with all. 🙁

She’s been shod in front for the last 3 months. There are some flex boot wide versions now.. might look into those end of summer.
oh no! hope you get there in the end. my horse is barefoot all year round apart from summer as he struggles with the stoney streets/hard bridleway but I've had to look for hoof boots as I'm fed up of hunting the field for his missing shoes!

A friend gave me their Keratex hoof hardener to try but I am unsure about it. I've read some threads where people have said it has made their horses feet brittle. It also smells very strong like chemicals/turpentine so I haven't used it much. Guess I'd need to be consistent with it to see any change, but again - conscious that people say it makes things worse.
 

Widgeon

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A friend gave me their Keratex hoof hardener to try but I am unsure about it. I've read some threads where people have said it has made their horses feet brittle. It also smells very strong like chemicals/turpentine so I haven't used it much. Guess I'd need to be consistent with it to see any change, but again - conscious that people say it makes things worse.

Have a look at @Gloi 's posts on Hoof Armor - personally I use boots so no need for anything else, but Hoof Armor sounds like a much better option than trying to harden the outsides of the feet with Keratex. Anyway worth a thought
 

Gloi

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Have a look at @Gloi 's posts on Hoof Armor - personally I use boots so no need for anything else, but Hoof Armor sounds like a much better option than trying to harden the outsides of the feet with Keratex. Anyway worth a thought
Yes, Hoof armour is far better than Keratex which never did much.
 

cjwchez

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Have a look at @Gloi 's posts on Hoof Armor - personally I use boots so no need for anything else, but Hoof Armor sounds like a much better option than trying to harden the outsides of the feet with Keratex. Anyway worth a thought
i haven’t heard of that before! thank you, i’ll have a look
 
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