hoof boots for dinner plates

[a kind of magic]

I am currently attempting a proper transitioning to barefoot for our three horses. Hubby's mare has only worn shoes for 8 weeks in her life (went away to be started) and she is doing well now shoes are back off, just improving her diet and worrying about constant wet now!

My mare is barefoot due to an old sacroiliac injury and pelvic problems. Her feet were 'interesting' in shoes (seen by Oberon, YasandCrystal and CPTrayes) so I am taking it day by day with her.

The awkward one is my dad's gelding, he is 20, we've had him 12 years and he's spent most of his life in shoes, but has had them off for the last year as he had time off. All our hacking is on stony tracks and he is really struggling on them despite his feet looking the best they ever have. I want to give him some support (he is fine on tarmac) but therein lies the problem...he is a 16hh shire x cob with dinnerplate feet! We did ask around about hoof boots for him before but nobody made them big enough...this was before barefoot became so popular so I wondered if things had moved on? His feet look so good I am loathed to put shoes on him so are there any alternatives for big fellas like him?

 

[tallyho!]

Have you measured his feet? What's the measurement heel buttress to toe? Cavallos may be your best bet but Easycare probably do giant sizes...

 

[kizzyjerry]

I've got a 18.3 shire x tb with feet that made my farrier giggle He has boa's. they were really good at their intended use - mud etc no problem.

Only issue i had was using them to cover large abcess dig out, they dented his hoof were the disc is at the front (12 hr period no issues but when i tried overnight i had the issues)

 

[Kikke]

Www.hoofbootique.co.uk give liz a ring I'm sure she'll be able to help you

 

[Kat]

I think Old Macs come in the biggest sizes. This site has good advice on measuring for boots: http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/MeasureHoofBoots.aspx and they have size guides for the main boots available in this country.

 

[paddy555]

http://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboot_epics/Easyboot_Epic.aspx

AFAIK these are the largest boots.

The tread on these boots has changed fairly recently. The above link is the main easycare site and shows the new tread which is very good. The old tread is not so good on mud etc.
Obviously there must be old stock left of these boots with the poorer tread in the UK so if you consider some make sure you are buying the ones with the new tread.