Hoof boots for pony temporarily barefoot

[Shay]

My 29 yr old cob has canker - which is under vet treatment. Keeping his feet dry is really important so the poor lad is going end up stabled most of the winter. I was thinking about getting him some hoof boots just so I can get him out and about a bit. He is rarely ridden but I'd like to get him on the walker, turn him out in a surfaced school to roll, longline, hand graze etc.

I have no experience of barefoot horses. Nothing against it - just no experience. The shoes are off at Vet's request - he isn't footy or sore at all. He doesnt need protection from anything but the wet. Would hoof boots work for this scenario - or would he just get sweaty feet which might not help? (No idea if that is a thing or not!) Any reccomendations for boots that won't break the bank? Vet hopes he will be clear in 4 - 6 weeks now but I know Canker is the devil for reoccuring. He doesn't mind being stabled - he thinks room service is really quite nice! He has a big box, deep bedding etc so he's quite comfortable - but I recognise he is not currently free to express normal horse behaviour. I just want to be able to enrich his quality of life without putting his recovery at risk.

 

[COldNag]

Cavallos seem to be stocked in more places - they publish size guides so you can work out what you need. They are good value and also easy to sell on when not needed. Easy to put on, too.

I *think* they would do what you need them for but hopefully someone else here can advise.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Most boots have holes to let water out I think... therefore let water in!

 

[ester]

It can all get a bit damp/sweaty still but it might be ok as not talking longer periods
Cavallos have holes, though I have taped them up when using them to poultice with a rubble sack inside them - they are a size too big for that purpose
easyboots don't have holes/equine fusions though they are more expensive than the cavallo options and need a tighter fit.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Not Cavallo treks, they are breathable, so they are great in the dry, not so much in the wet. Plus as Ester says, they have drainage holes. Pity, as they are a forgiving fit.

Some sort of plastic bag inside a boot?

How about a dry nappy poultice inside a vet strider (used to be called horsecrocz)?

Like this, but put some plastic sacking over the vet wrap layer to keep the dressing dry?


ETA IME that will last intact for 24 hours.

 

[Shay]

Thank you all. I did wonder if the boots were not waterproof! I can find waterproof poltice boots but they are quite expensive. I'm wondering about just letting him paddle for 10 or 15 mins then drying the hoof before popping him back in a deep bed. I'm not sure if this is for my benefit or his - he does seem perfectly happy stabled!

He feet are not bandaged at the moment - we've not yet needed surgery to abrade. At his age I'm working to avoid it!

 

[PapaverFollis]

If its just for short turnout periods I would apply a dry poultice using a rubble sack or similar duct taped over it then either an oversized hoof boot or the horse croc things pictured about to protect the dressings. You could pack his frogs with your treatment of choice before applying the poultice so even if you get a bit if wet through he's covered in antifungal stuff anyway. Then into a good clean bed with bare feet again to dry off.

That's going to be an awful faff but if it's short term it's doable.

 

[w1bbler]

Woof wear medical hoof boot worked brilliantly for keeping my cobs foot clean & dry whilst an abcess healed.
He wore it 24/7 for2 weeks in the deep mud we had in February this year. ( I did take it off to check foot/changed dressing twice per day before anyone comments ?)

 

[Shay]

Yes- that is what I was looking at once I realised hoof boots were not a runner. Good to know it worked for you.

He's been in 2 days - massive escape artist. Mind you he always was. He'll lie on the floor to get under a fence or stall chain. He's not panicked or upset being in - just keen on more food (typical cob!)

Today I turned him out for 45 mins in the chalk lined path between paddocks which is the dryest we have. He had a great mooch and pick of grass. Sadly we've had to put front shoes back on today because the white line seperated quite badly. It takes months sometimes to transition to barefoot and he just was not making it. I can't do with any more to infect his hoof! Hopefully the fronts were always better than the hinds so we might get away with it.

 

[Gloi]

Has your pony had a recent cushing's test? It could be causing his susceptibility to infections.

 

[Shay]

Yes he has - the normal one and the TRH Stim test. Both negative. That was my thought as well given his age. I did speak to the vet about a prascend trial anyway but he has no other indications at all and we felt it was better not to confuse the clinical picture at this point. I'm "flossing" (for what of a better word!) the sulci with a mix of iodine, surgical spirit and antbiotics on a gauze pad that I can pack in and pull through. Then packing the sulci with cotton wool soaked in the same mix before covering with hoof clay. The hooves appear clear - but I'm not stopping treatement because thats when this comes back! The mares attacked him on the path yesterday (Poor lad. He actually came running to me for rescue when I came to see what the noise was!) so he is temporarily camping for an hour a day in the next driest feild....

He's perfectly happy in himself, not lame at all. Seems really fine with the extended time stabled in his super deep super dry super fluffy (and expensive!) bed with meals brought to him on a regular basis. I just want him to be able to express the full range of natural behaviour if I can.