Hoof boots for TB feet

[BronsonNutter]

A discussion I never thought I'd have!

Considering transitioning the old TB to barefoot with boots for hacking, as he now lives over an hour away from my (wonderful) farrier, so is out of his area of coverage, and given he likes to pull shoes off with reckless abandon boxing him back over for another shoe to be replaced every few weeks is a bit painful (and not always possible depending on work). He's currently got all his shoes off for now, as his hooves were a bit smashed up and the farrier suggested giving them a bit of a rest whilst he's not doing much.

He is currently happy walking on smooth concrete, hardstanding in the field, grass and arena surface. He doesn't like rocks! So for retirement/winter holiday he'll be happy with nothing on. But a lot of our hacking involves stony tracks so he'll need something on then. He'll not need to jump or school in them, but we would generally canter out hacking and some bits can be boggy.

My issues are:
- He tends to get rubbed from things like overreach boots unless they are fluffy, so needs boots that won't rub his pasterns
- His front feet are tiny!
- His back feet are quite narrow (and also fairly small)

Any words of wisdom or suggestions of boots to try?

 

[Sanversera]

Contact Urban Horse and Hoof Boutique.they are experts in the hoof boots field.

 

[Cragrat]

We have 3 TB's, all with very different hooves. We use currently use Renegade Vipers, Flex and used to use Scoots. I am also tempted by Magic and Evo

Scoot can rub the heels, so probably not the best choice. Vipers simply don't rub or move, ever. Flex are a very soft, bendy boot, (hence the name) and need to fit almost vacummed on to the hoof. Vipers slide on and have really good adjustment. Both come in a range of sizes and widths. Vipers are rigid, and very protective. Flex are like Vibrams for hooves!

 

[criso]

First thing is the feet might change once the shoes come off, I went through 4 different ones at the start. Mainly bought second hand and sold on. I had some Equine Fusions which were quite forgiving of fit.

Now I have Renegade classic, They are low profile so less likely to rub as mostly on the hoof, not too clumpy for dainty feet and fairly easy and quick to get on and off.

Neither of my Tbs have needed booting behind so I just have fronts.

 

[paddy555]

old TB (so, not being rude) probably not going to have the thickest of soles and stony tracks so I would use a boot with a thick sole to be more comfortable and to offer more protection. That rules out flex and scoots.

questionable heel rubbing so I would rule out scoots

small feet so you have a reasonable choice.
For me that choice would be renegade vipers absolute top of the list. Thick soles, gentle on the heels, stay on well (I ride through bog) good life expectancy. Probably top of the list for traction.

second choice would be easy care gloves. Thick soles, wear well, they do very well on stony tracks and roads. Traction is not as good as vipers on wet slippery grass.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I put a TB, young annoyingly rehabbing from laminitis in Cavallo boots to walk out with pads. They were great and worked well. I’d not have wanted to ride him in them on rough surfaces though

 

[P.forpony]

My tb has scoots, never rubbed on the fronts. Hinds rubbed at first, usually when he did something silly like throwing shapes at a murderous daffodil, and took a bit of heat stretching and playing with socks and gaiters to get them right but fingers crossed no issues since.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Contact Urban Horse and Hoof Boutique.they are experts in the hoof boots field.

I agree Hoof Boutique are so helpful.

My tbs have both been in scoots with no rubbing

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Contact the hoof boot shop, they can come out with a load of different boots and fit them for you.

Otherwise urban horse or hoof boutique

 

[TPO]

Cavallo slim sport have been grand for the narrower hooves I've had. I just out a pair of men's socks on to stop any rubs

 

[Sanversera]

old TB (so, not being rude) probably not going to have the thickest of soles and stony tracks so I would use a boot with a thick sole to be more comfortable and to offer more protection. That rules out flex and scoots.

questionable heel rubbing so I would rule out scoots

small feet so you have a reasonable choice.
For me that choice would be renegade vipers absolute top of the list. Thick soles, gentle on the heels, stay on well (I ride through bog) good life expectancy. Probably top of the list for traction.

second choice would be easy care gloves. Thick soles, wear well, they do very well on stony tracks and roads. Traction is not as good as vipers on wet slippery grass.

I have scoots for my cob, never rubbed and we have to go through water mud and a stoney track to access anywhere to hack

 

[Landcruiser]

I put a TB, young annoyingly rehabbing from laminitis in Cavallo boots to walk out with pads. They were great and worked well. I’d not have wanted to ride him in them on rough surfaces though

I've ridden over all sorts of terrain in Cavallos, doing TREC. Never had a problem, never slipped, never lost one even in deep mud. They are cheap and cheerful, do the job, but they are clunky and get can waterlogged. They are an excellent starter boot.

 

[cauda equina]

My Arab wears Scoots
They haven't rubbed, except when I didn't twig quickly enough that his feet had changed and he needed a different size
I always use the trail gaiters (Neoprene things supplied with Scoots) on him - the hairy cob doesn't need them
They are very simple to use and can be hosed off and left to dry (unlike Cavallos which do get waterlogged) but do get spooked off fairly frequently

 

[P.forpony]

Just to add I had mine fitted too.
It was £60 for the call out for the chap to come out with the shells to try and advise, then the cost of the boots on top, but it was definitely worth it.
I was torn between flex and scoot and just one attempt to pop the flex on it was immediately obvious they just didn't suit his hoof shape. He also ended up in scoots 2 sizes smaller than his measurements, even the fitter was surprised. So it saved me a lot of back and forth and ordering the wrong boots and possibly thinking they didn't work when it would have just been a size issue.
So if you can get a fitter in your area I'd definitely recommend

 

[deicinmerlyn]

My TB had Cavellos for 11 years. He had small feet.
He went bare for roadwork but for longer rides and stoney tracks he was booted in front. He did all paces and jumped in them with no problem at all. Easy to fit and pop on and off.
If you look on their website it shows you how to measure and fit.
Good luck!

 

[catembi]

My ancient TB has cavallos. He has size 4 feet iirc. The narrow version behind - slim fit? I also got the pads for them - yellow ones. He's fine in the school without. He struggled on my stone yard when it was first laid so I used to leave them on for 2-3 days at a time, until they started to rub - that was continual use. Then I would take them off for a few days & he would just have to limp about, then I'd put the boots back on. They are very easy to take on & off. Now that the yard has bedded in, he can manage without boots. Or his feet have hardened up! He is 20 & has been b/f since 2015. His feet are soooooo much stronger than they were shod. He used to lose shoes every couple of days & then go lame, etc etc. Rinse & repeat. He also hated being shod & was a total PITA about the whole thing. Now his feet look amazing and it is so much easier for him to be trimmed than faffing about with sedalin & shoeing.

 

[BronsonNutter]

old TB (so, not being rude) probably not going to have the thickest of soles and stony tracks

Absolutely, his soles are really quite thin!

I'd not heard of the renegades, the design of those looks quite good - like they're locked in place on the foot - with the adjustable pastern strap. I've mostly seen things in the cavallos before and they just look like they'd rotate on his feet or fall off in a bog (due to said tiny feet). Will get him measured up next week and see about getting things fitted. Thank you for all the advice everyone!

 

[xxcharlottexx]

Cavallo slim sport have been grand for the narrower hooves I've had. I just out a pair of men's socks on to stop any rubs

That's what I've had for the last 7 years for my TB. Like the look of the scoot but thr measurements just didn't seem to work for my horses hoof shape