Hoof boots - measuring, etc who has them? few Qs

cob&onion

cob&onion

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My cob is barefoot and is coping wonderfully on the tarmac, however when we go across a certain bridleway which is very stony/uneven surface she gets a bit stumbly and careful. Its only every so often we go through these routes but sometimes we can't avoid stony paths!!
Rather than having her shod i would like to try some hoof boots first.

So, can someone please tell me everything i need to know about hoof boots, what types you would recommend, how to measure, sizing and getting the right fit and when to have them fitted (ie trimming etc)
Also do you need them on all 4s or just 2 fronts?!
And how long do they last for?
Thank you :)
 
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I dont have lots of tech info but from experience Boa boots are good for coblets like mine with flat round feet, whereas some more boxy/upright feet are better with other types. I liked the Boa ones cos of the dial for tightening them up, it's easier to do when out and about. Have never slipped on her feet and improved her grip on everything other than slick mud, when she was better barefoot. Tried the gaiters (supposed to help prevent rubbing...and they were the only thing that did rub so just used the boots). from memory hers are size 3s.

Edited to add I bought 4 tho have sometimes used just 2. Watch the grass tho if they are ouchy on sharp stones, my girl was the same and eventually had a mild lami attack.
 
I'll be following this with interest, as my girl's just gone barefoot too and is footsore on gravelly paths. She already was unshod at the back and never had problems, but the front ones are proving tricky.

I've bought some hoof boots at a local shop. As for sizing, I had the bright idea of taking one of her shoes and trying that in the boots!
 
there is a lot of personal preference in boots but my choice would always be the gloves. They are light, have the best traction, stay on and don't cause too many problems. Traction to me is the most important. If the horse cannot keep his feet both the horse and rider start to lack confidence.

I have had the exact opposite experience with boas. I found the dial marked the horse and he couldn't stay upright in them on slick grass as the traction on them was poor.

As you will see everyone has a different opinion.

To start with you need to measure your feet just after trimming and then look at the various boot sizes to see which would fit. If you have a trimmer they may stock boots or be able to help.
Many horses get away with 2 feet, some do better with 4. A bit really like should you put 2 or 4 shoes on your horse.

The saddlery shop is probably the best place to get them from as you can return them if they don't fit.
There is a fit kit for the gloves that you can hire very cheaply.

Another thing to consider is what work do you want to do with them. There would be a difference between say training an endurance horse to someone who wants to ride round the block a couple of times a week.

How long do they last depends on what you do with them. If you do lots and lots of roadwork they wear down quicker than if you just do the occacional track and mostly grass. I would reckon you should get at least 6 months and probably more unless the roadwork is excessive. Also some horses wear boots quicker than others just as they do shoes.
if you want to do some research try
www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk or www.easycareinc.com

echo the comments about the grass. It is very very bad at the moment. If your horse is Ok on roads and bad on stones adjusting her diet ie reducing the grass may be a better option and also reduce the lami risk. If you did this you may even manage without boots. Also what about the rest of the diet, what are you feeding? Anyone with footy horses at this time of the year then diet is the number one stop rather than boots.

Lachlan, does Leisel have a grass problem? Just interested as Alf is off grass completely and has been for years. He only has to look at it (from a very long distance!) and it causes trouble. Would be interested to see if they are similar in that respect.
 
paddy555 said:
echo the comments about the grass. It is very very bad at the moment. If your horse is Ok on roads and bad on stones adjusting her diet ie reducing the grass may be a better option and also reduce the lami risk. If you did this you may even manage without boots. Also what about the rest of the diet, what are you feeding? Anyone with footy horses at this time of the year then diet is the number one stop rather than boots.
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Thanks some great advice there :)

She'son restricted grazing and what grass there is its long and dried out - more like hay?! she is a little over weight but not fat. She has a handful of happy hoof and a few carrots once per day and is ridden about 4/5 times per week. Mainly hacking, shes 100% on non stony surface. She was backed in the summer so has never been with shoes and has always been a bit footy across the stones :)
 
cob&onion said:
Thanks some great advice there :)

She'son restricted grazing and what grass there is its long and dried out - more like hay?! she is a little over weight but not fat. She has a handful of happy hoof and a few carrots once per day and is ridden about 4/5 times per week. Mainly hacking, shes 100% on non stony surface. She was backed in the summer so has never been with shoes and has always been a bit footy across the stones :)
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feel like a terrible spoilsport but for some diet is critical and even a few carrots can make a difference. Presumably she doesn't have any thrush/fungal infection? Sometimes it is not so obvious but that can make a horse sore. Many do well on mag ox. Could be worth a try if she's not already on it.
 
I use Old Macs and Boas on my horses - it really depends on hoof size and shape. I tried Gloves, and they just didn't suit my horses - came off at the slightest provocation. Look at the EasyCare website - they have some printable size charts which I found very helpful.
 
I second the old macs, there is a detailed size chart on their website. Mine have lasted three years now, not used all the time, only when shoes are off for a few months, and I want to do roadwork. They've never come off, even in deep mud, and grip is very good with them.
 
Earlier this year I purchased some cavallo hoof boots for my late mare. You can print off a measuring chart online, i simply took a tape measure to her feet and translated online. She did wear shoes on the fronts due to previously having a bad episode of laminitis, she could not cope without. Her hoof boots were the best thing that ever happened in recent times for her feet, they really were amazing and she no longer felt those stones, we could go across any terrain and even gallop in them. She took to them as with everything like a duck to water.

I also purchased come boa hoof boot wraps, made from neoprene, I would pop them on first to prevent rubbing and then put on her cavallos. She went beautifully in them and I would highly recommend them.
I purchased mine second hand off ebay, they had only been used once, you could clearly see that and they were half the price.
Using them with shoes with null and void any warranty but as your girl is barefoot you would be fine.
Hope you find them as brilliant as me and my darling mare did, it was a new lease of life for her
 
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