Hoof Boots. Particularly Easyboot Back Country Reviews, Please.

[Flame_]

OK, I'm looking for some real life experiences. I've had a look at the online guides and I know I can pay an "expert" to come, fanny around then sell me the most expensive thing... I'm past that point in my life and am happier with the try - fail - try again myself approach to stuff on the whole.

So, my horse has his shoes off for the winter but this year I'm planning to mostly keep him in light work instead of a massive holiday. When I did this with my old horse I used easyboot gloves. I liked them in front but they were a nightmare behind so I just managed without. I'm thinking of just getting current horse a pair of fronts and seeing how he copes. What I didn't like about the gloves are they were a PITA to get on, and impossible to get on when horse's feet grew a bit, it looks and sounds like the back country version are better in this respect. Has anyone had a pair/ set? How did you get on with them rubbing, staying on, not falling apart, etc.

Also if anyone wants to throw around other suggestions, I'm interested in hearing them. Horse is an arab with sensitive skin, slightly mismatched and slightly turned in front feet and would be mainly wearing them on tarmac but they need to have decent traction on grass, mud and gravel tracks too.

 

[SantaVera]

I find scoots don't rub my horse and last well.

 

[Ifmpw]

HI So

Black country - great boot but fiddly, so depends on how agile your fingers are - they either fit or they dont
Equine fusion - I loved the old style boot and simply cannot use the ones with the side fastening - if your young and nimble I am sure you will be fine, but if you are a bit arthritic then you have zero chance, the new "open" sided ones are okay, but you do get stones in them, I so wish they would bring back the old design. you can put a pad in these to make then fit better and you can fasten the top a bit tighter, they come in slim and normal
Scoot - I did rave about these, but have found that they rub the heels, then you end up adding a sock, which can change the fit.

A lot you have to work on shape of hoof, how faffy they are and what you need to do.

 

[paddy555]

renegade vipers for an Arab. Better traction than back country. Best boot of all IMHO.
no way would I have scoots, damaged 2 horses and faffing around putting mud straps on every time I ride is just not for me. Looking for the lost boots if I don't put mud straps on isn't on my agenda either.

best way is to get the feet trimmed, measure them and then order the size you think you need plus the next sizes up and down. Then just return 2 pair of boots. (or with renegades they are single boots so you don't have to order a pair if you prefer not to.
Put the clean foot in a plastic bag and try them on with a large bath towel or similar on the ground. That way the boots stay immaculate.

 

[ester]

the BC are the same shells as the gloves underneath so will be much the same from an actually getting it in intially situ

 

[Nasicus]

It all comes down to what shape and size your horses feet are.
Highly recommend speaking to the ladies at the Hoof Bootique (I think Urban Horse also offer the service too).
You send them a set of photos post trim, with a clear ruler against the hoof for measurements, and they'll recommend what boots should work with your horses hoof shape.
They also offer shells/fit kits they will post out to you to try, take photos of on the hooves, and then send the photos over and they'll advise from there.
Yeah it took a few weeks to get it all nailed down and cost a bit more, but in the end I had a pair of boots that fit my mare perfectly throughout the trim cycle, never once had an issue with them regardless of the terrain.
For what it's worth, they were scoot boots, I used them with the mud straps instead of the pastern straps. A touch more faffy, but never once lost one, even going through deep, soul sucking mud in the woods. A previous mare of mine had the wrong shaped hooves for Scoot Boots, and I had an awful time with a pair of Equine Fusion Jogging Shoes because I just went and bought them thinking size was the only factor. She ended up in a second hand pair of Cavallo Treks which worked lovely for her and handily also for a mare I had after her. Crossing my fingers they'll fit my upcoming project too (Scoots wont have a hope in hell, Pony has small feet, project got big 'uns), but if they don't then I'll be using the Hoof Bootiques services again

 

[Flame_]

I've had a better look at the vipers and they do look impressive, however typically my horse's feet measurements are squarely within a size that isn't available (130 x 125). I will be trying to get hold of a second hand pair a length up but whether they'd work would very much be an experiment.

The thing is, I loathe being helped to buy stuff. I don't trust guidance and I am so particular that I will probably be dissatisfied with whatever I get that they recommend and then I will either have to unhappily live with it or go through them again to change stuff, which no one is ever happy to do when you've used brand new equipment. I really am better off figuring stuff out myself but it really helps to hear what other people's actual experiences are.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Urban Horse are very good at giving on line advice based on just measurements and photos. Advise them of anything else relevant, eg the slightly mismatched and turned in front feet.

They can likely point you towards what might work. Then you choose.

 

[Marigold4]

HI So

Black country - great boot but fiddly, so depends on how agile your fingers are - they either fit or they dont
Equine fusion - I loved the old style boot and simply cannot use the ones with the side fastening - if your young and nimble I am sure you will be fine, but if you are a bit arthritic then you have zero chance, the new "open" sided ones are okay, but you do get stones in them, I so wish they would bring back the old design. you can put a pad in these to make then fit better and you can fasten the top a bit tighter, they come in slim and normal
Scoot - I did rave about these, but have found that they rub the heels, then you end up adding a sock, which can change the fit.

A lot you have to work on shape of hoof, how faffy they are and what you need to do.

Agree, the old style Equine Fusion were the best. I can't understand why they have stopped making them.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Speak to Liz at Hoof Boutique she will tell you from photographs what will fit and every time she has been spot on

 

[Nasicus]

I've had a better look at the vipers and they do look impressive, however typically my horse's feet measurements are squarely within a size that isn't available (130 x 125). I will be trying to get hold of a second hand pair a length up but whether they'd work would very much be an experiment.

The thing is, I loathe being helped to buy stuff. I don't trust guidance and I am so particular that I will probably be dissatisfied with whatever I get that they recommend and then I will either have to unhappily live with it or go through them again to change stuff, which no one is ever happy to do when you've used brand new equipment. I really am better off figuring stuff out myself but it really helps to hear what other people's actual experiences are.

Well, we don't know what we don't know!
The photo services are free, and they can advise what should suit your horses hoof shape (from their extensive experience and expertise) and once armed with that information, you can research and decide to your hearts content.

 

[Peglo]

I would’ve bought scoot boots for my horse if I was left to my own decisions and it would’ve been a waste of money and potentially harmful to my horse as they just didn’t fit her. Getting advice from Liz at hoof boutique was invaluable

I ended up getting easyboot gloves and although can be a hassle to get on, they work well for my horse.

 

[Fransurrey]

I used to use them all round on my Exmoor. Loved them. Never lost one, used ice studs in them in winter for extra grip and to hack in snow if necessary. There's a bit of flex on fit, too. I remember I sized up as he was near the upper point of the range, but no issues.

 

[paddy555]

I've had a better look at the vipers and they do look impressive, however typically my horse's feet measurements are squarely within a size that isn't available (130 x 125). I will be trying to get hold of a second hand pair a length up but whether they'd work would very much be an experiment.

The thing is, I loathe being helped to buy stuff. I don't trust guidance and I am so particular that I will probably be dissatisfied with whatever I get that they recommend and then I will either have to unhappily live with it or go through them again to change stuff, which no one is ever happy to do when you've used brand new equipment. I really am better off figuring stuff out myself but it really helps to hear what other people's actual experiences are.

I do understand your last para.

vipers have to fit width wise. Too wide and they twist and too narrow they won't go on. If they won't then that is often at the heels and it MAY (or may not) be possible to do a little rasping at the heel wall.

Length wise too long doesn't matter. You can easily shorten them. I use a pair of nippers to shorten them but anything similar would work.

 

[Flame_]

I do understand your last para.

vipers have to fit width wise. Too wide and they twist and too narrow they won't go on. If they won't then that is often at the heels and it MAY (or may not) be possible to do a little rasping at the heel wall.

Length wise too long doesn't matter. You can easily shorten them. I use a pair of nippers to shorten them but anything similar would work.

Thank you. Some of us are the opposite of influenceable. Often it's good, sometimes it's limiting.

I have a potential way forwards anyway. I've picked up some used easyboot furys with accurate measurements, which may do perfectly or may be problematic (it seems their reputation is "pretty disappointing") but hopefully they will suffice at least until I come across the vipers second hand to try.

That's encouraging about the vipers, but I'd definitely want used if I was going to set about doing modifications because then it would be 50:50 on whether I just destroyed them or not