Hoof Boots suitable for turning out in?

Spyda

Spyda

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 October 2005
Messages
5,148
Location
U.K.
Visit site
Having moved to a new yard 3 months ago, with a fairly long road-walk to the paddocks and very VERY sharp flinty stoney gound all around - my rising 2 year old is feeling very footsore behind (she's shod infront). She's stabled at night, and I have been applying Keratex Hoof Hardener as per instructions, but she's still walking on the soles of her hind feet and there is has been no improvement to the amount of foot length left. She is simply wearing away whatever grows, excessively. With the sharp flinty stones across all the paddocks it's almost inevitable she's going to end up with an abcess or at least, a buised sole, sooner or later.

Was wondering about the benefit of putting a pair of hoof boots on her, behind. Even short term, just to build up some growth and natural protection.

Are there any of these boots which are better than others, for being worn 24/7?
 
http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/S/Hoof_Boots_Easycare_Hoof_Boots_RX-(357).aspx

These are new on the market and I think the only ones that are designed to be worn for long periods of time. Not sure about how good a fit you would get in the hinds though, they can be difficult given the shape of the foot.

Have you considered shoeing behind? I know it's something I avoid until totally necessary (well used to I keep my horse barefoot now) but if the horse is wear it's feet til it walks on the soles then maybe it's time to put the shoes on
frown.gif
 
Thanks! I'll take a look at those.

I'd certainly consider shoeing her behind, but TBH there's nowt there to shoe on at the mo. Would like to get her feet at least level to the ground first, so the shoe will sit properly.

Must admit, had the same problem with her dam when I moved her to this yard at the end of January. She'd been left unshod behind for the past 3 years as she'd been away, living out at grass, at stud. Never had a problem with her feet in all those years at the studs. Trouble started when I brought her home, to this new livery yard. I had her shod behind within 2 weeks of her arriving, but by that time she was already walking on her hind soles and the farrier had trouble setting the shoes. AND then mare got a nasty bruised sole in front (even shod) when turned out, and needed rest and pads fitted in front at her next shoeing. Think the ground at the new yard is going to be problematic whatever I do TBH.
 
Gosh what a nightmare! You really don't want to have to pad up year round as it starts to rot the soles of their feet. No amount of hoof hardener is going to help if the ground is that bad
confused.gif
I can't think of anything else you can do other than buy hoof boots for chucking on and off when leading to the field. They are a bit of a faff at first but I can get my girls Old Macs (which have about 50 straps!) on in about 1 minute with practise
smile.gif


Hope the horse's get to live out in the summer!
 
[ QUOTE ]
can't you just leave her out in the fields for a few months for her to grow some more foot? does she have to come in and out?

[/ QUOTE ]

TBH - the only time her feet aren't being worn down excessively, is during the 14 hours/day she spends standing on her straw bed. The fields here are horrendous. Masses and masses of really nasty sharp edged flint stones, ranging from tiny ones to large fist sized ones and bigger. It's unbelievably stony here. And now the clay based soil is drying out, the ground has become like a rock - with millions of sharp edged stones embedded in it. As soon as you move the larger stones away from the gateways and from around the troughs, more come up from underneath. It's never ending. Not ideal turnout land, but all I can find around here at the moment.

If I keep her at this yard, I am inevitably going to have to get her shod behind - but I want something to protect her hind feet in the meantime, to enable some hoof to grow before then.

PrincessSpark1e: Assuming I can grow some hoof and have her shod behind for protection, she should be okay to stay out once the rest of the yard's horses do. ATM everything comes in at night, and the filly goes mental if left out by herself. Hence why she has to be brought in and out twice a day.
 
[ QUOTE ]
TIP..

Dont turn out in a boaBoots..hehe.. easy way to loose 100 pound... (Trust me.. ive done it)

Lou x

[/ QUOTE ]


For a happy moment I thought you meant I could loose 100lbs in weight off my butt - but sadly, I now realise you must merely mean the cost of the Boa boot! Shame.
grin.gif
grin.gif
grin.gif


Thanks. That's just the kind of info I need before I invest my hard earned dosh.
smile.gif
 
If you're only using them to turn out in, most boots can be used, as long as the wear period is built up. Endurance riders using hoofboots will have them on the horse for much greater than a turnout period in some cases, with no adverse effects. I'd try the RX as described above, as the gaiter will help keep it in place.
 
Personally I would beware of anything that comes above the hair line at the back of the hoof as it is likely to rub. I left some boa boots on my horses feet overnight in the field once (long story) and they rubbed him quite badly and gave him mud fever as a result. Easyboot do lots of different varieties, maybe something like the easyboot edge would be good (if you are prepared to spend that much money) I have some easyboot gloves but find they tend to get sucked off when cantering through deep going but would probably be fine if your fields don't get too muddy. Have a look on this website for lots of examples: http://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboot_edge/easyboot_edge.aspx
 
Many thanks for those recommendations. I only plan to use them whilst her feet grow enough for shoes to be fitted, and the ground at the yard is rock hard ATM. Not too worried about thick mud - although, with the weather being what it is, who knows what's around the corner
smirk.gif


It's a bummer buying them for short term use for a rising two year old, as she'll inevitably grow out of whatever I buy now before I need to use them again. Maybe if I measure her hind feet and look on eBay I can pick up something second hand?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top