Hoof Boots - why?

Sorry cannot go into this at moment been on phone to mum. She having hard time with dad he has AD i am really worried for her health and how she is coping or not coping with him he gets so Angry wirh her. They live 2 hrs away won't be Around for a while :(:(:(. When they get to 80's it's hard to see ur parents. Struggling. Must go its late on phone don't know wether to leave yard to fend and go to them :(:(:(.
 
Most of the bridle paths were we are are very very stony. Our gelding canters over them without effort and leave grit behind ;)
However my mare just does not enjoy stones. So I avoided the bridle paths and just did grass fields and roads because of it.
Ever since I ave my renegades she so happy on the bridle paths ( just use them in front) and that makes me happy as well.
 
We haven't used them with our two, although when my mare first had her shoes taken off it was always my intention to get some. But she did so well without shoes that I soon decided she didn't actually need them. Our other horse is a former Rockley rehab, so allowing his feet to self-trim is very important, and actually now that his feet are a more normal shape he is quite good on most different surfaces provided we watch his diet. He has days where I think he's well on his way to being a regular rock cruncher :D
 
Sorry cannot go into this at moment been on phone to mum. She having hard time with dad he has AD i am really worried for her health and how she is coping or not coping with him he gets so Angry wirh her. They live 2 hrs away won't be Around for a while :(:(:(. When they get to 80's it's hard to see ur parents. Struggling. Must go its late on phone don't know wether to leave yard to fend and go to them :(:(:(.

Hey, hope your dad has settled down and your mum is ok today. Being a couple of hours away is very difficult for you when things go wrong. Just wanted to send you best wishes as those of us that have had a parent with dementia and other chronic illness will sympathise loads.
 
Leviathan, all the best to your parents and you!

I use boots in front for endurance rides that I think will be especially rocky, because I don't have the time, with my career, to box him to rocky places for training. He did one ride booted on all four (don't think he needed it behind, but I was on a team, and they felt more comfortable with the thought of him booted all round). That ride had truly ridiculous stones for a portion; everyone was told to walk it. With boots on, he would have been happy to canter it---he didn't feel a thing. Basically, the sum is that boots are a useful tool for when the terrain you're asking your horse to negotiate, especially at speed, is very much rockier than what he normally lives and/or works on.

The stony bit:
donard9.jpg
 
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