Hoof Boots

[fliffkins]

Looking for advice on boots,

I have a 24yo Friesian x TB with dinner plate size front feet! He was barefoot for years whilst we were showing but since retiring from the showing world several tears ago he's mostly been shod due to over wearing his feet down out hacking (they are rock solid so not foot sore) I've had his back shoes off now for 3 months to help with his arthritis in his hocks, I'm now considering making the move and taking his front shoes off again but want to get him boots for when he is out hacking, our bridleways can be stony, rocky, and uneven so they will wear his feet down.

 

[ester]

how dinnerplate big? Big options can be quite limited but measurements will help.
Current options I think are easyboot original/epic/trail
and cavallo big hoof boots.

However if he is comfortable I wouldn't worry at all about hoof wear.

 

[fliffkins]

how dinnerplate big? Big options can be quite limited but measurements will help.
Current options I think are easyboot original/epic/trail
and cavallo big hoof boots.

However if he is comfortable I wouldn't worry at all about hoof wear.

I'll get his measurements (they probably aren't as big as i make out they are, just big for his size)
Once they are worn down he does get footy, he is flat footed on the front but managed to cope out hacking where we lived in Cheshire, where we are now in Yorkshire the ground is just a little too hard going for him now so want the option to boot him for the longer rides.

 

[ester]

That's fair enough, I did find mine got better with time moving from somerset to chalky stoney wilts but he also struggled a bit with really challenging stone tracks so was booted. Get some measurements once trimmed, preferably take a photo of hoof with tape measure to allow for any inbetweenness and all the UK distributors are really helpful re. boot choices.

 

[fliffkins]

That's fair enough, I did find mine got better with time moving from somerset to chalky stoney wilts but he also struggled a bit with really challenging stone tracks so was booted. Get some measurements once trimmed, preferably take a photo of hoof with tape measure to allow for any inbetweenness and all the UK distributors are really helpful re. boot choices.

Thank you, he'll be fine out on road hacks and round the yard, it will just be for the bridleway hacks. I just want to make him as comfortable as possible especially now he is a little older.