Hoof boots

[Roxylola]

So, I'm tempted to give bon a short break from shoes.
Our summer turn out will start soon, the ground is neither rock hard, nor super soft (well they won't be out til it's not super soft) so it seems a good time. He's also a bit of a monkey when they first go out for "waving" through the fence. He hasn't lost a shoe doing it, but he did bust the fence last year
So initially at least it may be useful. Previous thoughts were that I'd also give him 12 weeks off and let him chill a bit.
However, he's had a very minor tendon sheath niggle and vets have suggested 6 - 8 weeks walk work including hills etc. If I just turn out he will miss out on that and I think there's actually some value in keeping him in correct work so I have 2 weeks to make my choice- farrier due then.
If he's staying in light work without shoes he'll need boots.
If I'm going to need to boot for rides they'll have to be straightforward to put on and off.

Opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions?

 

[GinaGeo]

It’s a good idea and the walk work would help the feet anyway.

What will work best initially will depend massively on the shape and condition of his hooves.

I’d take photographs and measurements after the shoes come off and send them to someone like Urban Horse or Hoof Boutique.

Initially, I tend to go for something a little more forgiving in fit like Cavallo’s or Equine Fusions. They will take a pad and don’t need to fit so precisely. Which is always helpful initially as newly bare feet often change shape massively in the first few months.

Once everything has settled and the major changes have been made, I then swap to something closer contact. My preference is Renegades. But others rate Scoots and Flex Boots too

 

[HappyHollyDays]

The type of boot depends on the shape of the foot and some of the easier ones to put on aren’t necessarily ones that will fit the shape you have. The best thing to do is have the shoes removed, measure and photograph and send the photos to Liz at the Hoof Boutique and she will advise as to what will fit best.

Personally I love Viper Renegades because they fit my round footed pony perfectly but I can’t get them to fit my Connie so initially he had Cavallo Treks. 12 months on they are to small and as I found them a bit clumpy he is about to go into Scoots as they do a slim as well as a regular size. Alternatively you could try Hoof Armour which is applied to the soles and sets hard. It gives decent protection on rougher ground and lasts about 6 weeks before needing to be reapplied.

 

[webble]

As above ones that fit will be the most important factor. Cavello is a really good starter boot but speak to hoof boutique or urban horse to see which would be the best option for you.

 

[Roxylola]

Just to be clear, I'm unlikely to keep him barefoot. It will be a break while he's coming back to full work. Ultimately I'll want to stud for some of the xc work and our land isn't conducive to being barefoot all year round. It's clay so turns to concrete over summer.

My other concern is the - shoes off then measure and consult approach is fine, but he has very very limited winter turn out normally and less so with his current regime - he needs to be able to get out walking. If I'm doing this I need a plan in place and boots ready to go really.

It may be that this isn't the best time and I perhaps measure when he has shoes redone with a view to a break at the end of the year instead

 

[GinaGeo]

With something like the Cavallo’s you could make a best guess with sizing by measuring shod and then going a bit smaller. If you’re using pads it’ll give you some leeway too.

Wouldn’t work for anything closer fitting though.

 

[Gloi]

our land isn't conducive to being barefoot all year round. It's clay so turns to concrete over summer.

Our land is concrete clay in summer and it gives zero problems with bare feet.

 

[Roxylola]

By way of an update I've measured his shod feet, they're very round - pretty much 15cm long and wide all round

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Have you measured the width as well as you need both measurements. Go onto the Hoof Boutique website and look at the sizing charts for all the boots she sells and it will give you some idea of what will suit him but I think Scoots might be a good option. Quick to get on and off and don’t get clogged with mud. Liz also has a second hand page so you might find something there as a new set are about £150 now which is a lot for a few months use.

 

[Roxylola]

15 long, and 14.5 to 15 wide - all circles

 

[Gloi]

The angle of the walls and heel height all play a part in boot fit too.
It's a good idea to buy secondhand boots so you don't lose money if you resell them

 

[Cragrat]

What are his hooves like now? If they are fairly decent, Hoof Armor is definitely worth a try.

Mine are barefoot on clay - I use Hoof Armor this time of the year when everything is sooo blooming wet, but in the summer when is backed solid concrete lumps they are fine without.

I use Renegade Vipers and Scoots on different horses, as and when needed. I really wanted to try the Flex boots, but Hoof Bootique said his feet were too round, so we have Vipers - they stay in place perfectly.

 

[Roxylola]

What are his hooves like now? If they are fairly decent, Hoof Armor is definitely worth a try.

Typical white sports horse feet not awful tbf, puts plenty of foot up in 6 weeks. He lost a shoe over summer, was sound for riding for a couple of days, struggled over stones though and we have to bring in over stones, and the foot chipped quite a bit in the field within a week - farrier on hols.
Will be gentle walk work for at least the first 6 weeks - probably cover some miles but all on the road, no gravel or anything.
Hoof armor might be a good option as it would help him in the field a bit as well.

 

[Gloi]

Typical white sports horse feet not awful tbf, puts plenty of foot up in 6 weeks. He lost a shoe over summer, was sound for riding for a couple of days, struggled over stones though and we have to bring in over stones, and the foot chipped quite a bit in the field within a week - farrier on hols.
Will be gentle walk work for at least the first 6 weeks - probably cover some miles but all on the road, no gravel or anything.
Hoof armor might be a good option as it would help him in the field a bit as well.

Almost all feet will chip when they are bare when a shoe comes off because the nail holes have weakened the walls. Once those have grown out and the feet properly trimmed, they will chip far less.

 

[Roxylola]

Update and more input wanted
We had a 12 week break, second half all hacking done in scoots on the front, barefoot behind. I also used hoof armour as a fair whack of the time was when we had very dry hard ground.
He certainly felt stones but was otherwise great.
Jumping at home was mostly booted but you then have the slippy on wet grass issues, and can't compete in them. Wearing boots or shoes he's definitely happier working than barefoot.
He's also recently had his first go in studs and was bolder again with them.
So for grass work which is most of summer shoes and the option of studs is his happiest option
However, the new growth from his barefoot stint is so good angles tighter etc just looks and so i am conflicted. New shoes next week for sure but 6 weeks on is October, grass riding will be over or near enough over, training and competing will be on surfaces (although abrasion issues?) Could i then take shoes off again? Would it be worth it? I know movement is crucial anyway but especially barefoot and the situation up here is heavily restricted turnout in winter - which is likely Nov to march but subject to weather. So he'd be mostly stabled with small turnout once a day for possibly maximum an hour and hacking daily for minimum an hour. Will there be any benefit to shoes being off there at all? If there is I'm tempted to take them off most of winter or would restricted movement and some work on surfaces negate any benefit?
He'll definitely get another break from Feb time regardless but I'm wondering if it might work to do a sort of 12 week on 12 week off type rotation?

 

[FitzyFitz]

Update and more input wanted
We had a 12 week break, second half all hacking done in scoots on the front, barefoot behind. I also used hoof armour as a fair whack of the time was when we had very dry hard ground.
He certainly felt stones but was otherwise great.
Jumping at home was mostly booted but you then have the slippy on wet grass issues, and can't compete in them. Wearing boots or shoes he's definitely happier working than barefoot.
He's also recently had his first go in studs and was bolder again with them.
So for grass work which is most of summer shoes and the option of studs is his happiest option
However, the new growth from his barefoot stint is so good angles tighter etc just looks and so i am conflicted. New shoes next week for sure but 6 weeks on is October, grass riding will be over or near enough over, training and competing will be on surfaces (although abrasion issues?) Could i then take shoes off again? Would it be worth it? I know movement is crucial anyway but especially barefoot and the situation up here is heavily restricted turnout in winter - which is likely Nov to march but subject to weather. So he'd be mostly stabled with small turnout once a day for possibly maximum an hour and hacking daily for minimum an hour. Will there be any benefit to shoes being off there at all? If there is I'm tempted to take them off most of winter or would restricted movement and some work on surfaces negate any benefit?
He'll definitely get another break from Feb time regardless but I'm wondering if it might work to do a sort of 12 week on 12 week off type rotation?

I used to always take my horses shoes off over winter for a break, made a big difference to their hoof quality. If it gets very wet in the paddock (although if it's only 1 hr might not do much) his feet will be softer so he may need boots for hacking, depends on your surfaces though. I wouldn't worry about abrasion from arena surfaces unless it;s really coarse sand and you're in there for ages. Keep an eye on him though horses all vary!

If he will fit into explora magics they have stud holes built in, depends if competition rules allow it though. Tbh though shoeing for competition season and barefoot the rest of the time works pretty well!

 

[Mrs G]

Only shoeing so you can use studs and going barefoot the rest of the time seems like a good compromise - worth a try surely? You may find your horse gains confidence on grass the longer hes barefoot on it anyway - I was on a yard where we schooled and jumped (admittedly only small heights!) solely on grass for a couple of years and my barefoot TB def got more confident on grass (and I got better at assessing ground conditions!) Riding on most arena surfaces I found was where I noticed big benefits from going barefoot - horse suddenly found he could really flick his toes and his movement got so much bigger! We still and probably always will, need boots for our stony hacking but I originally only took his shoes off to give his cracked, broken hooves a couple of cycles of rest from being shod and then him pulling them off and that was about 8 years ago now.

 

[Roxylola]

Thanks for the input.
To address the boots with studs, that's pretty definitely a no go under rules unfortunately. I'd also be a bit concerned about studding something that could in theory come off,so the stud creates grip for the boot but then the horse riding out of it bit like walking out of your wellies in thick mud. Or just the possibility of the foot moving a bit in the boot causing problems - yes I am aware I overthink things. While I know they can lose a shoe you don't have the same "movement"

With regard to grass, he's been pretty ok bare on grass it's in the boots he's found wet grass slippy. My issue would be that if landings and take offs are surfaced at all they tend to be gravelly rather than sandy, and potentially feeling his feet a bit half way round an xc isn't going to be nice for him.

I'll certainly consider taking shoes off again in 6 weeks and reassess again 6 and 12 weeks after that