Old mac type boots for a heavy horse

[fairhill]

Has any one with an unshod heavy horse (shire/cyldie type) found any old mac style boots big enough to fit?
It's looking like Chloe's arthritis in her hocks is making her too sore to hold her legs up for shoeing, so we thought of these as an alternative. However, she's got huge feet, and my farrier doesn't think we'll be able to get boots big enough for her.
Please tell me he's wrong

 

[custard]

Does your farrier think she could go barefot behind. My neds been without for 4 years now and his hind feet are lovely, sadly the front ones are just too flat to go without shoes. If youre only hacking out on the road once or twice a week I think she'd be ok

 

[fairhill]

She might be fine, and I can see us not having a choice in the matter, but she's such a heavy girl he'd rather that she had some protection and cushioning.
At the moment she's too sore to ride anyway, but I'm trying to plan ahead so that she doesn't have to retire at 15.
We've only got roadwork hacking if we keep the rides to less than an hour, so her feet would wear down very quickly.

 

[JessPickle]

Our yard have never found any unfortunetly

Also turnout boots for feathered legs seem impossible to find if you find any let me know!

 

[tiggie]

I think Boa boots go up to quite a large size,have tried some for my clydesdale x mare,as old macs just weren't big enough.
Have to admit that i wasn't too keen on them though.

 

[fairhill]

Why weren't you keen on them? PM if you'd rather not say on open!

 

[tiggie]

They were a pain to put on and off and the dial mechanism rubbed her hoof at the front.
Also they were absolutely enormous much bigger than the old macs,I don't mean the hoof size more the actual size of the boots.
I know lots of people like them but compared with just picking out feet and going they were hard work and if the horses feet were muddy you had to be very careful or the boots rubbed.
Could you try keratex hoof hardener and see if she would be ok barefoot?

 

[fairhill]

From the sounds of it, I think she's going to have to be ok barefoot. I don't think she's going to be able to hold her leg up for long enough if the boots are such a struggle to put on.

Thanks for your help.

 

[custard]

Have a look at Dallmer Clogs, they are German. Tried these on mine and they were very good for steady roadwork & although fiddly to fit were gr8 once adjusted properly, they are not as bulky as old macs/boa

 

[junior_7178]

Hi, i have an 18.1hh Shire.At the National Shire horse show in Peterborough last weekend there was a trade stand from a company that specialised in products for BIG horses and im sure they had some on display.
I cant remeber the name of the company im afraid,but i did give them my address and asked them to send me a catolouge.when it arrives i'll dig this thread out and get in touch to see if you've had any luck.