Strongest over reach boots on the market please someone?

[Birker2020]

My new horse has managed to get through 2 pairs of Arma over reach boots and a pair of HY Equestrian over reach boots in the six weeks I've owned him. He's also managed to pull off a front shoe during that time and I am expecting him to lose another today.

He obviously has some serious issues which I am currently rehabbing him for and I could really do without the additional expense of buying these boots, so far my vets bills/insurance excess are over £600 which I have to pay as they won't honour part of it.

I have some Premier Equine non spin ballistic over reach boots my friend gave me and as I like them so much have bought a second pair. I will start using them in the meantime. But I just wanted to know if there was anything really strong on the market that you have found is suitable for a horse that is weak/ataxic behind and that prevents loss of shoes.

I've also started him on Keratex Hoof Hardener although the issue is that he pulls off shoes, not that his feet aren't strong. He's been on Happy Hoof since I've owned him as the previous owner said she had him on it (as well as telling me to always have over reach boots on him).

Be grateful if we can stick to the over reach boots issue and not go into anything else for now as I am just beside myself with worry. Thank you.

 

[Roxylola]

I know they sound ridiculous, but I think the old westropp petal over reaches work better than anything else

 

[Jeni the dragon]

I used Woof Wear ones on Rog, think they were the ballistic ones too. He was very short coupled so always wore them being ridden.

 

[Ceifer]

I know they sound ridiculous, but I think the old westropp petal over reaches work better than anything else

I second this

 

[Bernster]

I’ve not found ones that last a really long time. My boy is quite rough with them too!

When I first got him, he pulled shoes quite regularly. I used glue on shoes for a bit, to help his hoof grow as he was damaging the wall pulling them. They are expensive though so that doesn’t help you but they do stay on so you don’t have to get call outs for replacing shoes. Didn’t need them once we got his hoof balance sorted.

ETA really sorry you’re having some issues with your new boy, that sucks ?

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I second this

Me three! They don't get clogged up with mud and I just buy spare petals. I think it works out cheaper? (Obviously I've not checked as it's just something I have to buy and try not to think too much about).

Good luck OP x

 

[mini-eventer]

the Shires Arma ones have lasted well for me. The rubber seems to be more flexible, so I think they stretch rather than tear.

 

[Birker2020]

the Shires Arma ones have lasted well for me. The rubber seems to be more flexible, so I think they stretch rather than tear.

Those are the ones in the photos, he got through two pairs in four weeks. The other one he's nearly through on is the HY Neoprene pictured.

 

[Floofball]

I feel your pain, my just backed boy keeps getting a shoe off - he’s not got through a shoeing cycle yet without getting one off! He was in the Arma ones until I realised there were splits in them that you could only see if you stretched the rubber. I then put him in Woof Wear ballistic ones, thought we’d cracked it, then he pulled another off last week and there was a tiny bit of the neopRene missing off the bottom of the boot ?‍ I’m going to carry on with them though as he has managed to get one off in the stable! I do have some cheap but quite thick plastic ones to try next. He’s very short coupled with a massive over track, only been shod to protect his fronts while his workload increases with canter, jumping and hacking out, I think he’s trying to tell me something though ????
Sorry your having issues, good luck with him.

 

[Birker2020]

I feel your pain, my just backed boy keeps getting a shoe off - he’s not got through a shoeing cycle yet without getting one off! He was in the Arma ones until I realised there were splits in them that you could only see if you stretched the rubber. I then put him in Woof Wear ballistic ones, thought we’d cracked it, then he pulled another off last week and there was a tiny bit of the neopRene missing off the bottom of the boot ?‍ I’m going to carry on with them though as he has managed to get one off in the stable! I do have some cheap but quite thick plastic ones to try next. He’s very short coupled with a massive over track, only been shod to protect his fronts while his workload increases with canter, jumping and hacking out, I think he’s trying to tell me something though ????
Sorry your having issues, good luck with him.

Oh gosh, glad its not just me going through the never ending over reach boot thing. Sorry to hear about your horse, it gets expensive after a while doesn't it?

I wouldn't mind if Lari was short coupled, but as you can see he's really quite long in the body. Has a massive over track but not sure if that's due to his way of going in general or whether its because he's weak/ataxic.

I'm hoping the PE ballistic ones do the trick otherwise he's going to have to go barefoot until we can get to the spring and decide his future. My lovely Lari is still lovely, its not his fault but what a nightmare. I hope the front shoes are still on tonight. THen I can swap with the PE ones and see how we get on with those.

 

[mini-eventer]

Those are the ones in the photos, he got through two pairs in four weeks. The other one he's nearly through on is the HY Neoprene pictured.
View attachment 83214

Oh dear, mine have lasted 2 month which is good for us. I feel your pain, I have a chronic shoe loser too

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I mean, would he be ok unshod? This solved my problem. Well, a variety of problems, tbh.

I used ballistic boots of varying brands, found a LeMieux hardshell style that worked alright, but ultimately thick rubber worked very well. They were from a German chain store though, and not sure they make them anymore, so somewhat useless recommendation.

Edit: forgot to add that mine is very short coupled and close behind, so those were his primary issues, and his trimmer balances him better than his previous farrier.

I do know of another horse that transitioned surprisingly well. Big WB, so not short coupled, but quite frankly doesn't know where his feet are sometimes. Used to lose shoes frequently regardless of farriers used. So might be something to consider.

 

[paddy555]

I am a bit lost with all of this, I think I must have missed some posts somewhere. However I am not sure if he is ridden or not, is the 2nd pic current, but if he has hind end problems would it be better just to pull all shoes now. Accept there will be a period when you will have to be careful whilst he adapts to BF and riding (if he is) or in hand training will have to be on suitable surfaces. Then see if shoe removal does in fact help or change his back end problems and way of going.

 

[leflynn]

Another vote for the westropp petal boots, my boy has been shredding all others but these are as new after a couple of months still. Plus if its muddy the mud doesn't seem to get as stuck and cause rubs as other types

 

[Birker2020]

I am a bit lost with all of this, I think I must have missed some posts somewhere. However I am not sure if he is ridden or not, is the 2nd pic current, but if he has hind end problems would it be better just to pull all shoes now. Accept there will be a period when you will have to be careful whilst he adapts to BF and riding (if he is) or in hand training will have to be on suitable surfaces. Then see if shoe removal does in fact help or change his back end problems and way of going.

Sorry, both photos taken from sales video prior to me purchasing him.

I am going to try the PE ballistic over reach boots and will buy some petal ones if I can find some for sale. I'm not sure whether it would be detrimental in his rehab to remove shoes at this point in time but I don't see I will have much choice if he continues losing shoes. I mean we are not even into mud or wet yet, its been incredibly warm and dry, you could forgive a horse for occasionally getting a foot 'left behind' and pulling off a front shoe in deep mud. Where I found his lost shoe was in grass 1/4 inch thick and like a bowling green and had been dry for weeks!

I also can't see how he will not get very sore pasterns given that the boots are on 24/7. If I wash them and his pasterns at night so he will have them on in the mud the following day on turnout for probably 7 hrs a day during the winter. I can see the mud particles will rub on the skin. I will put Keratex mud shield powder on and hope his bedding doesn't rub it off but not sure that will be enough.

I'm trying so hard not to get down about all this. My saddle pad rehab kit has been lost in the post, it was posted out on Saturday and I've still not received it! I really need it so I can crack on more efficiently.

Nothing is easy and when it goes wrong it seems to snowball uncontrollably when it does! I need to give myself a good kicking!

 

[Birker2020]

Another vote for the westropp petal boots, my boy has been shredding all others but these are as new after a couple of months still. Plus if its muddy the mud doesn't seem to get as stuck and cause rubs as other types

Wow, when you look at them they seem so flimsy, it was always the straps that used to break if I remember correctly, they were in vogue in the 90's and the clackety clack noise they made when you cantered around the ring always made me smile!

Its amazing there has been four votes for them now! Thank you.

 

[paddy555]

Sorry, both photos taken from sales video prior to me purchasing him.

I am going to try the PE ballistic over reach boots and will buy some petal ones if I can find some for sale. I'm not sure whether it would be detrimental in his rehab to remove shoes at this point in time but I don't see I will have much choice if he continues losing shoes. I mean we are not even into mud or wet yet, its been incredibly warm and dry, you could forgive a horse for occasionally getting a foot 'left behind' and pulling off a front shoe in deep mud. Where I found his lost shoe was in grass 1/4 inch thick and like a bowling green and had been dry for weeks!

I also can't see how he will not get very sore pasterns given that the boots are on 24/7. If I wash them and his pasterns at night so he will have them on in the mud the following day on turnout for probably 7 hrs a day during the winter. I can see the mud particles will rub on the skin. I will put Keratex mud shield powder on and hope his bedding doesn't rub it off but not sure that will be enough.

I'm trying so hard not to get down about all this. My saddle pad rehab kit has been lost in the post, it was posted out on Saturday and I've still not received it! I really need it so I can crack on more efficiently.

Nothing is easy and when it goes wrong it seems to snowball uncontrollably when it does! I need to give myself a good kicking!

I'm sorry about your problems. I guess from your comments you are thinking of leaving overreach boots on 24/7 even though he is stabled at night. I hope I have understood that correctly. Sorry if I haven't. I would consider it a risk leaving him shod if he was so at risk of pulling his fronts off just from standing in the stable or getting up. Looking at t he pic of his front legs he looks to be thin skinned and as if he would get rubs from the top of boots easily.

 

[Floofball]

@Birker2020 Lari is indeed very lovely! He is stood quite ‘out behind’ on the first photo, I know it’s just a moment in time, and you want to keep this thread about overreach boots, but have you posted at all about the issues your experiencing with him? I would be interested to read them if you have really hope he comes right for you ??

 

[Birker2020]

I'm sorry about your problems. I guess from your comments you are thinking of leaving overreach boots on 24/7 even though he is stabled at night. I hope I have understood that correctly. Sorry if I haven't. I would consider it a risk leaving him shod if he was so at risk of pulling his fronts off just from standing in the stable or getting up. Looking at t he pic of his front legs he looks to be thin skinned and as if he would get rubs from the top of boots easily.

She just told me to leave them on all the time. I didn't question why, I just assumed she was being over cautious and remarked to my partner on the way home how weird it was that she kept over reach boots on all the time when the horse was so long in the body and little chance of him over reaching.

In the same way after he passed the vetting and I text her and asked what he was fed on so I could get it in for his pending arrival she told me he was fed Happy Hoof amongst other things. I never thought anything of it, she said it was because she liked to have good feet. She commented when we were there viewing him that she dressed his feet once a week, well I always did that with Bailey so again never thought much of it. Plenty of people adopt the same attitude but it doesn't mean they anticipate there to be a problem, its usually to prevent problems arising.

Looking back now I can't believe how blind I was.

 

[ester]

re the poss rubbing issue could you put silver whinnies on underneath?

 

[AFB]

I have an old pair of NEW OR boots that look similar to the PE ones, they're probably 10 years old now and not put up to the same level of destruction as yours but they've been so hard wearing when they've been needed I'd recommend.

 

[Birker2020]

@Birker2020 Lari is indeed very lovely! He is stood quite ‘out behind’ on the first photo, I know it’s just a moment in time, and you want to keep this thread about overreach boots, but have you posted at all about the issues your experiencing with him? I would be interested to read them if you have really hope he comes right for you ??

Hi, I thought about posting but I don't want to be jumped on and blamed that things have gone so wrong, so I'd rather not because I tend to know how these threads end up. I'm about as low as I can get right now and keep jumping between just giving up and retiring him/pts and going all out on the rehab with a rose tinted expectation of having a super duper horse in the Spring. I really don't think I'm in the best place at the moment to take on board criticism although I know most of the people on here are good people, I've had it in the past.

Physio has already said 50% chance of him being able to do what I want with him and she sees horses like this day in day out so she knows what she's talking aobut. Thing is I'm a realist and I don't think I could take confirmation of what I already know to be true.

 

[Birker2020]

re the poss rubbing issue could you put silver whinnies on underneath?

Never heard of those, just googled. They look interesting. With the best will in the world, I just can't see the staff struggling to put those on every morning. However I suppose I could get to the yard before work and put them on him prior to turnout if I got out of bed at 5am instead of 5.30. Thanks for the heads up Ester, if the boots start to rub I will look at buying some of those, they sound good.

I've just seen this link too: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/buyers-guides/best-overreach-boots-for-horses-511646

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Not about boots as such but my old boy use to pull shoes off all the time and my farrier put some shoes on that were almost 'shaved' so there wasnt as much of a lip to pull them off with if that makes sense.

So sorry youre going through the mill with your new horse.

 

[Birker2020]

Not about boots as such but my old boy use to pull shoes off all the time and my farrier put some shoes on that were almost 'shaved' so there wasnt as much of a lip to pull them off with if that makes sense.

So sorry youre going through the mill with your new horse.

Yes I will try and get out of work for a couple of hours when the farrier is due so I can discuss with him rolling the toes more maybe to increase the break over. I am not sure if that is the reason for it, I rather doubt that as the previous owner would have already looked into doing this with her farrier. I think the issue is that he's very weak/ataxic but yes, you are right, if there is nothing to strike into then there is less chance but I don't know if that would mean the heels aren't supported in the same way?? Shaved like a back slash type of shave from top to bottom you mean? ////

 

[paddy555]

Never heard of those, just googled. They look interesting. With the best will in the world, I just can't see the staff struggling to put those on every morning. However I suppose I could get to the yard before work and put them on him prior to turnout if I got out of bed at 5am instead of 5.30. Thanks for the heads up Ester, if the boots start to rub I will look at buying some of those, they sound good.

I've just seen this link too: https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/buyers-guides/best-overreach-boots-for-horses-511646

i have silver whinnies and used them for about 3 months on a LV horse. They worked well for that use. I also put them on myself. Not too bad but certainly not a job I looked forward to. My horses are barefoot. I really would not have liked the hassle of putting them on over shoes. Even with the plastic bag I think they would have been more difficult and snagged on the nails. I suspect the staff would curse having to do this.

You are where you are with Lari. Why not try leaving his boots off overnight and see what happens?

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Yes I will try and get out of work for a couple of hours when the farrier is due so I can discuss with him rolling the toes more maybe to increase the break over. I am not sure if that is the reason for it, I rather doubt that as the previous owner would have already looked into doing this with her farrier. I think the issue is that he's very weak/ataxic but yes, you are right, if there is nothing to strike into then there is less chance but I don't know if that would mean the heels aren't supported in the same way?? Shaved like a back slash type of shave from top to bottom you mean? ////

Bobby was very weak too but the 'shaved' shoes stopped him pulling them off as much. Im not sure about the heels tbh, but yes the back slash type of shave

 

[Birker2020]

You are where you are with Lari. Why not try leaving his boots off overnight and see what happens?

Because I can't afford for him to lose another shoe, my farrier has only shod him once and been out to put a shoe on once. I don't think he'd be too impressed having to come back out so soon after to put another one back on.

It doesn't matter to him or me if his boots are left on over night, that's not the issue. They will be washed and dry when he has them on over night. The issue will be during the day when there is potential to rub.

 

[Birker2020]

Bobby was very weak too but the 'shaved' shoes stopped him pulling them off as much. Im not sure about the heels tbh, but yes the back slash type of shave

Cool, ok I will speak to him. He's due again the week before Xmas, he's on a five week shoeing cycle.

 

[Northern Hare]

Hi, my horse went through a phase of losing shoes in the field - so I appreciate that it's very frustrating!! In the end, I found that what worked for him were the Horze neoprene over reach boots, with a cheap pair of traditional plastic with velcro OR boots over the top, in a big enough size so they sit down over the top.

Here's a link to the Horze OR boots...

https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/Mob...tm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedKingdom