The Hoof Boot Bible (HHO version)

Oberon

Oberon

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I would like to start a thread for people who are looking at getting boots for their horse.

We do have a thread on the Phoenix Forum but some people may not be able to view it without being members.

Please provide all your advice and experience with hoof boots here......

To start.....

Popular boots are Cavellos, Old Mac G2, Easyboot Gloves......

There are sizing and fitting instructions on YouTube for most boots you are interested in.
 
I have Cavallo Simple boots for my Highland, they fit her 'round' feet really well. I only use them occasionally, so I find that swearing loudly helps get them on, in lieu of practice :D
 
I currently have the cavallos, I think they are great boots to start with as they are very easy to use and you can put pads in them, mine have also stood up to being used for turnout for three months, good value for money!
We will hopefully soon be progressing maybe to renegades as we start to do more!
 
I am debating having my horse unshod again over the winter but though his easyboot gloves stayed on well last year, the gaiters really rubbed his pasterns. :(

Is there a trick to stopping this or is there a similar boot in terms of traction and staying on ability which would suit better?

(If this is too much to shove on this thread I can start a new one if you want OP :o )
 
Flame_ said:
I am debating having my horse unshod again over the winter but though his easyboot gloves stayed on well last year, the gaiters really rubbed his pasterns. :(

Is there a trick to stopping this or is there a similar boot in terms of traction and staying on ability which would suit better?

(If this is too much to shove on this thread I can start a new one if you want OP :o )
Click to expand...

No here is fine, this is exactly in the spirit of the thread - to share info and tips on boots.

Have a look at this thread on the old UKNHCP forum

http://uknhcp.myfastforum.org/about3789.html&highlight=gaiter+rub
 
My boots rubbed a bit early on, I think I must have missed a bit of mud, so I bought the gaiters but I couldn't get the gaiter to stay in place while I put the boot on. A couple of wraps of Vetrap worked great, doesn't move when the boot goes on.
 
Oberon, the new boys shoes came off today :) He's actually MUCH better than i was expecting him to be. A bit pottery initially, but then fine :D Granted, this was only on grass but still...:)
Anyhoo, post-trim (well, there wasn't anything to take off, so just a toe roll), we measured him for boots and he is 14cm wide & long (give or take a mm or 2). The boots need room for his feet when they are due a trim & for pads, but how much room?? Do we buy a size bigger? We haven't settled on a boot yet, but either Cavello Sport, Easyboot Gloves or the new Equine Fusion Jogging Boots. The size guides wreck my head when I've got to take pads into consideration :D Any tips?
 
itsonlyme said:
Oberon, the new boys shoes came off today :) He's actually MUCH better than i was expecting him to be. A bit pottery initially, but then fine :D Granted, this was only on grass but still...:)
Anyhoo, post-trim (well, there wasn't anything to take off, so just a toe roll), we measured him for boots and he is 14cm wide & long (give or take a mm or 2). The boots need room for his feet when they are due a trim & for pads, but how much room?? Do we buy a size bigger? We haven't settled on a boot yet, but either Cavello Sport, Easyboot Gloves or the new Equine Fusion Jogging Boots. The size guides wreck my head when I've got to take pads into consideration :D Any tips?
Click to expand...

Depends on what kind of riding you are aiming at the moment but it might be worth picking up a pair second hand of whatever fits-ish. Knowing what his hooves are like now - he's going to go through some big changes over the next few months.

Might be better to ask on the Phoenix - my experience with boots is limited ;).
 
Here's my penneth
My ID boas been great ,easy to put you need to lead round before you get on and tighten a couple of times horse felt great on them from day one and stood up to two hours hound exercising in the pouring rain trotting and galloping on roads and long grass I have never had the slipping issues you hear about , they have suited this horse very well .no rubbing issues.
This horse needed boots behind he had easy boot gloves a night mare to get on and off I hated them .
My KWPN in front only easy boot back country's fab easy to put on need to lead round and tighten before getting on horse happy no rubbing like then a lot.
My TB old macs , horse was very unsure at first but happy now I put old pop socks over his feet and one of the straps is padded with vet wrap now I have them sussed no rubbing and they need tightening at least twice before you get on.
 
Boas are perfect for the round hoof or as wide as long, or wider than long hoof... handy strap for pulling on which does the job nicely, even after one end of said strap fails, causing subsequent nose in face moment. become easier to get on the more they are used (like our shoes really), have had no problems with rubbing - even without pastern wraps, are easy to fit and adjust using the twisty dial mechanism.. also easy to remove :)
 
CBFan said:
Boas are perfect for the round hoof or as wide as long, or wider than long hoof... handy strap for pulling on which does the job nicely, even after one end of said strap fails, causing subsequent nose in face moment. become easier to get on the more they are used (like our shoes really), have had no problems with rubbing - even without pastern wraps, are easy to fit and adjust using the twisty dial mechanism.. also easy to remove :)
Click to expand...

I've heard Boas can be lethal on mud and grass.

My trimmers have seen some awful wall damage from the dial and they won't recommend them :(.

Wish they'd sort those issues out - they would be otherwise great boots.....
 
Our 28yo TB will wear his boas whenever he becomes a bit footy, or has an abscess that needs treating. He is shod in front only in the summer to prevent cracks, abscesses and general TB feet issues.

He also sometimes has worn the boas when the ground has been frozen and a bit rutted for days on end, as he finds this quite difficult. I do worry about him slipping, but he is sensible and I feel that having these on for a few hours a day help his feet more than the risk of something else happening.
 
Oberon said:
I've heard Boas can be lethal on mud and grass.

My trimmers have seen some awful wall damage from the dial and they won't recommend them :(.

Wish they'd sort those issues out - they would be otherwise great boots.....
Click to expand...

Oh really? that is interesting. I haven't actually used them heavily or a lot on mud / grass and can't see myself having to use them a great deal in future.

The dial doesn't appear to have affected my boy's hoof wall either.
 
I'm looking for some hoof boots for my very sensitive 11hh welsh a, who is a recovering laminitic. He is now sound on grass or in the school but struggles on the yard. Which ones do you guys recommend? He would be a size 0, had looked at the Cavallos and was going to go with those? Had previous experience with Boas on my TB about 10 years ago, they damaged his hoof wall, not wanting to repeat that!
 
CBFan said:
Oh really? that is interesting. I haven't actually used them heavily or a lot on mud / grass and can't see myself having to use them a great deal in future.

The dial doesn't appear to have affected my boy's hoof wall either.
Click to expand...

I did find Boas a bit slippy on very slick mud (like a drying up puddle) but not otherwise, certainly fine on all types of grass and also mud with stones in.

Ive not had any issues with the dial at all, no damage to hoof with extended use.

And they stay on round hooves!! Unlike a lot of other boots...
 
Oberon said:
I've heard Boas can be lethal on mud and grass.

My trimmers have seen some awful wall damage from the dial and they won't recommend them :(.

Wish they'd sort those issues out - they would be otherwise great boots.....
Click to expand...

I heard that too but they where the right shape for my boy and fitted well I had no issues with the dial I soon leanrt how loose I could get away with .
The slipping thing I was so worried when I sent OH away hound exercising with them it was terrible day pouring non stop it could not have been worse but it was apsolutly fine however the horse is an experianced canny hunter who is very carefull with himself.
 
Has anyone tried Easyboot Trail boots???

I'm planning ahead for when my Cavallos finally die. The Saddlery Shop do a Hoofboot upgrade scheme. Basically if I read it right if you send them your old pair (has to be a different brand) you get 50% off a pair of Easyboots.

So 4 Easyboot Trails would work out slightly cheaper then 4 Cavallos! (I may have misread it- it seems too good to be true...)

Only thing is much as I like the look of the Trail Boots I haven't read many reviews.
 
I have some I got recently and they are very very quick and easy to put on. Because the 3 layer velcro layer fastening mechanism is at the back, they are probably best for horses who dont forge/overreach too much (as in theory they might eventually loosen them).

Unfortunately my girls arent quite the right size for her so Im going to have to eBay them which is a shame as they are so easy to put on. Grip seems good in them too. They are useful as they fit the round hooves whereas a lot of boots demand longer than wide boots.
 
sydney said:
Has anyone tried Easyboot Trail boots???
Click to expand...

I have a pair of Trails but haven't used them much as my gal only needs occasional booting.

She took to them fine - they are lighter in weight than the cavallos and very easy to put on. Have ridden on roads, gritty tracks and grass and they seem OK even with some Welsh 'enthusiasm' involving feet off the ground!

Would say if you have a feathered horse then be careful you don't get the hair caught as you do up the velcro - I have a pair of popsocks with toes cut out that I put over pastern and hoof to keep the feather hair smooth on my Sec D.
 
Oberon said:
I've heard Boas can be lethal on mud and grass.

My trimmers have seen some awful wall damage from the dial and they won't recommend them :(.

Wish they'd sort those issues out - they would be otherwise great boots.....
Click to expand...

this.
there has been some awful damage to the walls from the dial. If you have white feet it is obvious but on darker feet people don't realise and it goes unoticed.
 
I agree with Boas being lethal on wet or dry grass, its not nice watching your 17hh warmblood go over at a walk, (all 4 feet went to the left, and bang down he goes!) also he has black feet and the damage to the wall took a year to grow out!)

so then I tried, Easyboot Bares, they fitted nicely but they rubbed at the front of the wall, and the neoprene part wore out quickly and they always looked like they would be more comfortable if you could attach the wrap to the front of the boot.

So then I tried Cavallo boots, Brilliant! they don't rub, you can get an individual fit using gaiters and gel pads (tip of the day pull the gaiter elastic over the heels and they will stay in place) so easy, they don't get slippy on grass until they are about 18 months old and a bit worn, so now my mare wears them everyday for turnout as she is transitioning) they feel great to ride in and she is so comfortable in them!
 
use easyboot gloves, quickly got the knack of getting them on and off quickly and do so mid hack :). No rubbing on a normally nightmare for rubs chesnut! Not sure if I'm imagining it because they sound 'clompy' but pony seems happier trotting without them on on tarmac now much less footy so not sure if they are quite right for him long term. But this is possibly not helped by them not fitting too great atm due to changing feet.. he isn't getting a new pair until his growth line hits the floor though :p.
 
id be interested in any boot recommendations for heavy cobs/horses with wide round feet (and any barefoot trimmers that would cover durham area)
 
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