Traditional Shoes vs Horse Boots?

E

emilyandnessa

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2008
Messages
69
Visit site
My mare did minor damage to her tendon nearly 3 months ago and since then has been on box rest, I had her shoes taken off early as recommended and as her feet are not good I also started her on a foot supplement (formula 4 feet) since then her feet have become a lot more healthy no cracking better horn growth and nail holes have completely grown out the shape has improved and silly as it sounds her hinds especially seem to becoming more concave already.

However she is still very footy on her forefeet so supposed to be having shoes put back on Tuesday, so I can start increasing her work, I’ve just thought though maybe as she is only now starting to have some turnout in very small paddock and just walking in hand (hoping to start under saddle again in about a month) mac / boa boots might be the solution for now. Any one have any experiences of these or do you think they would fit a TB horse with flat small feet??? (She won’t need hinds as going to stud in next 2-3 weeks.)
 
I personally would give them a go - my TB mare was rubbish with her feet, and so I tried going barefoot, and had boot for hacking. She got on with them really well, and I was really glad that I made the change. My cob mare currently has shoes on front and boots on back, but I am thinking about going barefoot all round with her. (She came to me with fronts only on and I dont think she has ever had back shoes on)
I had the old mac boots to start with on my TB mare, but they didnt suit her, and I changed to the Equiboot Epics. I use the Epics on my cob mare now. The are much easier to put on and stay in place a lot better.

I would definitely give it a go.
 
All my horses are barefoot. A laminitic prone shetland that i drive, A welsh D x used for hacking and a flat footed tb in full work. I use the boa boots and am really pleased with them the only trouble i find with barefoot is that if you compete you do miss the studs for grip.

It will take time for the feet to harden but using keratex hoof hardner speeds this time up loads. You will find that the hoof walls will thicken and the soles will become alot more concave.

Give it a try if it doesn't work out its not the end of the world you can just have shoes put back on. Good luck!
 
You can go from barefoot with boots to shod easily, but coming back the other way is hard, so I would def give it a go. My young horse has never been shod and has Boa boots on when the ground gets hard, and ive never regretted it.

NB you can get screw in studs for Boa boots, Ive got some although Ive never tried them. Other than very fast work on muddy ground, barefoot or booted Ive found she slips a lot less than my big boy who has always been shod. But if I continue to use the boots when the ground gets soft and muddy, she does start to slip, she has a lot more grip without the boots then.
 
[ QUOTE ]
You can go from barefoot with boots to shod easily, but coming back the other way is hard, so I would def give it a go. My young horse has never been shod and has Boa boots on when the ground gets hard, and ive never regretted it.

NB you can get screw in studs for Boa boots, Ive got some although Ive never tried them. Other than very fast work on muddy ground, barefoot or booted Ive found she slips a lot less than my big boy who has always been shod. But if I continue to use the boots when the ground gets soft and muddy, she does start to slip, she has a lot more grip without the boots then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Never tried the studs will have to get some.
laugh.gif
I second that I find they have more grip on wet grass and mud with no boots on.

Looked at the cavello boots before buying the boa boots but they didn't match the horses width and length fitting as some boots fit certain hoof shapes better than others. I was also worried that the velcro might come undone in wet muddy conditions on the cavellos
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top