Trouble with finding hoof boots

[Ceriann]

My thin flat soled mare has been bf for 7 months. Vet advised she’d never cope but supportive of me trying as i was rehabbing anyway (needing lots of in hand walking). Her feet arent as intertesting as yours but she had fronts that were wider than they were long, with one dropped heel. We used cavallos but they only stayed square with thick pads. The changes in first 6 weeks were amazing and its interesting to see how her foot grows without a shoe. We’ve done miles of roadwork but all still work in progress - shes footy on stoney ground and all this wet weather has left debris on our roads that she struggles with but she is coping (far better than anyone expected). I also feed her prohoof - i think this has made a difference. Latest xrays showed improvement in angles - marginal but i’ll take that.

 

[laura_nash]

You could try Hoof Armour? There is a thread on here about it, I used it for my cob for a bit when his toe fell off after an injury and infection and he was left with a thin sole and very odd shaped hoof that his usual Cavallo Big Foot boots couldn't stay on at all. I wasn't riding him at the time, but there was a big improvement walking him on the road after it was applied. You could still use boots on top if you managed to find some that fit later on.

 

[Fransurrey]

Looking at the pics, I have an idea. I would size based on where the heels should be (when they're back) and buy Evo boots based on that sizing. As someone above mentioned, they are adaptable and you can even adjust each side so that if the heel is uneven, the boot will still be snug. Check out their promo videos to see what I mean. It sounds like you will only need boots for rocky terrain, but more movement will mean quicker changes and if the toe also comes back, you may find the same boots will still suit!!

 

[Mule]

You could try Hoof Armour? There is a thread on here about it, I used it for my cob for a bit when his toe fell off after an injury and infection and he was left with a thin sole and very odd shaped hoof that his usual Cavallo Big Foot boots couldn't stay on at all. I wasn't riding him at the time, but there was a big improvement walking him on the road after it was applied. You could still use boots on top if you managed to find some that fit later on.

I've started using keratex, it seems to be similar to hoof armour.

 

[Mule]

Right, the thread is up in the Veterinary and hoof care forum. It's called barefoot transition thread/ journal. Enjoy

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've started using keratex, it seems to be similar to hoof armour.

Keratex is not like hoof armour keratex is a hoof hardner and I personally think it's not worth using, hoof armour is a product you put over the entire surface of the hoof with a special gun, it then stays put for several weeks to protect the bottom of the hoof for riding and so forth, it really does vary how long it actually lasts though.

 

[Mule]

Keratex is not like hoof armour keratex is a hoof hardner and I personally think it's not worth using, hoof armour is a product you put over the entire surface of the hoof with a special gun, it then stays put for several weeks to protect the bottom of the hoof for riding and so forth, it really does vary how long it actually lasts though.

Ooh I didn't realise that. I'm going to look it up. Thanks for the tip

 

[Gloi]

Keratex is not like hoof armour keratex is a hoof hardner and I personally think it's not worth using, hoof armour is a product you put over the entire surface of the hoof with a special gun, it then stays put for several weeks to protect the bottom of the hoof for riding and so forth, it really does vary how long it actually lasts though.

I found with the hoof armour it was good if the soles were thin. However when it is on the parts of the hoof that contact the road it was fine at walk but as soon as I went any faster it wore off quite quickly. With a transitioning horse that is just walking out I think it could be a good help.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I found with the hoof armour it was good if the soles were thin. However when it is on the parts of the hoof that contact the road it was fine at walk but as soon as I went any faster it wore off quite quickly. With a transitioning horse that is just walking out I think it could be a good help.

I spoke my farrier and he pretty much said what you have said, I think I might start using it once I want to do more riding as most of it is on soft ground, I just need something to get him down a stony track to get to the hacking, he has cavallo boots but I find them a bit clumpy and I wouldn't want to do too much fast work in them.

 

[Mule]

The farrier came today to trim the beast's hooves. He has been out of shoes for 12 weeks now. The farrier said that his hooves have improved so much that they're almost unrecognisable
I will be uploading photos tomorrow

 

[Wheels]

I will look forward to seeing the pics. glad things are working out

 

[Mule]

How are you getting on?

I will look forward to seeing the pics. glad things are working out

 

[Wheels]

How are you getting on?

So far so good thanks although we still have a long way to go in terms of transitioning. We are just over 12 weeks in now, on a good sand surface we can work in all 3 paces without boots. On my own arena surface which is a bit thin in places and uneven in others then we need boots for decent amounts of trot and canter work.

I find if I don't get enough hacking (which is difficult this time of year) then he can get footy. If I cant get out on the roads a couple of times a week for 45 mins plus it seems to be detrimental. I try to lead up and down the lanes and driveway a few times a week if I cant hack but weather / ice has put pay to that more than once

How long of winter is left? Then i suppose i will be able to hack more but worried about spring grass lol

 

[Mule]

So far so good thanks although we still have a long way to go in terms of transitioning. We are just over 12 weeks in now, on a good sand surface we can work in all 3 paces without boots. On my own arena surface which is a bit thin in places and uneven in others then we need boots for decent amounts of trot and canter work.

I find if I don't get enough hacking (which is difficult this time of year) then he can get footy. If I cant get out on the roads a couple of times a week for 45 mins plus it seems to be detrimental. I try to lead up and down the lanes and driveway a few times a week if I cant hack but weather / ice has put pay to that more than once

How long of winter is left? Then i suppose i will be able to hack more but worried about spring grass lol

Being able to work in three paces without boots is fantastic progress. It's very interesting to see how important roadwork is.

 

[Sasana Skye]

So glad it's going well for you Mule.

I'm 6 months without shoes now and never going back. My horse has always had long toes, low contracted heels and thin soft soles. Her hooves are now much more in proportion and she's sound. I'm hacking out without boots or pads successfully including over a stony track - where we do go slow and have a stumble here and there in all fairness.
We had a little set back last week in the form of an abscess but on the plus side the vet couldn't dig it out because her soles were too solid for the knife to cut into so we had to leave it to find its own way out, so we must be doing something right I'm going to ask for xrays at some point this year to compare her foot balance with the shod xrays.

 

[Trouper]

I'm glad things are improving. Just another thought .... a friend of mine has had incredible success in improving hoof quality by adding a seaweed supplement to the diet. Not too expensive to do.

 

[Mule]

So glad it's going well for you Mule.

I'm 6 months without shoes now and never going back. My horse has always had long toes, low contracted heels and thin soft soles. Her hooves are now much more in proportion and she's sound. I'm hacking out without boots or pads successfully including over a stony track - where we do go slow and have a stumble here and there in all fairness.
We had a little set back last week in the form of an abscess but on the plus side the vet couldn't dig it out because her soles were too solid for the knife to cut into so we had to leave it to find its own way out, so we must be doing something right I'm going to ask for xrays at some point this year to compare her foot balance with the shod xrays.

That's great. I think getting new x-rays is a good idea. It would be interesting to see the internal changes.[/QUOTE]

 

[Mule]

I'm glad things are improving. Just another thought .... a friend of mine has had incredible success in improving hoof quality by adding a seaweed supplement to the diet. Not too expensive to do.

I'll look in to that, thanks for the tip

 

[Tarragon]

I am looking forward to seeing the next set of pictures. I find i learn a lot from seeing the before and after photos. Congratulations on persevering!

 

[Mule]

Ok, I have uploaded new pictures. I have put them up in my dedicated barefoot journal/ thread. It's post 66. Enjoy
Here's the link:
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/barefoot-transition-thread-journal.782641/page-3

 

[Gloi]

I'm glad things are improving. Just another thought .... a friend of mine has had incredible success in improving hoof quality by adding a seaweed supplement to the diet. Not too expensive to do.

I would feed a properly balanced barefoot supplement like pro hoof rather than seaweed. You want to have properly balanced minerals and not risk an oversupplement of iodine.

 

[Mule]

I would feed a properly balanced barefoot supplement like pro hoof rather than seaweed. You want to have properly balanced minerals and not risk an oversupplement of iodine.

Ah that's ok then because he's already on pro balance so I'll leave him be.