bikina
Well-Known Member
what are the best to use and why?
which hoof boots?
- Thread starter bikina
- Start date
Porkie
Well-Known Member
As in Old Mac / Boa u mean?
I use Old Mac's and absolutely swear by them - they hv given my 26yr old a new lease of life !! He is unshod due to metal shoes causing concussion and was hacking nicely barefoot - but due to old knee injury started to be lazy & 'toe drag' on that foot so eek was wearing hoof into strange square shape!! Tried Old Mac's and he loves them!!
Got first pair last August and hv just gone onto second pair. Only use for hacking so hv lasted quite long time, prob would hv lasted longer if he hadn't caused a hole in front by dragging that toe! (but as thats wot I got them 4 can't really complain can I!! & they aren't necessarily recommended for toe draggers but hv done the job for me!)
Old Mac's r designed for regular shaped hooves, Boa's for the more boxy type I think. I tried a pair of Boa's from my friend and didn't like, apart form not suiting my neddy's feet I found them fiddly and just not as nice (just my personal opinion tho I guess) Old Mac's are well easy to put on (once you've inititally figured out how!) they open up much more than boa's. Found the Macs to be pretty robust, good grip (only thing is not as easy to clean as boa's)
They hv extended my horse's working life indefinitely, whereas he was confined to yard b4 I got them! He is very confident in them and gets very excited when I get them out as he knows we are off out! He overtracks nicely in them and yes - as he proved to me a little while ago - you can gallop in them !! :-/ (my heart did a flip flop when he took off the first time coz I thought he was gonna trip and splat me on the floor but he was so sure footed it was untrue!!)
What are u intending to use them for?
I use Old Mac's and absolutely swear by them - they hv given my 26yr old a new lease of life !! He is unshod due to metal shoes causing concussion and was hacking nicely barefoot - but due to old knee injury started to be lazy & 'toe drag' on that foot so eek was wearing hoof into strange square shape!! Tried Old Mac's and he loves them!!
Old Mac's r designed for regular shaped hooves, Boa's for the more boxy type I think. I tried a pair of Boa's from my friend and didn't like, apart form not suiting my neddy's feet I found them fiddly and just not as nice (just my personal opinion tho I guess) Old Mac's are well easy to put on (once you've inititally figured out how!) they open up much more than boa's. Found the Macs to be pretty robust, good grip (only thing is not as easy to clean as boa's)
They hv extended my horse's working life indefinitely, whereas he was confined to yard b4 I got them! He is very confident in them and gets very excited when I get them out as he knows we are off out! He overtracks nicely in them and yes - as he proved to me a little while ago - you can gallop in them !! :-/ (my heart did a flip flop when he took off the first time coz I thought he was gonna trip and splat me on the floor but he was so sure footed it was untrue!!)
What are u intending to use them for?
Hemirjtm
Well-Known Member
I have a pair of old macs fo Hemirs back feet, they are great, but his feet are a little strange, an odd shape, and they have stated to rub him - not because of the boot though, because they are too big
we will probably be getting a smaller pair, but are definatly worth the money...i wouldn't recommend Boa boots though, they jsut didn't suit Hemir's foot type, but they may work fo you
good luck
good luck
Patchwork
Well-Known Member
I second Old Macs - have used them on two different horses for hacking in walk, trot and canter and they didn't slip or rub
_daisy_
Well-Known Member
Ive got Boa boots for my pony who has just gone Barefoot. She has thin flat soles and the Boas have helped her to be able to be ridden and help ease her through the transition period.
I find them very easy to fit however they are a tight fit as you dont want any movement in them or they will rub.
There isnt any part of them that needs replacing due to everyday wear from the hoof itself unless you accidently break the wires etc.
They are expensive but we will probably sell them once she has completed the full transition as she will be sound on all surfaces so no need for the boots any longer. They cost £93 but its not that bad when you think of how much use you will get out of them,.
They have 3 little holes in the back of the sole of the boot which allows you to ride through water and it will drain out rather than staying in the boot.
The Boas now come with gaiters to stop sand/mud getting in them when being ridden. Neither the gaiters or the boots haverubbed our pony.
Is there any specific reason you ask?
I find them very easy to fit however they are a tight fit as you dont want any movement in them or they will rub.
There isnt any part of them that needs replacing due to everyday wear from the hoof itself unless you accidently break the wires etc.
They are expensive but we will probably sell them once she has completed the full transition as she will be sound on all surfaces so no need for the boots any longer. They cost £93 but its not that bad when you think of how much use you will get out of them,.
They have 3 little holes in the back of the sole of the boot which allows you to ride through water and it will drain out rather than staying in the boot.
The Boas now come with gaiters to stop sand/mud getting in them when being ridden. Neither the gaiters or the boots haverubbed our pony.
Is there any specific reason you ask?
bikina
Well-Known Member
I'm asking as I have a horse with good feet but a lot of roadwork - so want him barefoot but to use the boots on the road. how long do a set of hoofboots last?
Evil_Cookie
Well-Known Member
Do you really need boots though? Road work is the best thing for my barefoot tb, she can't manage stones, hence why we have boa boots, but roads, she will ride for hours wuthout out a problem, as long as you transition into it giving the horses feet enought time to get stronger and adapt, I don't know why he couldn't do without. Work on tarmac stimulates growth aswell, just don't go overboard and judge what your horse is capable at at each stage, will your farrier be able to give you some advice? Our farrier is the fountain of all knowledge when it comes to fitting boots
Porkie
Well-Known Member
My first pair of macs lasted about 6 months, but that was during the winter when was only using them maybe twice a week on sat/sun for hacking. Not expecting my next pair to last as long as am using them now and as evenings are lighter am hacking 3/4/ times a week and longer hacks too.
BTW, the macs have never rubbed at all, also have little holes for drainage and now come with the same gaiters as boa's. U just hv to be very precise when measuring and make sure you get the right size.
Tip for trying on (if your neddy will allow) once boot is on pop carrier bag over top and secure with bit of gaffa tape or like before walking him round so you don't scuff up the bottoms, that way if they are too big/small you can return them! Once you've walked across the yard just a few steps you will find they scuff quickly and looked used straight away. My boy doesn't bat an eyelid when I walk him round with a carrier bag on each foot - maybe I'm lucky tho as some of the other horses on the yard shot thru the roof even when we walked past like it and they weren't even on their feet !! Hehe!
BTW, the macs have never rubbed at all, also have little holes for drainage and now come with the same gaiters as boa's. U just hv to be very precise when measuring and make sure you get the right size.
Tip for trying on (if your neddy will allow) once boot is on pop carrier bag over top and secure with bit of gaffa tape or like before walking him round so you don't scuff up the bottoms, that way if they are too big/small you can return them! Once you've walked across the yard just a few steps you will find they scuff quickly and looked used straight away. My boy doesn't bat an eyelid when I walk him round with a carrier bag on each foot - maybe I'm lucky tho as some of the other horses on the yard shot thru the roof even when we walked past like it and they weren't even on their feet !! Hehe!
Porkie
Well-Known Member
Agree with Evil Cookie on road work - even tho both me and my horse love the boots I only had to invest when he started to toe drag his bad leg (due to knee injury) and was wearing hoof down to white line. B4 that used to hack everywhere barefoot just avoiding stoney paths etc.
Gingerbird
Well-Known Member
My friend uses Old Macs and swears by them. Her horse is 23 and has navicular. He hacks out in them happily and although he's hard on his feet, they last for ages. As he is very thin skinned she wraps vetwrap around his heels/pasterns when she uses them so they don't rub but I think she'd have to do that with any boots.
_daisy_
Well-Known Member
Road work is brilliant for barefoot horses. The horse will automatically put out enough hoof to cope with the work it is doing.
I was informed that Boa boots dont ever wear out! obviously they get wear but should last years and years.
I was informed that Boa boots dont ever wear out! obviously they get wear but should last years and years.
Doublethyme
Well-Known Member
Old Mac G2's are by far the best boots for off roading - excellent traction. Some do question their traction for lots of road work though, ie is it too much. Epics/Bares are good for road work, enough grip without to much, but can be slippy on off road mud/grass.
Boas are good for road work, lethal on anything else I believe.
I use G2's all round on my mare for off road stuff and we go everywhere and anywhere with no problems. We don't do much road work though so haven't had a problem with excessive traction.
The new Epics are supposed to be good too, although again like the G2's maybe have too much grip for lots of road work.
Just depends on what types of surfaces and percentage of road work you do, but I would recommend G2's mostly above the other boots.
The lady that runs this on line tack shop (www.saddleryshop.co.uk) does a hire service which is excellent for finding what suits your horse, plus is very good at recommending and advising. The type of boot that suits also depends on your horse's foot shape too.
Boas are good for road work, lethal on anything else I believe.
I use G2's all round on my mare for off road stuff and we go everywhere and anywhere with no problems. We don't do much road work though so haven't had a problem with excessive traction.
The new Epics are supposed to be good too, although again like the G2's maybe have too much grip for lots of road work.
Just depends on what types of surfaces and percentage of road work you do, but I would recommend G2's mostly above the other boots.
The lady that runs this on line tack shop (www.saddleryshop.co.uk) does a hire service which is excellent for finding what suits your horse, plus is very good at recommending and advising. The type of boot that suits also depends on your horse's foot shape too.