XC and Hunting in hoof boots?

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I have a TB with poor feet and 6 weeks ago he damaged his hoof wall when he ripped a shoe off. He had all his shoes taken off and was turned away to let the hoof grow down before trying to put shoes back on. The farrier is still doubtfull about reshoeing yet as there is still about 2cm of poor hoof, above this the hoof is good, probably to better diet since we've had him. He seems happy barefoot and has not been lame at all although only ridden lightly on grass. So am tempted to go barefoot and use hoofboots but am concerned as to whether he and the boots would stand up to XC or hunting on fairly rough ground. Any opinions advice welcome.
 
How strange I have just asked a similar question on another thread!!

I am currently using cavello simple boots on the front and sports on the back for hacking out, the rest of the time my boy is bare foot - will not grow hoof when shod - We have been battling with the issue for about 4 years and finally come down to the fact that he can not have shoes for more than 3 months at a time.

I have previously tried Boa, great on roads and stony tracks but lethal on grass or mud!!

My chap is a TB ex race horse and has weak heels which are under run and I know he is not as comfortable in the cavello as the Boa, I think that they are putting pressure on the bulbs - it is so difficult!!
 
I don't hunt in over reach boots because I have previously been decked when horse stood on one, working on that principle I wouldn't want to try hoof boots.

I also dislike having boots on as the horses tend to stand about kicking out as they have mud/grit stuck up the boot that is bothering them, I wouldn't like to trust a hoof boot for five hours out hunting to hold up and not let anything in. Are they particularly breathable?
 
RTE... some of them only cover the hoof so breathability etc not a problem.

OP I wouldn't but I do know someone on here hunted their haffy in easyboot gloves with athletic tape (makes them stick on the hoof better).

IME boots tend to be slippy on wet grass with firm ground though they have always stayed on well in proper mud!
 
I've ridden in Easyboot Epics through some pretty bad conditions and they have never come off. The grip isn't great in some muddy conditions though but studs for the boots are available though I've never tried them as most of our ride is on hard ground.
If I knew most of the ride was on grass I would go barefoot.
 
I use front boots for hacking but wouldn't consider it for any jumping and especially not hunting or cross country. Accident waiting to happen IMHO

If he has good hoof growing down now could you not just wait until he is properly transitioned and then go XC or hunting?
 
We hunt a lot .
I have jumped small fences in hoof boots but IMO there is no way they would stand up to or be safe for the rigours of hunting.
 
I'd rather go the whole hog and not use boots or shoes. Won't happen over night but why not sort the diet and start walking out on Tarmac and see how he gets on.
 
I always hunt in hoofboots and never had a problem. We use Gloves and they are a devil to get off when I get home :D



 
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GS - we do the same, shoes off for summer holidays :)

Anyway - Just noticed this thread was actually started in September 2011 and the OP's horse's foot has probably grown back now... ;)
 
RunToEarth said:
GS - we do the same, shoes off for summer holidays :)

Anyway - Just noticed this thread was actually started in September 2011 and the OP's horse's foot has probably grown back now... ;)
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but the second poster today was asking the same question so answers are still relevant to them:)
 
Clava, do you have river crossings, bogs, and jump out of and into six inches of mud in them?

I hunt barefoot and I'd never go in boots, even if they stayed on I find they slip too much in mud and on grass banks.

OP you cannot wear boots for any xxx held under BE rules.
 
cptrayes said:
Clava, do you have river crossings, bogs, and jump out of and into six inches of mud in them?

I hunt barefoot and I'd never go in boots, even if they stayed on I find they slip too much in mud and on grass banks.

OP you cannot wear boots for any xxx held under BE rules.
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No river crossing that I remember but last years opening meeting was so wet that most the lanes were flooded, so yes, a lot deeper than 6 inches of mud! lol. Usually the going is good but incredibly flinty although I have certainly run into some boggy bits. The flints are why I boot, they are huge and sharp and horrible (had one slice a piece off a Renegade boot).
 
Clava said:
No river crossing that I remember but last years opening meeting was so wet that most the lanes were flooded, so yes, a lot deeper than 6 inches of mud! lol. Usually the going is good but incredibly flinty although I have certainly run into some boggy bits. The flints are why I boot, they are huge and sharp and horrible (had one slice a piece off a Renegade boot).
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I understand. I once had a flint slice a deep slit in the frog of a shod horse. Boots offer better protection than shoes for flints. I'm glad you get on OK with them.
 
I have done Trec in hoofboots, but only because I wasn't sure if removing them for the second day would have been against the rules as doing the PTV in different tack. It was OK, but the jumps were only up to 2' 3" and the going was good, not to dry and not too wet, but I wouldn't want to gallop or jump any higher with boots on. On the previous day some of the going was deep, deep mud, and clambering up and down very steep hills and dingles and the boots stayed on and didn't rub at all.

I agree that the Easyboot Epics can be slippy in mud, although less slippy than I fear, if you know what I mean. I can remember being very nervous about doing a gallop around a 20 acre grass field in boots, but it was fine, and my horse is a bit of a clumsy clot at the best of times.

I wouldn't want to hunt or do cross country in them though.
 
My next door neighbour has a mare with troublesome feet. She hacks in front boots and takes them off to school. She says she's happy trotting on the road but wouldn't consider cantering in them.

I've ridden her and she's still footy on stoney ground.

I certainly wouldn't be taking her xc or hunting her. I would either do it properly (like cptrayes) or just stick shoes on for the winter
 
cptrayes said:
I understand. I once had a flint slice a deep slit in the frog of a shod horse. Boots offer better protection than shoes for flints. I'm glad you get on OK with them.
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Yes, we have stubble that is so flinty the shod horses hooves ring as if riding on the road, on a couple of hunts some of the shod horses have chosen to go around the edge of the fields. My boots do fit really well though (I mean almost impossible to get off really well), I wouldn't use them otherwise and Hattie is pretty sure footed.
 
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