Your hoof boot thoughts please!

[RumbleTheTumble]

Hi...
I have three barefoot standard shetlands which I drive. All are barefoot and have always been. I've tried a few different boots (they all wear boots as it's all road work here and they do quite a few miles one easy and another). I've ended up using and preferring equine fusion (apart from one who wears G2 macs on the front because the fusions spin on his round feet) however, if I wanted to ride (not my shetlands ?) I'm not sure the fusions would be too good? They don't perform at all well when wet. We've had trouble with them out driving after going through deep puddles or if the ponies get sweaty... particularly in a competition they just slip so much it's not good at all! Also... they're great traction on dry roads but provide hardly any grip on grass. I'm wondering what you've all found to be good...on and off road...wet and dry...up and down hills?
I bought some scoot boots to try once but was worried about them rubbing with the strap up the back... probably was silly not to try them...as I sent them straight back and have been reading in other threads that some people get on with them!?
Any thoughts much appreciated!
Apologies for long message!

 

[HappyHollyDays]

I have friends who love their scoot boots but I prefer Viper Renegades as scoots don’t suit my ponies feet. The Vipers have only ever come off once in deep mud, they don’t slip or rub and last two years before he wears holes in them. I’ve just ordered my third set this morning ?

 

[CrimsonDivine]

I bought Equine Fusion myself but rarely use them to be honest. Have you tried buying studs for yours? You might find that'll help on soft ground. There is also Equine Fusion Terrain Ultra that I believe is more ideal for things like that? To be honest I never thought they'd be allowed in competition, I thought you could only enter with shoes?

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

I have friends who love their scoot boots but I prefer Viper Renegades as scoots don’t suit my ponies feet. The Vipers have only ever come off once in deep mud, they don’t slip or rub and last two years before he wears holes in them. I’ve just ordered my third set this morning ?

Thanks... I'll look at vipers too?

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

I bought Equine Fusion myself but rarely use them to be honest. Have you tried buying studs for yours? You might find that'll help on soft ground. There is also Equine Fusion Terrain Ultra that I believe is more ideal for things like that? To be honest I never thought they'd be allowed in competition, I thought you could only enter with shoes?

Thanks for your thoughts... I've tried those fusions...I like them but they do still slide off when wet!
I think I gave you the wrong idea about competition! I am very low grade on that !! We go out to a local drive to have fun only...I said about it really only because the ponies often work hard and then the sweat also effects the boots. I haven't tried the studs...I think they would be excellent if the boot stayed on the foot really well... which I'm yet to achieve! Perhaps boots aren't quite yet the whole answer?

I bought Equine Fusion myself but rarely use them to be honest. Have you tried buying studs for yours? You might find that'll help on soft ground. There is also Equine Fusion Terrain Ultra that I believe is more ideal for things like that? To be honest I never thought they'd be allowed in competition, I thought you could only enter with shoes?

 

[FFAQ]

I use cavallo but that's because mine all have massive feet and nothing else fits! I've never had problems with them and they're relatively cheap!

 

[Leo Walker]

Wil they not cope without shoes or boots? Mines not a shetland but she does miles and miles on tarmac and stony tracks with a 4 wheeler and never has an issue. I'm very careful with diet and access to grass and it really shows in her feet

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

I use cavallo but that's because mine all have massive feet and nothing else fits! I've never had problems with them and they're relatively cheap!

Thanks...I think Capello is good...popular it seems...do you think they perform well? They don't do my size though!

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

Wil they not cope without shoes or boots? Mines not a shetland but she does miles and miles on tarmac and stony tracks with a 4 wheeler and never has an issue. I'm very careful with diet and access to grass and it really shows in her feet

Thanks...I don't think they'd manage without boots... sometimes we'll do 20 miles on a week. I hear what you say about diet though... good advice!

 

[paddy555]

I have found the scoot has the best grip on slick grass and mud. As far as the back part rubbing goes then I did have one rub badly. So saying I have used others many times and they haven't rubbed. I think if they rub it could well be because of the shape of the heel bulbs. When I got mine there was no slim fitting. If there had been I might have got a better fit and not had a problem.
Depending of course on the size with scoots to deal with any potential rubbing I would consider the next size up but in the slim fitting. That could give more length to get the heel part further away from the bulbs but the width would not increase too much.

If I was going for scoots I would measure and then get 3 sizes in both the standard and the slim fittings. That way you have a good choice to try . I wouldn't get the fit kit as I find you can fit them better when considering twisting with the front straps fastened. Then send back what you don't need.

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

I have found the scoot has the best grip on slick grass and mud. As far as the back part rubbing goes then I did have one rub badly. So saying I have used others many times and they haven't rubbed. I think if they rub it could well be because of the shape of the heel bulbs. When I got mine there was no slim fitting. If there had been I might have got a better fit and not had a problem.
Depending of course on the size with scoots to deal with any potential rubbing I would consider the next size up but in the slim fitting. That could give more length to get the heel part further away from the bulbs but the width would not increase too much.

If I was going for scoots I would measure and then get 3 sizes in both the standard and the slim fittings. That way you have a good choice to try . I wouldn't get the fit kit as I find you can fit them better when considering twisting with the front straps fastened. Then send back what you don't need.

Thanks so much... that's very helpful?

 

[Leo Walker]

Thanks...I don't think they'd manage without boots... sometimes we'll do 20 miles on a week. I hear what you say about diet though... good advice!

We do 50 ish getting fit for outdoor trials as well as work in a sand school. So long as you build them up slowly then try it. You have nothing to lose.

 

[Gloi]

Although they haven't been made for quite a while now if you manage to spot any Easyboot Grip boots being sold they are brilliant for slick conditions. They are the same design as the Epics but with a different sole pattern. I wish they still made them. They aren't any good for road work though, the tread wears off on tarmac.
I use Scoot boots on mine these days and haven't had any problem with rubbing. It depends very much on the height of the heel bulbs how well they work.

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

Thanks...I used epics for a while. They were quite good. It's interesting though, the different demands of driving. When the ponies wanted to 'spring' a hill and they really pushed off... the epics used to come straight off but hang round their fetlocks by the ankle strap... one of them was upset by this and bucked until the thing flew off into a field!! All good fun... the search for the perfect boot goes on?

 

[Gloi]

Thanks...I used epics for a while. They were quite good. It's interesting though, the different demands of driving. When the ponies wanted to 'spring' a hill and they really pushed off... the epics used to come straight off but hang round their fetlocks by the ankle strap... one of them was upset by this and bucked until the thing flew off into a field!! All good fun... the search for the perfect boot goes on?

I never had the Epics come off when driving but they weren't too good as he wore through the front of the toes of the hind boots and wrecked the clips when going down hills.btw that isn't me, it was an 85th birthday treat.

 

[RumbleTheTumble]

I never had the Epics come off when driving but they weren't too good as he wore through the front of the toes of the hind boots and wrecked the clips when going down hills.btw that isn't me, it was an 85th birthday treat.View attachment 44369

Brilliant picture...I know what you mean about the clips...they were difficult! I try not to swear too much...but would regularly use up a whole year's worth of swear words trying to put one boot on?

 

[Gloi]

Brilliant picture...I know what you mean about the clips...they were difficult! I try not to swear too much...but would regularly use up a whole year's worth of swear words trying to put one boot on?

They were! I found them not too bad to close by standing on them but I nearly took my eye out a time or two trying to undo them with a hoof pick. I ended up wiring the back ones closed as the clips had worn down and fortunately I could still get them on and off when closed.

 

[CrimsonDivine]

Thanks for your thoughts... I've tried those fusions...I like them but they do still slide off when wet!
I think I gave you the wrong idea about competition! I am very low grade on that !! We go out to a local drive to have fun only...I said about it really only because the ponies often work hard and then the sweat also effects the boots. I haven't tried the studs...I think they would be excellent if the boot stayed on the foot really well... which I'm yet to achieve! Perhaps boots aren't quite yet the whole answer?

Hmm, interesting.. Sorry, I didn't know you meant they slip off... Are you certain they are the right size?