The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Hoof Boots for the "upright hoof?"

4K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  Viranh 
#1 ·
Hey everyone,

Sorry to ask yet another hoof boot question. I will try to be to the point.

I bought a horse for my mom in June and he had shoes on but his feet were way too long and not balanced. I prefer to keep all my horses barefoot so I began transitioning him to barefoot at the end of June. Up until this past week we had no soreness or ouchy problems. But it rained for 7 days (record breaking rain) and the horses have been standing in water and mud (nothing I can do about it). Now his feet are very tender. When on soft ground he was ok but on rocks and gravel he was very very tender.

At the end of October we would like to try an "Into to Endurance Ride" it is 15 miles total and I would like to have a good set of boots for him so he can do the ride.

So my question is has anyone had experience with a boot that fits the upright hoof? I have read many different manufactures websites which warn that there boots won't do well with an upright hoof. Eventually I hope to get his feet to a more "natural balance" shape but I believe in transitioning the foot slowly.

Here is a picture of our progress thus far. (I know they are not perfect yet but it is a work in progress). The pictures on the Left are from June and the Right are from this Monday: The top left picture looks like there is a huge chunk missing but it is just mud lol.
 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
The Easyboot Trail model is meant for horses that don't have the barefoot shape. My laminitic mare is very upright and does ok in her Easyboot Gloves, but they are not meant for that shape, so good fit elsewhere is essential. Your current pics are no worse than the shape of her hooves as far as upright-ness. Easyboot will send you a fit kit with several sizes/types so that you can try them out and be sure your boots will fit. Other boots that are enclosed might work, like the Old Macs or Cavallos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roux
#3 ·
You might be stuck with the enclosed above the coronet band type of boots until you get more of a barefoot shape. The problem with them is that they sometimes rub, especially on long/fast rides like endurance. But as a transition, it may be a good start. Another option that might work is Easyboot Epics. They aren't designed to fit that shape necessarily, but that is what I used while transitioning my horses from shoes to barefoot, during the awkward stages where their feet weren't quite right and I didn't want to spend money on nice boots that wouldn't fit in a few months... I found the Epics will tolerate a lot in terms of poor fit: flares, wrong size, etc. I used Epics on a horse that probably should have had the next size down, and I made them work fine by using athletic tape around the hoof a few times before applying the boot (like the Glove users sometimes do for a tighter fit). Worked like a charm for a short term solution. Now their hooves are transitioned and they have Renegades/Vipers, but I don't think they would work as well on the upright shape.
 
#4 ·
As an owner of both Easy Boot Epics and Renegades, I've got to agree with theotherhorse.

I'd go with the Easy Boots in this particular case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Roux
#5 ·
..awkward stages where their feet weren't quite right and I didn't want to spend money on nice boots that wouldn't fit in a few months...
That is exactly what I am thinking. I am going to try out the Easyboots and see how they work.

Thanks for the help everyone!
 
#6 ·
I haven't used Easy Boots, but definitely don't get Renegades. My old gelding was very upright and Renegades came off constantly! My young gelding has been barefoot for years and has a much lower heel and the Renegades fit him perfectly. I have a friend that uses the Easy Boot Back Country on a more upright horse and she's had pretty good luck with them. They wrap around the entire foot a bit more. Good luck!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top