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Hoof Boot Sizing

4K views 7 replies 4 participants last post by  hotreddun 
#1 · (Edited)
I'm wanting to order the Easy Boot Bares...but my horse's foot measures 4 1/2 inches wide by 5 to 5 3/8 inches long (depending on where I call the end of the bulb of the heel). Doesn't seem like those measurements match any of their sizes?
 
#4 ·
First, do NOT measure right after the trim but wait 2-3 weeks (mid between the trims) to see how the hoof grows. If you get it right after the trim and your horse grow lots of hoof you'll have problems putting it on after 4-5 weeks after the trimming (friend of mine run into this problem so he ended up do little edge trims to fit it in after 4 weeks)

Second, 4 1/2 and 5 gives you just a size difference, which is OK (per easy care site). In this case you have to go with the bigger size. Also sorry for asking, but are you sure your farrier doesn't leave too much toe on horse?

My horse has difference in 2 sizes (other way around though: her hoofs are too wide). After trying cavallos I got back to Easyboot and got Epic and it fits her nicely (my other horse have oval feet with the perfect easyboot sizing and I put Bares on her).

You can also order them and TRY (just be sure the hoof is very clean so the boot stays clean): if it doesn't fit you can return it (that's what I did with cavallos).
 
#5 ·
I trim every 2 weeks...because Im not strong enough to use the tools with lots of hoof growth. My horse does grow "toe first" you could say...something we've been working on sloooowly since I pulled his shoes a year ago...he used to have no heel at all...improving slowly. Actually I think it is more a problem of still getting the foot to expand...his foot was super contracted from being in restrictive shoes for 13 years. Probably will do the buy and try method...I just hate to pay for return shipping. Thanks for the advice!
 
#6 ·
Glad to hear that you trim often.. A very good way to help get that heel where it needs to be and the toe to stop shooting forward so much is to bevel it back sharply. Let me find an example in case you are not sure what I mean.

In this pic you can see her bevel is at a slight angle, this depends on how much wall is in front of the white line. Trim beveled back to the inner line. Go gently so you don't make your horse tender tho. Just in case.


Another view of the same hoof(I think)


And a pony hoof with the same basic bevel. This helps so much to keep the hoof from splitting as it grows as well.
 
#7 ·
Oh, btw!!! If you go to easybare_sizing and on the bottom of the page there is a link Click here for a template of Easyboot Bare sizing ( http://www.easycareinc.com/_System/Lib/Image/main_pages/boots/oldmacs/sizing/easyboot-template.pdf )
You can print it out, cut it for size # 2 and compare your horse's hoof with the template. I did it for my paint (who has wide feet) and even though my measurements gave me on edge between size 1 and size 2 the comparison clearly shown it's size 2 for sure. I found it to be very helpful one.


I used to trim every 4 weeks when I did it myself exactly for the same reasons. :) Now I do every 8 weeks by the farrier. They grow quite a lot, but kinda equally all around (not only toe), so bares are little loose in the beginning, but then they are just fine on my qh. However bares and epics have gaitor so it helps a lot to keep the boot in place.

If you trim them every 2 weeks there is no point of waiting 4 weeks. Lol! Sure you can measure after the trim.
 
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