Hey all, I have a quick question...
I bought Cavallo Hoof Boots for my 20 y/o mare about two years ago (that mare is now retired). The Hoof Boots, however, aren't retired, as I have another mare that they fit quite well... and earlier I, on a whim, tried them out on my gelding Dakota, who is bigger (in body, weight, bone-structure and hoof size) than both my mares.
I did get the boots on him, but it was a close fit. Dakota is recently trimmed (about a week ago) and if his hooves had had another week and a half of growth, I'm afraid the boots wouldn't have fit. As it was, I had to twist and turn them to get them to go over his hoofs and it was a little bit of a struggle to get them off as well. Once on, they were secure, though.
For the record, both of my mares wear a size 0 shoe. My gelding wears a size 1 shoe. The hoof boots are a size 2.
If I do decide to invest in some hoof boots for my gelding, should I go up to a size 3, based on how these were a tighter fit? While I'd like to just keep my geldings hooves trimmed down short enough for him to wear the boots I currently have, I can understand how that might not be in his best interests. I'm still unsure if I do want to invest in him some boots, as we don't ride much and he's perfectly fine barefoot... I am just thinking it might be a good idea for some of our longer rides...
What do y'all think?
I bought Cavallo Hoof Boots for my 20 y/o mare about two years ago (that mare is now retired). The Hoof Boots, however, aren't retired, as I have another mare that they fit quite well... and earlier I, on a whim, tried them out on my gelding Dakota, who is bigger (in body, weight, bone-structure and hoof size) than both my mares.
I did get the boots on him, but it was a close fit. Dakota is recently trimmed (about a week ago) and if his hooves had had another week and a half of growth, I'm afraid the boots wouldn't have fit. As it was, I had to twist and turn them to get them to go over his hoofs and it was a little bit of a struggle to get them off as well. Once on, they were secure, though.
For the record, both of my mares wear a size 0 shoe. My gelding wears a size 1 shoe. The hoof boots are a size 2.
If I do decide to invest in some hoof boots for my gelding, should I go up to a size 3, based on how these were a tighter fit? While I'd like to just keep my geldings hooves trimmed down short enough for him to wear the boots I currently have, I can understand how that might not be in his best interests. I'm still unsure if I do want to invest in him some boots, as we don't ride much and he's perfectly fine barefoot... I am just thinking it might be a good idea for some of our longer rides...
What do y'all think?