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hoof boot reviews

7K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  trailhorserider 
#1 ·
I am in need of a pair of hoof boots....

I have had a pair of cavellos for quite a few years and was pretty happy with them but found that over time they stretched and I had to pad them to keep them from flopping on the horse.

I have seen articles about new plastic shoes that velcro onto the horses feet but have not found and available sources.

I have friends who use easy boots and then I see them hammering them on with a rubber mallet...

the little horse I have started riding has had soft foot issues in the past and is pretty ouchy on even a little bit of rock and so I feel like he needs some protection but I do not want to put shoes on him for the ocassional ride.

have not shopped boots in four or five years and I am not sure what is out there now....just looking for suggestions.
:faceshot:
 
#2 ·
The velcro boots are still in design and not yet being manufactured.

The most popular boots for performance type situations are Renegades and easycare's gloves. Easycare also makes a line for casual trail rides that are popular with some, but rubbing can be a problem on longer harder rides and are not recommended by easycare for those uses.

Proper fit with frequent trimming is important for any of the boots. Some people heat fit the gloves using one size smaller for a tighter fit. I often use a rubber mallet for installation of the gloves, which I use.
 
#3 ·
Renegades....

They are the ones I have seen folks use and I would like to hear some reports on.

I have just enough arthritis that getting boots on and off are an issue for me...
it was what I liked about the cavallos.
this makes me less interested in the easy boots...
 
#4 ·
EasyCare has a whole line of trail boots and Rx boots.

I used the same pair of EasyCare Boas on my foundered horse, 2-1/2 years for daily turnout of 7-8 hours each day, before they finally wore out ---- and never stretched.

I like them because I also have arthritis and the Boas have a dial to tighten them down.

The bad news is EasyCare stopped making Boas.

The good news is, last I looked, they still had some of the smaller sizes left.

Also FWIW one of my horses easily wore the EasyCare Gloves. There is no way my foundered horse could wear them; his hooves are a completely different shape, than the horse that wore the Gloves.

Also #2 FWIW. Carefully measure BOTH front hooves as there could be just enough difference in hooves to require two different boot sizes ---- that may be why some people have to hammer a boot on. Most boots are sold in pairs so that could create a dilemma:|

Wearing boots means more frequent trims so the boots continue to fit. Every 4-5 weeks is typical, unless your horse lives in sand and the hooves stay worn down.
 
#5 ·
I think some people have to hammer them on because of the shape of their horse's feet.

Me for instance. My horse's feet are pretty round and when they start growing out after a trim I end up hammering them on with a rubber mallet because my horse's feet are too wide for the boots (I use Easyboot Epics). Other than that, I am pretty happy with Epics. Going up a boot side didn't help, then the boots are too big!

An oval shaped hoof would fit the Epics better. I have a friend who usually keeps her horses shod and she bought a boot just as a spare because the horse kept loosing shoes. I helped her measure for it and she ordered it and it popped right on her horse's foot so easy! I was short of shocked. But her horse is normally shod and doesn't have a wide foot. So in a lot of ways I think a natural foot is at a disadvantage for boots, when actually you would think the boots would be made for a natural foot.

Anyway, other than the mallet, I like the Epics. If I plan to ride a lot and use the boots a lot, I rasp their hoof quarters for easier on and off. So Epics might not be what you want, lol! But at least they don't rub or stretch or flop. I tried Old Macs once and found them bulky and floppy. So I have been afraid to try anything that looks like an Old Mac again.

There are a lot of good hoof boot ideas out there. But they all seem to have their drawbacks. I am also replacing cables and patching gaiters on the Epics when I ride a lot.
 
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