Hoof Boots

I recently permanently borrowed my husbands Easy Boot Epics. I think they are the greatest things since padded saddle seats
I've taken Vida through mucky sucking over the top of the boots mud, down rocky creeks and not one complaint can I make.
Now Tony has to get a replacement set. Anyone have any favorites?

I'd sure look at the new Easyboot Gloves. The demo set my dealer had were really easy to put on and stayed on.

I use Boa's and like them very well. I too want to try those easy boot gloves.. They look like simplicity.

Since my wifey Vida has permanently borrowed my easyboot epics, I just ordered a new pair of easyboot edge for my Fras. Of course if they don't fit Miss Frassy, Maureen and Vida the mosquita get another pair..

I bought a pair of Easyboot Epics on my barefoot trimmer's recommendation. I haven't gone riding in them yet (long story) but i'll be sure to post about it once I do.

You really should try them. Once you get the hang of putting them on and taking them off its really easy. I get them pretty much started then have my horse step down to make sure they are on good.
I like all the easy boots because you can trim the front part off if its hitting above the hair line.

Just some quick background info: my Tb has really flat soles and so has developed the habit of treading toe-heel to made himself more comfortable, which my barefoot trimmer has told me is very bad! So she's loaned me a pair of her old Easyboot Epics to try. So far I haven't noticed a HUGE difference, but he does seem to be smoother and travel easier with his front end (aparently the toe-heel problem was making him quite stiff in his shoulders and he feels like he's loosened up) he is also more, er, forward :roll:, so he must be travelling better.
The only problem with the boots is that the fine gravel in our area gets in and chews up the pads in the boots. So I was wondering if it putting bell boots on him would help minimise the amount of gravel that got into the boot?
Also, when jumping, would he need splint boots if he already has the Easyboots on? Or would they be enough protection? I assume they would act as fairly good shock absorbers.
Sorry for going off topic!

I'm getting into trying boots for my gelding, and mainly for shock absorption and hoof wear on pavement (at shows, sigh.)

However to your question RedHawk, I just had a horse pop a splint. Splint boots protect your horse from hitting his splint bone on the front leg--they are NOT for absorbing shock.

Most jumpers use open-front tendon boots, that protect the whole back of the front leg in case the horse hits it with one of their rear feet. As for shock absorption... their pasterns are for that, lol! :)

Whoops! haha, I must be thinking along the lines of sling boots then. Something like this:
Yimar Neoprene Sling Horse Boots LARGE B/W HSB1 - eBay Boots, Clothing, Horse Riding, Sport. (end time 04-Mar-09 20:00:00 AEDST)
I was under the impression that the above boots helped relieve the strain on tendons and, to some degree absorb some of the shock. If I've got it wrong, don't ask me where I got the idea from, lol .
I guess I assumed splint boots and sling boots served a similar purpose.
I know very little about boots (other than those like Easyboots/Boas/Cavallos/Old Macs etc), as up until recently I just rode for pleasure. Now I'm starting to compete, so I'm looking at equipment I haven't needed before. Excuse my ignorance! So do splint boots and open-fronts serve the same purpose?

What are your thoughts on the bell boots idea in my previous post?

Boots can be controversial at times, and there are a lot of myths running around about them, so don't feel bad. :)

With the ones you posted, they are a little bit of a 'knock off' of the professional choice SMB boots. They have been said to give tendon support, but some people claim they give TOO much support and when they come off, the horses get hurt. I have SMBs myself, but I use them only on hard days for extra protection. Usually I go with nothing, splint boots, or polo wraps if I'm ambitious. :)

When it comes to shock absorption--and mainly with jumping--a lot of the shock is absorbed through the pastern. When someone tells me that a flimsy piece of fabric can absorb the shock of a VERY heavy animal, I am skeptical at best!! :) Many people think polo wraps provide shock absorption too--they don't. The best protection, when it comes to shock, is to have good footing for the horse to work in. There's no way around that one. ;)

Splint boots usually have a strip of something--plastic, gel, etc.--over the splint bone, on the inside of the horse's front leg. They provide little, if any, protection to the back tendons. So when jumping, that's why almost everyone will use open-front--to protect all those tendons, not just the splint bone!

With the bell boots idea, it can't hurt to try! You might find that it rubs your horse's pasterns though, so... might be a trial-and-error thing. I think I'm going to try to splurg on the Cavello boots--they look like sneakers, and I want something to cushion the hoof for pavement walking--where in the easy boots just look protective. (nothing wrong with that, though!)