Hoof Boots

It may be necessary to use hoof boots for a while when you first start transitioning your horse to go barefoot. Often a newly de-shod hoof is not able to cope with the varying surfaces you may encounter when trail riding or during turnout so boots are used to make the horse more comfortable until the hoof has built up condition. Some horses are lucky and don't need them but for most horses it is something that you do need to invest in - although the majority of horses only need them on their front hooves.

They can also be used to make a horse more comfortable when they are suffering from abscesses, laminitis/founder or navicular.

Another scenario where boots are useful is if you keep your horse on a soft terrain but want to ride on hard, abrasive terrain. It is not fair to expect the hoof to cope with the harder terrain when it hasn't been conditioned to it, but by using hoof boots you can overcome this issue and keep your horse comfortable.

Some have accessories which help prevent rubbing. Also there are pads available that can be used on sensitive horses or to help stimulate weakened areas of the hoof, such as the frog. By cutting the pad into the shape of the frog and either taping over the frog or attaching it to the boot, extra stimulus is provided to help develop the frog and digital cushion. Pete Ramey has written a great article on the use of boots and pads click here to read it.

Hoof Boot Comparisons

This page gives you the chance to review and compare the wide range of boots that are now available so that you can get the best horse hoof boots for your horse.

In general, they fall in to three groups:

• boots designed for soaking the hoof;
• ones for rehabilitation and limited use; and
• ones designed for riding.

The riding group is further split into two with the option of glue on boots which are glued directly onto the hoof.

Most of my experience has been with the Boa's, Old Macs and Easyboot Epics and out of those three my preference for riding in is for the Easyboot Epic's as the rigid structure of the boot does not come above the hairline so there is less interference with joint articulation and less chance of rubbing. They also take pads well. The Old Macs and Boa's however are more forgiving when selecting a size and will accommodate wrappings such as a poultice which is not possible with the Epic's due to their fit.

As of July 2011 there is a new boot on the market called the Equine Fusion Jogging Shoe. These boots have many great benefits (see below) but the main one is that the sole is flexible which allows the hoof to function more naturally. I think this is the way forward as recent research by Dr Bowker indicates that sole stimulation is very important to the hoof and helps increase blood flow to micro-vessels in the hoof. I like these boots so much that I became a dealer - click here for more info.

Each of boots listed here have unique benefits so the final decision should be based on what your horse's needs are at the time of purchase as you may find certain boots will be more suitable than others.

The photo on the left shows a hoof in a well-fitting Easyboot Bare. The boot has been cut to show how the hoof fits snugly into the boot and also illustrates how breakover is actually improved by this hoof boot - many people wrongly assume that breakover is extended when using boots.

Each hoof boot manufacturer has slightly different size ratios so you may find some boot shapes more suitable than others for your horse's individual hoof shape. This is an important fact to remember when deciding which boot to purchase as the better the fit, the less problems you will encounter.

Scroll down and click on the links to get a detailed description about each type of hoof boot and links to the manufacturer's website.

Measuring

It is important to match the width and length of the hoof to the hoof boot size. The front hooves of most horses tend to be more round in shape and wider than the hind hooves. The best fit may require a smaller size for the hinds. How to get the correct size hoof boot for your horse:

1. Measure the width of the hoof across the bottom at the widest point.
2. Measure the length of the hoof from the toe to the buttress line of the heel. The buttress line is the farthest weight bearing point of the heel.
3. Compare your measurement with the proper size chart for the boot. If you are taking your measurements in inches, use the imperial size chart. If you are taking your measurements in millimeters, use the metric size chart.
   
4. Ideally, the width and length measurement will fit into the same boot size. If the width and length measurements indicate different boot sizes, select the larger boot size.
   

Soaking Boots

Prices shown are the manufacturer's recommended retail price (RRP) in US dollars.

Davis Horse Boot from $29.95 each Width: 92-241mm	EasySoaker $33 each Width: 95-184mm	Hoof Wraps Soaker $34.95 each One size: up to 152mm
Smart™ Soaking Boot $54.95 each One size: up to 242mm

Therapy Boots - for hooves during rehab

These boots are primarily aimed at hooves that need protection. Some are a suitable hoof boot for horse turnout - although this should be in a limited area so as to lessen the chance of the horse loosing the boot.

Hoof Wrap Bandage $18.95 each Width: 102-140mm	Soft-Ride Comfort Boot $175-$200 per pair Width: 70-171mm	Equine Slipper $40 each Width: 121-191mm
Castle Plastics Boot $37 each Width: 115-143mm	HOOFix Boot $38 each Width: 115-133mm	Easyboot Rx $72-$83 each Width: 98-192mm

Riding Boots

This section includes hoof boots for trail riding and arena work. Some of these boots, such as the Equine Jogging Shoe, can also be used for turnout.

Boa Horse Boot $170 per pair Width: 89-133	Easyboot Backcountry $88-$106 each Width: 99mm - 141mm	Easyboot Bare $80-95 each Width: 78-192mm
Easyboot Epic $87-$102 each Width: 78-192mm	Easyboot Glove $72-$82 each Width: 96-131mm	Easyboot Grip $80 each Width: 111-139mm
Easyboot Trail $62-$106 each Width: 100mm - 155mm	Easyboot Transition $88-$106 each Width: 89mm - 152mm	Equine Jogging Shoe $215 per pair *New* Length: 100 - 150 mm
Hoofwing Boot $259-$434 per pair Width: 76-229mm	Marquis Boot $299 per pair Width: 95- 158mm	Old Mac's $176-202 per pair Width: 105-120mm
Renegade Boot $84.50-$179 each Width: 106.5-152mm	Simple Boot $144.95 per pair Length: 102-157mm	Swiss Horse Boot $87.50 each Width: 86-152mm

Glue On Boots

Easyboot Glue On - $31 each ($102 for 4) Width: 96mm - 131mm

Marquis Glue On $69.99 each Width: 95-158mm

Renegade Glue On $14.95-$29.90 each Width: 106.5-140mm

Return from Hoof Boots to Natural Hoof Trimming




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