Old Mac Horse Boot

The Old Mac Horse Boot was developed by an Australian farrier, David MacDonald. The original design was fairly round which made it a little tricky to fit to most recovering hooves as the hooves tended to be more oblong. However the new 'G2' boot has addressed this issue and have been re-engineered for a sleeker look, better performance and greater longevity.

I have had three pair's of original Old Mac Horse Boots and I think they are good. They are very easy to get on and off. The only issues I had are with them wearing out in the heel region and the poor traction on wet grass. These issues have been covered by the re-design of the G2. The G2 also has improved breakover at the toe - the original version had a point on them which needed to be rasped off to achieve a better breakover (see photo - the new G2 is on the left).

Old Mac Horse Boot Sizing

Old Mac Horse Boots are available in 9 sizes (0-8) with each size increasing by 5mm (3/16 inch) in width and length. Before you take hoof measurements, please ensure your horse has an accurate trim.

The correct Old Mac Horse Boot size is the LARGEST of the sizes you selected from the charts. It is most often the length size. Sizes determined from hoof length and width will often differ; choose the largest size, NOT the smaller size NOR a size in between.

If the LENGTH exceeds the WIDTH by 4 or more sizes, Inserts may be indicated, but FIRST, please double check to ensure that you haven't included the heel bulbs in the measurement.

Original Old Mac Horse Boot Sizing

Size	Width	Length
0	4 1/8" - 4 5/16" (105-110mm)	3 3/4" - 3 15/16" (95-100mm)
1	4 5/16" - 4 1/2" (110-115mm)	3 15/16" - 4 1/8" (100-105mm)
2	4 1/2" - 4 11/16" (115-120mm)	4 1/8" - 4 5/16" (105-110mm)
3	4 11/16" - 4 7/8" (120-125mm)	4 5/16" - 4 1/2" (110-115mm)
4	4 7/8" - 5 1/16" (125-130mm)	4 1/2" - 4 11/16" (115-120mm)
5	5 1/16" - 5 1/4" (130-135mm)	4 11/16" - 4 7/8" (120-125mm)
6	5 1/4" - 5 7/16" (135-140mm)	4 7/8" - 5 1/16" (125-130mm)
7	5 7/16" - 5 5/8" (140-145mm)	5 1/16" - 5 1/4" (130-135mm)
8	5 5/8" - 5 13/16" (145-150mm)	5 1/4" - 5 7/16" (135-140mm)

Important Size Notes: If your horse is between sizes, go to the larger size.

It is common for the LENGTH measurement to exceed the WIDTH measurement by up to four sizes. If the width measurement exceeds the length by more than one size (an extremely short and wide foot) OR if the length exceeds the width by more than four sizes (a very long and narrow foot), we do not recommend Old Mac Horse Boots.

If your horse's hooves are excessively long and narrow, Old Mac Horse Boot Inserts are available separately. Old Mac Horse Boot Inserts should ONLY be used:

• If the length exceeds the width by more than four sizes on the size chart
• For a club foot
• If one hoof is distinctly smaller than the other

Fitting

1. Find a clean soft surface such as your lawn, large rubber mat or piece of carpet to boot up on, so if you select the wrong size you can exchange them unmarked.
2. Fully open the cover ensuring that no Velcro areas are touching and that the cover is pulled well forward.
3. Facing the rear of your horse, pick up the hoof and place it toe first into the boot. Pull the soft leather rear of the boot up over the bulbs of the hoof and then using the palm of your hand, "slap" the heel of the boot on the sole. You should feel the heels of the hoof "pop" into the boot. It should have the same feel as when you slip your own heels down into your own riding boots.
4. If the new boot just falls onto the hoof, it is likely you have a size too big. If the heel of the hoof struggles to slip into the boot, then it is likely you have a size too small, and the heels of the hoof are sitting on the wall of the boot and not "in" the boot. Now place the hoof onto the ground and continue booting up.
5. Wrap the main webbing strap around the pastern bone from the back of the hoof around the front and then to the back again. Feed the strap through the metal loop and then apply minimum pressure to tighten the strap, Velcro it back over on itself. To confirm correct tightness of this strap, you should be able to force your finger between the strap and the pastern at the side of the pastern. It is very important that this strap is no tighter than your watch band around your wrist; otherwise it will chafe the pastern.
6. It is also important to note here that it is the position of the cross-over on the top of the bulbs which secures the boot, not the "tightness" of it. Once you have secured this strap, you should have a minimum of 3 inches or 80mm passed through the metal loop and Velcro over on itself. Any less and your boots are too small.
7. Ensuring both side flaps are pushed firmly against the hoof wall, force the cover towards the rear of the hoof in a downward direction before crossing the ends of the cover at the rear and securing. At this point you should ensure that the foam-filled leather collar of the cover is molded firmly around the pastern bone. Also check to ensure no Velcro is exposed at the sides. If Velcro can be seen the cover has been secured too high and will increase the chances of chafing at the rear of the pastern.
8. Now secure the outside buckle strap firmly- not girth tight. Your Old Macs are now securely in place.
9. Old Mac Horse Boots should be fitted as the boots are marked Ð 'LEFT' and 'RIGHT', with the securing buckle placed on the outside of each hoof.
10. After you have placed your horse's hoof into the boot you need to ensure that there is firm contact between the heel of the hoof and the sole of the boot. To avoid part of the rear of the hoof sitting up on the wall of the Old Mac's sole you may need to remove 1-2 mm of the hoof wall. This will allow the hoof to correctly slip into the boot, while also ensuring there is room for hoof growth.
11. It is very important to ensure the entire 'horny hoof' sits within the Old Mac's outsole. Only the bulbs of the hoof should make contact with the leather rear of the boot. If the heels of the hoof extend past the outsole and are standing on the rear of the boot you have selected a size too small.
12. Ensure Old Mac Horse Boots are put on straight.
13. After securing the main webbing strap if you cannot comfortably slip a finger between the horse's pastern and the webbing strap you have secured it too tightly.
14. After the cover has been secured ensure Velcro ends are overlapped in the correct position.
15. Working your horse in incorrect sized Old Mac's can lead to chafing. Correct size selection will ensure maximum performance.
16. It is recommended you give your horse time to adjust to wearing Old Mac's. The first time you fit your horse with Old Mac's just walk him out. Gradually increasing the duration and length of rides wearing Old Mac's will ensure your equine friend has become accustomed to his new 'hoofwear'. Too much too soon can lead to chafing.
17. If after fitting your Old Mac Horse Boot you find the inside pastern strap has insufficient length to properly secure, then you have selected boots too small for your horse . This is the result of the hoof being too long for the boot which means the horse is standing on the soft rear of the boot instead of being completely on the TPU outsole and this will lead to premature wear to the outside soft leather rear of the boot as well as giving the indication the pastern strap has insufficient length to secure properly. The correct size boots should have a minimum of 80mm or 3 " of strap passed through the metal loop and secured over on itself. If you have less than 60mm or 2" of pastern strap Velcroed over on itself we recommend you try boots at least two sizes larger.

Retail Cost

These boots normally retail for approx $164(US) per pair - sizes 7 and 8 are around $180.

For cheaper prices check out Horse Supplies at GregRobert - type in "old macs" in the search box at the top left hand side of the page when you get there.

Alternatively Ebay often has some great bargains - see right hand sidebar for current deals.