Description

About this Product

Best Hoof Horse Boot. It’s no secret that going barefoot isn’t just reserved for traditional cobs and native types. Horses of all shapes and sizes can and do benefit from being unshod, whether they’re a dressage-loving warmblood, an ex-racer-turned-eventer or even a happy hacker. However, riding a barefoot horse doesn’t always come without its run-of-the-mill complications.

More Details for Best Hoof Horse Boot

Just like shod horses, barefoot horses can experience cracking and foot-soreness, particularly when faced with extended interaction with hard ground or increased roadwork over the winter. In an ideal world, a barefoot horse would be able to be just that, at all times, but if his feet aren’t in optimal condition, he’s feeling a little sore or you’re just making the transition to unshod work, having a set of appropriately-fitting hoof boots could be the answer to help keep him working comfortably.

FIT FOR PURPOSE
If you’ve ever looked into picking up some hoof boots, you’ll know that no two styles are the same. Some cover the hoof completely like a glove, while others have a more open style with a strap around the pastern for security. Finding the fit or style that best suits your horse might take a bit of investigation, and it’s possible to hire hoof boots to test them out before you commit to buying a pair.

STICKING POINTS

Getting the size as close as you can to your horse’s precise measurements is the best step you can take into avoiding common hoof boot problems, such as rubbing, twisting, or losing the boot altogether.

Issues such as these can usually be solved by swapping the size of your horse’s boot to better accommodate his feet – twisting usually indicates the boot is too wide, while rubbing is usually a symptom of the boot being too short.

If you find your horse is losing his hoof boots during work, it could be worth taking his measurements again and checking that the size and type of boot he’s currently wearing is the most suitable for his foot size and shape.

TAKING MEASUREMENTS

Making sure you record accurate measurements for each individual hoof is vital before purchasing hoof boots. To do this, you’ll need a flat tape measure to…

measure the width of your horse’s hoof at the widest point. It’s important to note that this isn’t necessarily the middle of the hoof, and may not be the same for each of your horse’s hooves
measure the length of the hoof. This isn’t quite as straightforward, as you have to work out the rearmost weight-bearing point at the heels, which is where the hoof wall ends before the frog or heel bulbs, and measure from it to the toe.