Best Barefoot boots?

[Jetstreem]

Hi everyone,

What are the best barefoot boots to get and why?

I am doing a bit of research as my 20yo welsh D is having a lot of hoof problems at the moment.
It has been an ongoing thing, that his front right has been growing faster than the rest. Recently though he suffered a bout of lameness and was off work for 3-4 weeks when the ground was very hard. Now the problem hoof has grown even faster and is now about 1 cm longer than the others after only 4 weeks after being shod.
I have spoken to my farrier and he reckons that his lamness was due to a mild bout of concussive laminitis and this is why his hoof is growing in such a way, and also thinks the recent flush of grass has also contributed to it.
I am going to speak to my farrier when he comes back from his holidays about possibly getting the hoof x-rayed and the possibilty of removing the front shoes for a while.

Also how to you condition the hooves prior to barefoot and also once they are gone barefoot? Sorry if this is a silly question, but my horse is extremly sensitive and I want to give him the best chance if he does have to go barefoot.

Thanks,
Cerys :)

[Unbridled]

I would wait and ask your barefoot trimmer the first time he does your horse (or even when you call to set up the appointment). My trimmer sells some boots, but he says different types of boots are appropriate for different horses/situations. My Boa boots I bought from him when Sugar was transitioning and needed lots of cushioning on gravel. But my Easy Boot Epics I bought from a shop at his advice. He told me the Epics were a better boot for what I was using them for (hacking) and that she no longer needed the extra cushioning in the Boa. And he was right. A good trimmer will be happy to discuss such things with you and give you advice.

As for conditioning...I didn't do anything to condition Sugar's feet before her shoes came off. Afterward it was just a matter of slowly introducing her hooves to different surfaces while they toughened up. Again, if you are concerned I would speak with the trimmer.

Good luck. :)

[Jetstreem]

Thanks for the advice Appy_Luv.

I will have a good chat with the farrier and see what he thinks. If it gets any worse before he gets back from his holidays I think I will get the vet out anyway.

Cerys :)

[MelanieD]

Old macs of old mac G2s are both good, which depends on what shape feet the horse has, G2s are nicer if the feet are the right shape for them.

Conditioning after taking the shoes off totally depends on which structures need improving, it would be worth getting an appointment with an EP if you can to discuss that kind of thing even if you want your farrier to do the trimming.

One thing you can do now that would help is treat any infection by soaking in borax or virkon or similar. If there's a crevice down the middle of the frog then pack that with MSM cream or sudocrem.

[Bronya]

Old macs rule! I've jumped up to 2ft9", galloped, hacked out for miles, the lot in them. They also stand up well to being used for turnout if said horse gets a stone bruise and the field's stoney!!

[Jetstreem]

Thanks for the replies and all the great advice.

I have been looking at the old macs, they look good and would probably suit him as he has fairly wide feet, although I like these ones as well http://www.tds-saddlers.com/ProductDetails.asp?PCLinkID=9328
Where can you get the old macs G2's online? The tack shops round here are useless so I get anything I need online lol!

I don't think I have worried about my horse so much in my life :o :(

Cerys :)

[Gill]

We are using Easyboot bares and finding them really good. My pony drives in hers and they are great for all that road trotting.

[Wonder Horse]

www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk have many types of hoof boot along with ones available to hire first if your not sure.The owner appears very interested in barefoot and i'm sure would advise you as well if you wanted. I have just bought easyboot bares from there and they were the cheapest retailer I could find as well.(I don't work there honest)!

www.enlightenedequitation.com has a forum with barefoot catagory,which has details of trimmers etc.If you search on here for hoof boots,or barefoot, you will find lots of info also.

[liz_whippy]

Having tried many different boots, I use the Swiss horse boots - they are very comfortable and don't rub, stay on really well, can be adjusted to fit different hoof shapes and can have studs fitted for off road work :)

www.horses-say-neigh.co.uk/SHB.jpg

[Jetstreem]

What are the best ones for jumping etc?

I don't really do much hacking, although that is partly to do with being worried that the hard surface will hurt him, if he spooks and jumps suddenly!

Cerys :)