Hoof boot suggestions please?

Kite_Rider

Kite_Rider

Cantering cabbage!
May 18, 2009
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What boots do you use and why did you choose them?
I am looking for some boots for Belle, used to have easy boot gloves and am currently borrowing a pair from a friend, but, they are a PITA to get on and off quite frankly, one of the reasons we went back to shoes before was because of that.
I've been doing a bit of research and even in just a few short years it's mind boggling how many different kinds of boots there are! Belle has quite round feet, almost the same measurement in length and width which was why we used the easy boot gloves before but I've seen the scoot boots and the renegade vipers which I really like the look of, so anyone use either and what are the pro's and con's please? They just look less cumbersome somehow, which appeals to me.
I did look at some equine fusion trail boots (we've lots of stony tracks around here) but her foot shape wouldn't work I don't think.
 
We bought easyboots for Zi. He was makng the transition from shod so OH wanted to do roadwork / tracks etc. They weren't that easy to get on - but our farrier shiwed him and with practice it got easier. He doesn't need them now and I'm still trying to sell them on:pthey got used all of four times:rolleyes:and cost £380!!:eek:
 
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I have rene vipers and tried scoots before those, I like both. I think if the scoots fit they are good as not much to go wrong with them but they weren't ideal on Jess shape wise and they have thinner flexible soles which don't offer as much protection (Jess had thin soles at the time) so I went with vipers. Those have been brilliant, quick and easy to get on and off, I've never lost one or had any part break, the only faf was setting up the cable length the first time but I've not had to adjust it since and been using them 2 or 3 years now. I did try gloves but they didn't suit Jess' shape and I didn't know you could heat fit them then. Before all that I used boa's (I don't think they make those anymore) and cavallo's too for a long time which we're good and easy but a little clumpy. Easyboot has 3 new styles coming out this year, 1 rene like, 1 scoot like and another glove type, I'm interested to wait and see those in action soon :)
 
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I use Renegade Vipers as well. I've used Easyboot Gloves before but Renegades are way easier to fit.

Unfortunately Ziggy's don't fit him any more post lami, so I have a pair of size 1s for sale!
 
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I highly recommend contacting the Hoof Bootique - they are so helpful at helping you measure and work out which boots will suit :)

I had Cavallo Sports or Trecs and found them really easy to fit and use.
 
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I have had-

Boa, no longer made
Gloves
Cavallo
Easy boot Trails

For simplicity the trails were as they said easy.
With feathers to contend with they just used to slip on and do up with velcro, job done.
Initially used when I planned to hack more than four miles, but then gradually stopped using and she's not had boots for maybe dunno five years.
What I did find was having access to a variety of surfaces helped. So we have off road riding and road riding, sand, gravel, rocks.
But the drive being resurfaced from the awful unlevel rocky road planings has transformed us!

I had the old style trails and I believe they have slightly altered these now. I got them from the online Saddlery shop.
https://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk
 
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Jane&Ziggy said:
I use Renegade Vipers as well. I've used Easyboot Gloves before but Renegades are way easier to fit.

Unfortunately Ziggy's don't fit him any more post lami, so I have a pair of size 1s for sale!
Click to expand...

Jane can you hang on to them until I’ve measured Belle properly? If Belle measures up to a size 1 I’d happily buy them off you.
 
I use Scoot Boots and love them. Very easy to put on (with a hoof pick) once you get the knack. Very easy to clean.
I took Star through knee deep mud in them and they didn’t budge.
 
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Terrain wise, we've got it all really, we've got grass, tarmac, sandy soil, pebbly soil, a ford, complete with gritty mud either side, we've got woodland both a floor covered in old pine needles and broadleaved with gnarly tree roots and some big stones, so the boots need to be able to cope with pretty much anything.
I've just been to read the size guide for the renegade vipers but I think they may be too long for her width.... I tried to take my tape measure and get some photo's tonight but I really could have done with another pair of hands!
Thanks for all the suggestions ladies. :)
 
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Kite_Rider said:
Terrain wise, we've got it all really, we've got grass, tarmac, sandy soil, pebbly soil, a ford, complete with gritty mud either side, we've got woodland both a floor covered in old pine needles and broadleaved with gnarly tree roots and some big stones, so the boots need to be able to cope with pretty much anything.
I've just been to read the size guide for the renegade vipers but I think they may be too long for her width.... I tried to take my tape measure and get some photo's tonight but I really could have done with another pair of hands!
Thanks for all the suggestions ladies. :)
Click to expand...
I've done all those terrains and the river with a rocky bottom and we have tons of flint stones/rocks around here, the thing I found with scoots was Jess was still ouching when she'd step on those pesky tree roots, but doesn't with the thicker soled vipers.
Jess is 123x123 on a tape measure, but needed a 135x135 in the vipers in the end (tried 125x125 1st thinking like others they would come up bigger, then 130x130, 3rd time lucky) to fit her width properly, the extra length has never been a problem for her as her heel is slightly underrun. They aren't sung fitting boots like the gloves need to be because the foot is snugged into the shell by the heel captivator which has lots of adjustment, the shell can also be physically shortened by up to 10mm (from memory). In scoots I ordered a 3 initially, but she needed a 2. Hoof Bootique are great, I would def opt to deal with them again as they know if the boots come up big/small etc :)
 
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Jessey said:
I've done all those terrains and the river with a rocky bottom and we have tons of flint stones/rocks around here, the thing I found with scoots was Jess was still ouching when she'd step on those pesky tree roots, but doesn't with the thicker soled vipers.
Jess is 123x123 on a tape measure, but needed a 135x135 in the vipers in the end (tried 125x125 1st thinking like others they would come up bigger, then 130x130, 3rd time lucky) to fit her width properly, the extra length has never been a problem for her as her heel is slightly underrun. They aren't sung fitting boots like the gloves need to be because the foot is snugged into the shell by the heel captivator which has lots of adjustment, the shell can also be physically shortened by up to 10mm (from memory). In scoots I ordered a 3 initially, but she needed a 2. Hoof Bootique are great, I would def opt to deal with them again as they know if the boots come up big/small etc :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Jessey, I'm enlisting an extra pair of hands later to get proper measurements and will give Hoof Boutique a call.
 
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Well I got a lady at the yard to take measure while I took photo's but this morning I decided to draw around her feet onto some cardboard oddly we have the same length 120mm as width 120mm on both front and back even though they are a different shape, they look a mess just now as apart from the big chunk she pulled off with her shoe, she's now losing more wall where it's chipping off up to the old nail holes, so im not sure even considering buying boots right now is a great idea? Although, the bits that are widest and longest still have hoof wall attached so I guess it hasn't affected the measurements.
I did forget to take photo's as suggested on hoof boutiques website and by Jessey though, hey ho, we'll get there.
 
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I found the easiest way to see if boots fit is to get them to stand on a piece of card and tightly draw around their hoof. Cut it out (writing which way up and which hoof on it first!) andmd then fit it inside the boot. Then you can really see any gaps or tight spots. Far easier than using a plastic bag that a lot of manufacturers suggest.

Mind you, I'm a few years out of touch so things may have changed these days....
 
It's best to measure right after a trim, if you're unlikely to use them until summer I'd hold fire while initial changes happen and the nail holes grow out, but if you need them now then maybe get recommendations on size (scoots and rene will both do that direct from pics) and look for some second hand in case you need to change them down the line.
 
Happy to send you mine to try to see if they fit. I wouldn't have a pair that only fitted straight after trimming - it becomes such a struggle to get them on and off.
 
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