My QH has to get front shoes (recommendation by two vets due to some issues). Which bell boots are best to use (Velcro or pull on) until he gets used to his new foot ware? The Velcro are easier to remove but he is quite nosy and I think he could probably remove them himself. Pull ons are more difficult but I don’t think he could remove them. The bell boots will be for turn out and riding.
They do have velcro bell boots which are quite tough. The problem I’ve had with those is the stitching holding the velcro to the rubber boot coming undone, not the problem with the velcro itself. The other problem I’ve had, and this isn’t representative of all brands, is that the rubber was cheap and wore easily.
I have the gummy pull-on boots for my horse and I am very happy with them. If you go for the “real” Italian gummy ones, the rubber is much more flexible than other kinds. I can pull them on/off by myself, and they’ve held up to being on him 24/7. I don’t get any rubs from them, either.
http://www.smartpakequine.com/kl-select-italian-bell-boots--6613p this is the kind I recommend for the pull-ons
I really like the Velcro front no turn bell boots for riding, but I’ve never had any luck with mentioning them on in pasture. My favorites are the neoprene wrap bell boots with a half width step of duct tape around them. They’re tough, easy to put on (even on fresh, silly horses), but the duct tape makes it tougher fir the horses to get them off. My only problem with them is they’re generally not being enough for horses with a shoe size larger than a 3.
I have worked with some Houdini horses, other than 1 that I worked with the pull ons stay on the best. I really rather the Velcro ones, just for ease of use (double lock for turn out). But, if you want 99% inescapable, go with pull ons.
My favorites are the Bevals pull on italian bell boots. More expensive than other pull ons but they are easy for me to pull on and they last forever.
I have these SUPER cool german bell boots that are made of really, really stretchy gummy rubber material. They’re super easy to get on and off and they sit over the heel and the end of the shoe to really protect it from bumps and catches. Unfortunately they are in my drawer at the barn and I can’t recall the name. I will try to look them up. They weren’t even that expensive - $35 maybe?
Gum colored pull ons just aren’t that hard to get on.
I’ve always had issues with velco bells boots rubbing the pastern if they’re on full time 
If I’m leaving the bell boots on 24/7, I prefer the pull on type. Been happy with the Nunn Finer high neck gum ones, which have a thick bottom and the thinner and taller top seems less inclined to rub. I can’t leave boots on two of mine or they pull them off, so they just get the Velcro type for turnout or riding. I tend to buy whatever is on closeout for the best price and keep a stack in my tack room. Good thing they all wear the same size!
If you are worried about him stepping on them and pulling them off, I think the thick bottomed pull-ons are the way to go. They won’t get bogged down with mud or water (like neoprene), which will cause velcro to come undone, and they are thick enough to help keep the horse from being able to grab their shoe. Regular bell boots are not that hard for a hoof to “push through”, to get to the shoe.
YMMV.
Bell boots. Leave 'em on 24/7. I keep the thin cheap ones in my box as a back up for urgent use, but I prefer the gummy Italian ones. They last a long time, and don’t chip off along the bottom like the cheap ones do. Looking forward to Redmond’s post about the German options.
Pull on bell boots are the best. I use the centuars or the beval ones. They have the thick bottom and they last quite some time.
They almost never rub like the velcro ones do and they are fine to leave on 24/7. I just flip them up in the stalls.
I’ve yet to see any type of bell boot cover the back of a shoe? Take a photo at ground level and see for yourself. Bell boots protect the bulbs, not the back of the shoes or heels.
