bell boots for turnout

Help! My 2yo Percheron lives out and steps on his feet - so he needs to wear bell boots all the time. The Davis Draft are great, but he steps on the velcro and pulls it off - the Davis draft don’t have the heel impression that keeps the velcro in front, so it rotates around the foot. Lots of duct tape helps, but doesn’t usually last more than a week in the copious amounts of mud we live in. I’m thinking of gluing the duct tape on to the boot over the velcro, but not sure what kind of glue would work. It would need to stick to PVC, quick-curing, waterproof when done, will set in cold weather, and be somewhat flexible when dry,. Any ideas? We tried a pull-on boot, but it was too soft and he tore a chunk of it off on day 1.

Which pull on did you try? The black Beval/KL Select ones in XXL would be the ones I’d try. They last better than the gum color.

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I second the KL Select recommendation - I actually do use the gum color (simply by virtue of the fact that they’re the ones that my local Dover typically has in stock in my horse’s size when I’m there) and it was a task and a half for me to get our most recent pair on because they were so thick/stiff. They tend to last me a long time before my horse manages to rip a chunk out of them and that’s saying something because he’s a raging idiot who loves to instigate all sorts of nonsense in the field, so he’s pretty hard on everything he wears.

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My horse lived in his bell boots for a few months, and now I only wear them riding. Out of my 4 davis boots, only 1 has the velcro still attached decently. It has really only been 6 months! I think the velcro is just so strong, it tends to rip the stitching out before releasing the velcro!

I’d try the pull on ones too. They do have some really nice thick ones. Try SmartPak’s – they have a guarantee I bet!

My mare lives out 24/7 and lives in bell boots due to overreaching . I buy the neoprene boots with velco- cheap, pretty colours and easy to replace. They do get damaged reasonably quickly but for the price I have multiple pairs to change over, especially in the wet weather where i will change the boots over every day. I think if you are checking the horse feet daily and changing the boots if they are wet/muddy then having velco fastening isnt really an issue as can just clean off the boots and velco tabs and they will stay sticky :slight_smile:

I use Professional Choice no turn bell boots for turnout for mine. Was losing front shoes and since the bell boots all is well. She goes out overnight and her’s are still in good shape after a year.

Another recommendation for KL Select. I’ve tried what seems like every bell boot on the map and the KL Select work for best for 24/7 with my mare.

Another vote for professional choice no turn bell boots for durability and they do stay put. I would be a little nervous about mud and dirt accumulation under the boots which seems less likely with pull ons

I use the KL select on mine that wear them. they don’t rub and rarely come off. Occasionally they will, like twice a year, but then I think what the injury would have been if the horse hadn’t had them!

I tried Prof Choice once, bought them for a clinic, and my horse broke the velcro on one on the second day. But he was a work hard, play hard TB gelding, so maybe that would work for a less destructive horse? I just know they won’t do for mine, as I watched it sail by my head coming out of a bank out of water.