Bell Boots Rubbing..any Suggestions?

[thatmoody]

[QUOTE=jawa;8236224]
Mine only got rubs if the bell boots were too long for his hoof. If the bell boot gets pushed up every time his hoof hits the ground, it would rub. I would trim the bottom so that it protected his heel bulb and shoe, but wouldn’t hit the ground with each stride.

All bets are off if you are turning them out in the snow.

With pull on boots you get more bang for your buck, especially with the double thick at the bottom ones.

Dunk the boot in a bucket of water and have a hoof pick ready. I don’t like to use oil, because then I can’t get a grip on ANYTHING![/QUOTE]

Yeah, having whacked myself in the face with my own hand trying this…it’s easier to just set them in the sun first.

[thatmoody]

[QUOTE=jawa;8236224]
Mine only got rubs if the bell boots were too long for his hoof. If the bell boot gets pushed up every time his hoof hits the ground, it would rub. I would trim the bottom so that it protected his heel bulb and shoe, but wouldn’t hit the ground with each stride.

All bets are off if you are turning them out in the snow.

With pull on boots you get more bang for your buck, especially with the double thick at the bottom ones.

Dunk the boot in a bucket of water and have a hoof pick ready. I don’t like to use oil, because then I can’t get a grip on ANYTHING![/QUOTE]

Yeah, having whacked myself in the face with my own hand trying this…it’s easier to just set them in the sun first.

[Kerrysmom818]

I tried all different types - rubber, fleece lined, you name it. I’ve had the best luck with no turn boots by tough 1.

[Huntin_Pony]

Another vote for gum rubber pull-ons.

As for getting them on, if your horse is good about holding his feet up, stand alongside his shoulder facing his tail. Pick up the foot and rest the knee on your thigh. Then you have something to push against while you are pulling the boot over the hoof.

Please don’t try this if your horse doesn’t hold his foot up calmly. But it works great when it works.

[Huntin_Pony]

oops - duplicate

[SaratogaTB]

I ditto no-turn boots by Tough 1

[Trails]

If you are still having difficulties with the pull-on soft rubber bell boots please watch this video. They are really easy to put on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxKMCQeeAIA

[Jeito]

Trails’ video is good. It’s exactly what I was just going to say. The trick is to reverse them. I have no upper body stength. If I can easily get them on, anyone can.

[silverdog]

I have never had good luck with the Velcro kind - always seem to rub. My horse hates them and always takes them off himself. I use the pull on ones and trim them so they barely touch the ground at the back - you do not want them to move up and down when they walk because that can lead to rubs too.

[BoyleHeightsKid]

That’s great video… exactly how I put them on. When they are new they are a little harder to put on. Sometimes if I can only get them halfway I will put the foot down and let him stand on it a little bit, then I can always pull it the rest of the way on.

[Big_Tag]

Thank you for all of the replies! So it sounds like to me that the best option are the italian rubber ones for super thin-skinned beasts like this guy. Seriously…everything rubs him. Ugh. Anyway… I put his plastic (I guess they’re actually PVC) ones on him last night just to see what the deal was when he walked in them, and there is the issue that they are too long and they pop up and catch the back of his pastern. They’re mediums…I’m not sure what size in the Italian ones to order him? He does have low heels right now being off of the track and all so I believe that’s exacerbating the issue. Still, he isn’t a midget and doesn’t have pony feet, so I cannot imagine he would wear a small in them. How do these bell boots run size-wise?

[BoyleHeightsKid]

My boy is 16.2 good bone and wears a size 2 shoe. The large pull ons fit him great.

[HorseKrazy]

Maybe get the size that will fit the circumference of his pastern right now and if it is too long trim the excess from the bottom?

[HorseKrazy]

I literally am dealing with the exact same issue right now, so I think I wil go with the gum boots as well. Two nights of turnout in the Velcro closure boots resulted in pastern rubs, too. I took them off for 1 day and he clipped himself riding really bad. Sigh…