Best Bell Boots for hunting in mud??

I took my gelding out for the first time this weekend and we lost a front shoe. He usually doesn’t have overreach problems, so I’m thinking we were a victim of the 12" boggy mud. Are there any bell boots out there that will help with this problem?

Thanks,

If you must use bell boots, use cheap ones since they tend to get sucked off in deep going.

Also consider that ‘any’ boots are a potential source of severe irritation when mud and grit get under them- really best to not use any if you can avoid it. If it was a one time overreach, it might not recur for 20 years. When I’ve spent a fair amount of each season dealing with boggy going, I’ve used clips on the shoes.

I prefer to go bare and was worried about sores from the boots. Joining the hunt group was a last minute decision, so my horse wasn’t shod for that type of mud. We usually ride in the arena or flat field, so pulling a shoe isn’t a problem. We’re going out again this Saturday so I’m looking for some temporary protection until he can be reshod for those conditions.

Thanks,

I used to tape where the shoe meets the wall with really good duct tape to prevent this and avoid the rubbing that occurs with boots. You could also use silicone caulking on a really clean foot and it has more protective properties.

But… check these out; http://www.stcroixsaddlery.com/Bell_Boots_p/lb_fra_gelboots.htm

http://www.acavallo.com/

Also, bell boots can be an issue if the rear gets caught in the front (rubber pull ons) and causes a nasty fall. Duct tape can be great for heal grabs, too!

12" of mud? You wouldn’t happen to be in TX at Cloudline? :smiley:

I came to the conclusion a couple of years ago that bell boots are useless in muddy conditions. Either the mud will pack between the boot and hoof, the boot will flip up, or boots will be sucked off by mud every hunt. I find most lost shoes are sucked off by the deep mud instead of being caught by the hind foot, so a bell boot won’t help anyways. Putting clips on shoes doesn’t help with nasty sucking mud much either.

My recommendation is to either go barefoot (if your horse has good hooves) or to have the farrier come out to replace shoes frequently. I’ll be the first to let you know when I find the magic answer to this!

Or don’t go!!

Or…just NOT GO hunting in 12’ mud!!! . Stay home and be happy…I always end up with a tendon/ligament/chunka hoof/injury/lost shoe gone anyway so I’m superstitious. Just say no!!! :winkgrin::cool:

And bellboots?! Forgetaboutem!! They’re in the way out hunting imho.

Bingo - Cloudline

:DTBlitz, Good call. If you were there last weekend I was the prego girl on the terrified grey horse. Hopefully, this week he’ll be a bit more comfortable abound the hounds. Right now my horse is shod will aluminums upfront and barefoot in the back. He rarely loses shoes, so he has minimum nails. My farrier would probably kill me if he knew what I was up to these days. If we end up joining the hunt club next season we’ll definitely reevaluate his shoes. We’re planning on riding with the group again this weekend, so I’ll pray to the mud gods and maybe they won’t take another shoe.

That tar/mud is definitely sucking the shoes off, so bell boots won’t help it (sorry!). I don’t know of anything that will help, but I really hope there is one!

I’m a Cloudline member and servant/caretaker to a retired Cloudline hound, but I’m currently located out of state so I don’t get to go too frequently. I do have to return a horse I borrowed so I will there for the hunt on the 24th.

I highly recommend joining Cloudline because the people are superb (I LOVE Susan!) and the hunt is crazy fun if you don’t mind getting a bit dirty. The mud was so bad this year that a couple of guys ended up at a car wash to clean their tack between days at the hunt ball weekend. Luckily, the horses typically come out sound from even the fastest, longest, and muddiest hunts.

bell boots dont protect against the sucking mud

My horses live in bell boots 24/7 when they have their shoes. I use the gum rubber pull on. I hunt in them too. I don’t have any issues with rubs. I don’t ride everyday but haven’t had issues with any pasturn dermatitis, sores or rubs. (odly enough, one horse did get the dermatitis on his back pasturns, where he wasn’t wearing boots though)

HOWEVER…if the mud is thick, it will suck off a shoe bell boot or not…

I have never had a problem with either of my horses catching a boot and falling over. The rubber ones just pop off…I’ve had a few pass me in the field :lol: but I rather loose a boot than a shoe!

No hunting this weekend.

No need to worry about losing another shoe because we’re not hunting this weekend. :frowning: Last week was my gelding’s first hunt experience and he wasn’t too thrilled with the hounds. I stuck with him and rode him through his issues. All week long he’s been getting more and more worked up. Yesterday we were hacking in the field and his favorite trick was to slam on the breaks and pop up in the front. It wasn’t a bonafide rear, but I could tell it was getting close. Everything seemed to set him off. He’s usually a cool cucumber around the farm, so I don’t know what his deal was. Since I’m 5 months pregnant I decided to call it quits for the day and will start arena work tomorrow. It was so frustrating to give up. Normally I would put him to work and ride through his antics. It’s amazing what a little forward movement will to for the horse brain.

TBlitz, You’re right about Cloudline. Everyone I met was awesome. I’m due early August, so if everything goes as planned I want to hunt with them this fall.

Ooh. Unfortunate development. But for your foaling schedule, I’d suggest asking Cloudline if you could accompany them over the summer on hound exercise- it can be very beneficial to expose them to the hounds without the hunting day field of horses to worry about.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIgI9JhJrZU

Mud ? Cloudline ?? LOL
Here is a link to a short video out hunting with cloudline this Spring.

Had a great time. What a fun bunch of folks

Tom N