Cross Country in Cavallo Horse Boots

[AKCH]

I did find an old thread about going on cross country barefoot but it was an older thread, and I was hoping to see if there were some newer info out there.
One of our horses is barefoot year round, but I am tackling some uneven terrain out on cross country during some fox hunts. She has show some sensitivity to some of the more rough terrain and I want to try to protect her from some of it. The season is very short and I know I would benefit from Cavallo Sport boots in multiple other situations.

Do you know anyone or have you yourself used them on cross country?

Thanks so much!

[tbchick84]

Maybe hoof boots have changed since I was using them 6 years ago, but I was never able to get any hoof boot to stay on even trail riding at the walk in Cavallo’s or any other brand. I would never gallop in Cavallo’s. Way too clunky. Maybe try Renegades with studs if they still make those, but again, no guarantee they stay on.

[SuzieQNutter]

I have galloped in my cavello boots. I use gel pads on the bottom and socks, they stayed on. It was only a gallop up a hill, not a day of galloping and jumping.

[AKCH]

I’ve also used them in the mountains under very extreme conditions from deep mud, river crossings and regular trail work and they did fantastic. I’ve never gone as far as jumping cross country though and don’t want to assume they would hold up as well as the other situations I’ve used them in. I just looked up Renegades but they have a huge gap in sizing between their 2 biggest sizes which doesn’t work for the size I need.

[kiwichick]

Ive jumped in hoof boots (not cavallos) and I dont recommend it. There is a lot of ‘stuff’ for the hind foot to stand on if the front foot gets away late, and you’ll go down like a tonne of bricks.
I did it once when a horse pulled a shoe and I couldnt get one on immediately, and he needed work for an upcoming horse trial. And I only did it show jump training, we had an odd distance and it all went a bit wrong.
I dunno if they have improved, but the hind foot standing on the boot preventing the front leg coming up was my big concern.

[AKCH]

@kiwichick

Ive jumped in hoof boots (not cavallos) and I dont recommend it. There is a lot of ‘stuff’ for the hind foot to stand on if the front foot gets away late, and you’ll go down like a tonne of bricks.
I did it once when a horse pulled a shoe and I couldnt get one on immediately, and he needed work for an upcoming horse trial. And I only did it show jump training, we had an odd distance and it all went a bit wrong.
I dunno if they have improved, but the hind foot standing on the boot preventing the front leg coming up was my big concern.

Appreciate your input. I had not tought of that as a possible risk-good feedback. I’ve managed to get our farrier in this evening with an event 4 days away and will throw some shoes on instead. Thanks again everyone.

[RedHorses]

While my horse was always able to event barefoot he has gone hunting (behind the hounds) and done several hunter paces wearing Cavallos without issue.

[Herefordgirl]

Hi,
I have ridden on trails and competed in unrecognized eventing in Old Mac G2s. They are amazing. I just started using them again due to my horse’s crappy feet. I will probably be replacing them just because I have had them for 6 years. I would have no problem hunting my horse in correctly fitting hoof boots. You just have to shop around and find which one are the right fit for your horse. I started in Renegades but my horse’s hooves changed shape and they did not fit anymore. I am going to look at Scoot boots.

[SusanO]

You will be lucky if they stay on. Especially if they get wet which makes everything including the boot stretch. I turn out my feet problem mare in them and one good buck and they go flying. She got fenced out of the big pasture - too many lost boots out there. Now she is in an acre pasture I keep mowed short to keep her out of tall wet grass. The average life for a boot is 6-9 months. Usually the fasteners go first but the boots slow down the front feet and she also steps on the back of the boot and tears that up too. Mostly though her foot slips out of the fastened boot. Her foot won’t fit in a smaller boot and the top of the boot is too wide to keep her foot in.

You might have more luck if you use the gaiters which are too much trouble for me to deal with. I think I have tried them all except the Scoot Boots. I wish they worked better but now days her feet have improved enough that if she loses a boot it is not a huge problem.

[Grasshopper]

I use and love the Cavallo boots, but I wouldn’t plan on jumping much or at higher levels in them–maybe a Starter/Tadpole trial at most. They are bulky enough that, as another poster mentioned, I worry about them stepping on themselves. I use them for riding when I pull shoes for a cycle or two every year, but I don’t do much jumping during those times. I also use them for trail riding even if they have front shoes, both for protection from large gravel and for grip on asphalt roads/concrete (there’s some of both at most of the nearby options). If I were going to do much jumping in hoof boots, I’d look at Renegade, Scoot, or EVO boots. I go with the Cavallos because they are easy and durable, but the others I listed are more streamlined (just may take a little more work to get the right fit).