Educate me about hoof boots (mainly for trail riding, but also for extreme weather like ice)

[Moss]

I live in a part of North America that gets very cold for a long period of time. With the cold comes ice, and lots of it. My horse does really well with the ice-- she’s very aware of her feet and walks very, very carefully on the ice-- but I would like to prevent accidents at the facility where I board her. I also would like to ride, even at a walk, since our winter months last for months on end.

I have been researching boots such as Scoot Boots and Renegade Boots with the ice studs for short term turnout and/or for riding. I am hesitant about using these for turnout unless it is an emergency, e.g. we have a lot of ice for an extended period of time. We do have an indoor arena, but I have considered using the boots for hacking outside.

Does anyone use Scoot Boots or Renegade Boots with the ice studs? What is your experience with either of these brands? If you have used the ice studs, what your thoughts?

[HPFarmette]

Following

[FjordBCRF]

I’ve used both! I’ve only used the ice studs on the Scoot Boots though, worked like a charm. I imagine the Renegades wouldn’t be much different though I don’t know if you can easily take them out. The Scoots you can drill in yourself and remove. Renegades I believe they install them for you. Maybe someone else will know that.

Word of caution of leaving on for extended times…and why I switched to Renegades. The Scoots, if not perfectly fitted for your horses hoof can really dig in where the grommet things are that the pastern straps connect to. I never had issues during rides (though I imagine they weren’t as comfortable) but he needed boots on for a more extended time, and they started digging in after not too long. The captivator on the Renegades seems much less likely to rub around the heel bulbs since it totally covers them.

[cayuse]

I have not used Scoots or Renegades, but I have used Cavallo boots with studs for winter turnout and have been very happy with them.

[Demerara_Stables]

I’ve used a lot of boots, but none on ice:

Easy boot glove
Older easy boot style with the cable
Renegades
Scoot boots
Cavallos

As far as turnout, I’ve used all of these except the easy boots with cables in turnout. Most turnout is a 5 acre field that gets really muddy in the winter. For the scoot boots, my only client with them has been using them on her mare that’s on paddock rest (base rock paddock) so I don’t know how they do in mud.

I personally own a bunch of easy boot gloves because they are my favorite. Lightweight, incredibly durable (although I have had some tearing of the gaiter that goes around the pastern), and you don’t have to have a perfect fit because the gaiter will help them stay on. I use them for trail riding, when someone throws a shoe, or for abscess treatment.

The other brands have all been owned by clients, and we’ve used them for trail riding, transitioning horses to barefoot, and when a shoe has come off. The scoot boots are very lightweight and easy to take on and off - I’m not sure what the tolerance is for sizing. They also let water/mud in and out easily which is nice. The renegades are similar - made of a hard plastic with a lot of ventilation holes - but you have to be pretty accurate with sizing as the plastic doesn’t stretch much. The cavallos were incredibly durable but heavy, and with no holes in them, I wouldn’t leave them on in wet/muddy conditions for extended periods because I think the mud would get in and cause a bacteria nightmare.

[Moss]

How would the easy boot glove without the studs (if I’m interpreting your message correctly) work on ice? We get a lot of mud once the snow and ice melt, but I’m not worried about my horse then. I’m really worried about her slipping on the ice right now. I’ve known of several horses fracturing bones due to slipping and falling on the ice.

It sounds like the other boots must have a perfect fit. I’m in farrier school right now to maintain my horse’s feet when my farrier can’t come out, but I’m only comfortable with running a rasp on my horse’s feet right now if the farrier can’t come out. When I say our weather is really bad, I mean it gets really, really bad.

Thanks for all of the comments thus far!

[GreyDes]

I’ve used the Renegade studs and they work reasonably well for grip. They are permanently installed on the boot so you’ll need a summer boot and winter boot if you go this route. The studs are an extra ~ $25/boot.

In my experience they’re comparable or slightly better than borium winter shoes. They’ll help grip and you’ll still need to be careful in slippery/icy conditions.

ETA - I’ve used both Scoot and Renegade boots without studs and have good experiences with both. Scoots are easier to deal with (no velcro) and Renegades are more flexible on sizing. I only use them for trail riding and don’t turn out in them.

[Demerara_Stables]

I actually don’t know that they have studs for the gloves. ETA apparently they do make studs for their boots! https://easycareinc.com/Accessories/EasyCare-Quick-Studs.asp. The page doesn’t say what boots they’re compatible with but I’m sure you could find out if you emailed them.

FWIW they’ve got some great glue on shoe options too, if you want to do that route. I’m certain someone out there has put ice studs in glue ons!

[RedHorses]

While any boot you use needs to fit, I found the Easy boot and Easy boot Gloves more demanding in terms of needing correct hoof angles and proportions in order to stay on.

I used Scoots for turnout and they rubbed my horse raw despite the padding. I’ve stopped using them as they caused a lot of toe stubbing and tripping with my senior due to the excess lip in front of the toe. Not a problem for a lot of horses. I would be a bit concerned about their flexibility allowing studs to create pressure spots on the foot. Careful placement should take care of that. I don’t like dealing with the reduced flexibility of Scoot straps in the sub freezing temperatures.

I also prefer boots that don’t need tools for application or removal.

I have used Cavallos quite extensively over the last year of hoof abscesses. Lots of mud and wet conditions mixed with snow and ice last winter. Never lost a boot. Cavallos do have quite large drain holes on either side.

While I did put a plastic bag over my abscess wrap, inside the boot, the other foot just had the boot on and I didn’t have any bacterial or other issues from mud/wet in the boot 24/7 (minus the time I had him in for abscess etc care). I didn’t use anything to prevent issues (foot powder, hoof spray, etc) either. I think the specific environmental conditions may require that in some places. I did swap out the pastern wraps for dry ones - though it was going on a wet foot more often than not so I don’t know that it made any difference. I do want to try Cavallo’s buckle closure as the velcro does get peeled back in the mud and wears out faster.

I use studded Cavallos for hacking out, and for turnout if needed. I’m not asking my horse to do anything other than walk carefully over the icy patches we encounter. If the trail is more ice than not I’m erring on the side of caution and riding in the arena. Last winter my horse was in the furthest paddock from the barn, along the driveway that had turned into sheer ice. I took my studded Cavallos out to the paddock, put them on him before bringing him back to the barn, and put them on for the return trip. It was kind of a PITA but I was glad I had the option. I wouldn’t have brought him in across that much ice barefoot.

I have been using Cavallos for something like 15 years, and until recently I didn’t have twisting issues. Something has changed in my horse and the right hind boot is twisting more often than not. I know someone else who had twisting issues with her horse’s hind Cavallos as well. So I will recommend using a different boot if you can’t resolve a twisting problem fairly quickly (boot size, boot width, gaiter, pad). Treks are the most durable Cavallo boot. They use the exact same sole as the Simples, and I think the ELB (entry level boot).

[Kyrabee]

I use Renegades but I don’t ride in icy conditions so cannot comment on the studs.

As said above, you need to use the boots that fit your horse the best. That can take a lot of trial and error to get there. Many companies offer a fit kit so I would go that route or you could be out a lot if $$.

[Moss]

Thanks for letting me know about the trial kit!

After reading everyone’s responses, I’m now hesitant to get boots!

[Moss]

Thank you so much for this very long and extensive response! This helped me out a lot.

[Elliot12]

My question is using stud boots in turnout. What if the horse gallops and slides to a stop. Yikes!

[RedHorses]

They’re not that good. Just like studded metal shoes the studs provide extra traction, but are too small to actually stop a high speed hoof abruptly. Just like metal shoes with studs there is often a bit of slip as the foot contacts the ground before the studs find a place to bite the uneven ice.

[FjordBCRF]

Agreed.

Here’s a photo of what they look like on Scoots:

[RedHorses]

Cavallos have a similar tiny size. I have six on each boot.

[Moss]

This has been one of my concerns, and then what if my mare hurt another horse with the turnout boots on. I see too many cons.

I’ve desired to hold off getting a pair of boots for multiple reasons. I want to note that I really appreciate the responses! My mare is very aware of her feet and walks very gingerly on ice. I like that she does, and I don’t want to teach her not to be aware of her feet. My barn grates the ice, and ice just comes back. I think I could put sand down to help. I just have to be patient during this time of year, and I also know that my mare is careful.

[openspace]

Not Scoots or Renegades, but I use Easy Boot soft gloves for trail riding year round and have probably a dozen boots. I have studded boots for winter, and have found them excellent on ice. I’ve ridden on thick, slick ice and my gelding had no slips or stumbles with four studded boots. I only ride at the walk on ice, so I can’t speak to faster gaits. I find them really remarkable as far as traction. My gelding is very mindful about his feet, and usually treads very carefully on ice, but with the boots feels able to stride out with his normal working walk. There is an easy tool to use to insert your own studs.

I have not tried the studded version in turnout, but did need to use the regular version on another horse for turnout temporarily and they stayed on very well but I would probably drill small holes if leaving on long term to avoid water collecting in the bottoms of the boots (this was summer, so winter may vary and bring other challenges - my climate is also very wet; I am in the upper Northeast USA for reference). I did not have any rubbing from the gaiters, but I only left on for a week, checked the gaiters each evening, and applied coat guard powder around the gaiters if there was any dampness.

My horse’s hoof shape fits the Easy Boots, although I find them challenging to get on during the last week (5 week barefoot trim cycle year round). I use a rubber mallet and some under the breath muttering.

[Pehsness]

My favorite boot currently is the Flex. You can insert ice studs (though I havent) and no rubs at all IME.

They don’t seem to get as much recognition as other boots but they’re my go to.

[Moss]

Thank you for this information! I will check them out.