Hoof boot for a horse living mostly out.

[runNjump86]

My horse loves seeing me cry.

We had been making a LOT of progress this summer when my horse decided to get the abscess from hell, back in August. Long story short, we are now on Round 3 of this same abscess. Vet was out today with the farrier so we could get an idea of what was going on. We were all shocked to see there are THREE pockets of fluid. Vet said she wouldn’t be shocked if he eventually sloughed his entire sole. His hoof wall is absolute crap, despite having decent sole depth (a first for him). Thankfully the infection has not spread to the bone, but my gut says that’s the direction we are headed if we can’t get this under control. I purchased Clean Trax from the vet and plan to embark on that journey tomorrow.

This horse also has chronically underrun heels (I’m not interested in armchair farriers on that matter, we’ve tried everything under the sun to fix them and he won’t cooperate) so shoeing him is a constant battle. I’m at the point where I’m tempted to pull this darn shoe and see what happens. Here’s the catch: He CANNOT be barefoot on the affected foot because he is nerved, and he can’t be barefoot on the other foot because he needs support for his collateral ligament.

I need hoof boot recommendations. He would only need the one but I’m not opposed to buying a pair to have for emergencies. He does best with frog support and a slight wedge, but I have no idea if that exists in the hoof boot world. He lives in a field by himself, but does like to play. I’m considering asking the BO to move him to a smaller field to limit the shenanigans and the risk of losing said boot and/or shoe.

Please help.

[S1969]

How long does he need to be supported on the foot that is nerved?

Personally it sounds like taking the shoe off the other foot would be a bad idea if he needs it for support. Even well-fitting boots are really just sole protection, not correction.

What is the horse like otherwise? Chronic abscesses can be a symptom of low immune system, which could be from Cushings. This would be the time of year it might show up as a symptom as well.

As for chronically underrun heels - maybe getting a 2nd farrier opinion would fix both issues.

[walkinthewalk]

What S1969 said.

If you do buy boots, buy two pair as you canNOT leave the same boots on 24/7. All that smelly gunk that gathers in the boots will really compound the abscess issue.

I washed the insides of the boots and the pads every night in hot water and Dawn dish soap.

I am an EasyCare customer. I like their RX Therapy boot and also the Cloud. The RX fit my foundered horse better but I like pads in the Clouds better. He was fine moving around on three acres back then. He’s in custom orthotic shoes these days as he also has structural issues that he deals with.

He also comes in at every night. Your horse may not need boots at night if it came in to a stall with clean shavings:)

[runNjump86]

@walkinthewalk

What S1969 said.

If you do buy boots, buy two pair as you canNOT leave the same boots on 24/7. All that smelly gunk that gathers in the boots will really compound the abscess issue.

I washed the insides of the boots and the pads every night in hot water and Dawn dish soap.

I am an EasyCare customer. I like their RX Therapy boot and also the Cloud. The RX fit my foundered horse better but I like pads in the Clouds better. He was fine moving around on three acres back then. He’s in custom orthotic shoes these days as he also has structural issues that he deals with.

He also comes in at every night. Your horse may not need boots at night if it came in to a stall with clean shavings:)

I know the boots have to come off at least once a day. That is honestly my biggest hang up right now as my schedule can be nutty, and I can’t get out every single day. He doesn’t come into a stall at night, hence the title of a horse that lives mostly out.

I’m leaning towards Easy Boots as they have the best reputation and seem to pop up in more searches than any other brand. I’ll email their customer service and see what they can recommend. Thank you!

[runNjump86]

@S1969

How long does he need to be supported on the foot that is nerved?

Personally it sounds like taking the shoe off the other foot would be a bad idea if he needs it for support. Even well-fitting boots are really just sole protection, not correction.

What is the horse like otherwise? Chronic abscesses can be a symptom of low immune system, which could be from Cushings. This would be the time of year it might show up as a symptom as well.

As for chronically underrun heels - maybe getting a 2nd farrier opinion would fix both issues.

The horse is healthy. Again, I am not looking for input on his heels. Thanks though!

[Lolliver]

I am becoming an (unwilling) expert in hoof boots. Currently my horse is going in the Easyboot Cloud. They are rated for “light turnout.” She’s pretty quiet in turnout, so it’s working okay. She really, really likes the boots. I also have a pair of Cavallo Simple Boots. I haven’t checked for what they are actually “rated” for, but I’m told not for turnout. My mare has worn them in turnout quite a bit, because I didn’t have anything else at the time. I am also very happy with those.

Two hints that work for me. I wrap the area that has the velcro with vetwrap. It keeps the velcro clean, so that the boots stay on nicely. Also, whenever I remove the boots, I sprinkle Gold Bond Medicated Powder (the Dollar Store generic brand) in the boot before putting it back on.

I wish you luck!

[runNjump86]

@Lolliver

I am becoming an (unwilling) expert in hoof boots. Currently my horse is going in the Easyboot Cloud. They are rated for “light turnout.” She’s pretty quiet in turnout, so it’s working okay. She really, really likes the boots. I also have a pair of Cavallo Simple Boots. I haven’t checked for what they are actually “rated” for, but I’m told not for turnout. My mare has worn them in turnout quite a bit, because I didn’t have anything else at the time. I am also very happy with those.

Two hints that work for me. I wrap the area that has the velcro with vetwrap. It keeps the velcro clean, so that the boots stay on nicely. Also, whenever I remove the boots, I sprinkle Gold Bond Medicated Powder (the Dollar Store generic brand) in the boot before putting it back on.

I wish you luck!

Thank you! I’ve worked with the Cavallo boots before (a boarder’s horse at my former barn) and they seemed simple, but clunky. If I do have to go the boot route I’ll have to move him to a smaller turnout for sure. He’s prone to randomly galloping across the field to visit his friend next door. :lol:

Thanks for the powder tip!! I never would have guessed!

[ryansgirl]

I use the Easyboot Trails for my mare. She lives outside 24/7 in a drylot and these have been perfect for her:

https://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/Easyboot-New-Trail.asp

I do take them off twice a day to clean them, check for rubs, etc. Generic Gold Bond powder as mentioned above is a huge help (& only cost $1 so I keep plenty on hand). My mare is out alone so she doesn’t tear around but she loves to buck/rear/spin after she rolls and these have only popped off a couple of times.

I do have a few sets of boots so I can switch out as needed.

[RedHorses]

I have turned out in both Cavallo Simple Boots and their Trek boots. Treks are tougher, but Simple boots are full leather uppers and shape to the foot when they break in.

Whatever you choose it needs to fit if it’s going to stay on. Not every boot will work for every horse - I wanted Scoot boots for one of mine, but with a size 5 heel and a 7 toe it was never going to work.

Most boots can accommodate a full sole wedge pad if you need it.

[S1969]

@runNjump86

The horse is healthy. Again, I am not looking for input on his heels. Thanks though!

Seems like fixing the heels would be easier than finding what you’re really asking for.

You are looking for boots that work like corrective shoes, and sort of medical protection for a nerve blocked horse for an undetermined period of time? I’m not exactly sure what you’re looking for in the abscessed foot - for how long do you need this special boot?

The best advice would be to work with your farrier because they can help you choose the ones that will fit, and determine if it’s possible to adjust the fit of one to act like a corrective shoe.

FWIW, the horse shouldn’t have to “cooperate” to correct underrun heels. That’s a farrier problem.

[kande04]

I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be beneficial for a nerve blocked horse to develop a stronger bare hoof?

[SusanO]

As far as having the boots stay on - I have a horrible time keeping them on my mare and I have tried most kinds. I just put her out this morning and both boots have come off for the third time today. Luckily her pasture is small and they are easy to find. Kind of.

[kande04]

@SusanO

As far as having the boots stay on - I have a horrible time keeping them on my mare and I have tried most kinds. I just put her out this morning and both boots have come off for the third time today. Luckily her pasture is small and they are easy to find. Kind of.

Sometimes the easier they go on, the easier they come off. Not always, but the boots I wrestle on, clamp down, and then support with gaiters stay on the best.

[lifeishorsesarelove]

I use scoots for riding. They are great for turnout, as they are totally non-absorbent, have drainage holes, and the optional “mud straps” make it nearly impossible for them to pop a boot off. The boots are universal so you could use a single pair and rotate them on and off of one foot. I am unsure about using pads in scoot boots.

That said, I don’t know of a single hoof boot that is designed to accommodate dramatically underrun heels. Most hoof boots are designed to support a correctly shaped barefoot hoof, with proper angles. You have some wiggle room in those angles, but if your horse has dramatically underrun heels, I don’t think any boot will suit him.

And like everyone else has said, underrun heels are not an issue a horse has to cooperate with. Its a trimming problem, and if you haven’t tried any other farriers, maybe you should.

[clint]

@ryansgirl

I use the Easyboot Trails for my mare. She lives outside 24/7 in a drylot and these have been perfect for her:

https://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/Easyboot-New-Trail.asp

I do take them off twice a day to clean them, check for rubs, etc. Generic Gold Bond powder as mentioned above is a huge help (& only cost $1 so I keep plenty on hand). My mare is out alone so she doesn’t tear around but she loves to buck/rear/spin after she rolls and these have only popped off a couple of times.

I do have a few sets of boots so I can switch out as needed.

I’m another Easyboot trail fan, only currently I have the original. I have a pair on a yearling TB who got sore feet running around on our rocky dry lot field in CA. After she walked a few steps in them, you could see her pondering what we had just done, and she never looked back; she loves them. We check the boots, but we don’t need to change them out, although we have multiple pair. They stay dry and her feet are now in great shape, as she has been able to grow hoof without having it worn off. We have used boots like this on many horses who have had issues, and I now have a vast supple of them.

I used Easy Boots last winter on a mare who developed a huge foot abscess; it had pretty much undermined her sole. We did have to change them out as she had drainage and the ground was wet. They kept her comfortable and the abscess healed.

[alibi_18]

Like @lifeishorsesarelove said, boots won’t fit on badly shaped/underun heels hooves. It’s also better to fit them right after a trim, and the trim cycle should be kept quite short (4-6weeks) for the boot to properly fit.

That’s the negative side with boots, you cannot change their form to fit the hooves. You kind of have to shape the hooves to fit the boots.

I might be an armchair farrier, and so I won’t say how to do it, but even the worst underrun heels can and should be fixed over a 6-12 month period on a short 4-5 week cycle max.

[runNjump86]

The numerous comments about his heels are exactly why I didn’t want to post in the first place.

This horse has seen farriers all over the country, literally. So again…I’m not interested in hearing how “it’s a farrier problem” when he has seen numerous farriers in numerous states. Not every problem can be fixed, and after seven years of fighting his conformation to correct them, I am 100% confident in saying that.

Thank you for the boot recommendations. I’ve spoken with both a vet and my farrier. I thought getting opinions from other owners may be beneficial as well.

@Moderator 1 please shut off commenting. Question has been answered.

[S1969]

In that case, I would probably consider sticking with what has worked up until now rather than start down a whole new road. If the horse has been able to be sound in shoes, I would stay with shoes.

But I might consider testing for Cushings if chronic abscesses is becoming a new issue.