Hoof boot help

[Hampton_Bay]

My gelding simply will not stay shod. I finally managed to get the front shoes to stay on, and now he spends so much time stomping at flies and playing in the pasture that he’s torn his hooves up. He over steps badly due to a short back. So I have decided to try hoof boots.

I like the renegades, but they are a bit out of the price range for now. I found gloves on sale, but I can’t seem to get any help from easy boot on fitting him. I’ve emailed and called, with no real luck. His fronts are quite wide, so I know we will need the wides, but his hinds are very spade shaped. The boots obviously are not. Hinds are a hair wider than long. I have no idea if the gloves will work ok for him or not. Anyone familiar with them who can help? I have pictures with measurements, but sending them to easy boot gets me no reply.

[Frog_Pond]

Look around for a barefoot trimmer in your area. Around me, a few of them offer boot fitting as a service, and they sell them, too. Might save you some time and $. Good luck.

[candysgirl]

There are also websites where people sell ‘used’ hoofboots. Basically where someone ordered the wrong size or used them a couple times and they didn’t work for whatever reason.

[Hampton_Bay]

There aren’t even halfway decent farriers here, much less trimmers who carry boots. I really don’t want to go used because of how this horse destroys shoes and bells. I want the 30day warranty in case they get trashed. Both companies will take them back for that reason.

[trailpal]

If you have good measurements, you can order a “fit kit” from easy boot - it has several sizes, centered around the measurement you provide. Essentially, you put a deposit on the kit and then get it (or most of it) back when you return the kit, after figuring out the correct size. You might need different sizes for all for 4 feet since they are designed to fit very snugly, so check all the feet. Usually though, both fronts will be the same and both hinds will be the same.

Be sure to do a “mustang roll” on the hoof - the boot will fit better and wear longer that way. It sounds like you are doing your own trimming? During the times my horse’s hooves are really growing, I usually redo the roll once a week. It doesn’t take long and makes a difference on fit.

I’ve been using gloves for about 2 years. The one thing that makes me want to try the renegades is that the renegades are a little more forgiving on sizing, plus the hoof slides into it a lot easier. The gloves have a lip all the way around the hoof cup, and it’s easy to bend that lip over which makes it a little more fussy to put on. The renegades don’t have that lip in the back by the heel bulbs.

PM me if you want. Disclaimer: I am not a professional trimmer or farrier, but my trimmer taught me how to work on my own horses. For the last year, when I’ve had him out to check my work, he tells me the horse is fine and keep doing what I’m doing - better yet, my horse is sound, so that is the real proof.

[Hampton_Bay]

I trim and shoe my own. No other options unless I want short shod on a 42 derrière angle all around. It’s that bad. I’ve had a few good farriers teach me over the years.

I have an old set of bares that of course don’t come close to fitting this guy, but I remember how difficult they were to get on. Are the gloves that difficult? I had a few tricks, and taught that mare to help me. I’m sure I could do the same with this guy.

Did you find the measurements accurate on the gloves?