Hoof boot options for NARROW (hind) feet?

[CrowneDragon]

Long story short, I have a mare with an avulsion injury to a hind foot and I cannot find a boot to fit the foot to save my life. Even if the length is correct, they are too wide and twist on her foot. The latest attempt was a Cavallo Trek slim sole, which is supposed to suit a narrow foot, and with 3 strides and a turn down the barn aisle the thing was half-sideways on the foot already. I don’t think I could cram her hoof into a smaller size. I can try to shim it but I’m trying to see if I can find something that fits properly from the get-go. This was the suggestion from Cavallo. I also tried an Old Macs G2 on suggestion from Easycare and that didn’t work either, nor did the Delta hoof boot I got. I have tried an Easyboot Rx and the size she measures to is too small to get on her foot with the light bandage, and the boots I have tried in other styles that are equivalent to the next size up are too big. :mad:

Any of the Easyboot styles with teeth inside are out, because those will sit near the injury. I need something that will do a decent job of keeping debris out and it has to be covered on all sides for impact protection. Needs to be suitable for light turnout.

Any suggestions?

[saratoga]

It seems with boots that you just have to keep trying to get ones that work. Have you tried Renegades?

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=saratoga;7870970]
It seems with boots that you just have to keep trying to get ones that work. Have you tried Renegades?[/QUOTE]

Trial and error (and error and error) is my current plan
I haven’t tried the Renegades because it looks like they are fairly open. I need something that encloses the foot pretty well for protection and to keep debris out as well as possible. She has exposed corium where there should be wall, sole, and bar, so I need something to cover those areas.

The Easyboot Glove Back Country boots look promising for a narrow foot but it looks like the sizing is very finicky and with the way this is going so far I’m hesitant to try. Maybe I just need to order a few sizes and send back all but the one that fits.

[ehwaz]

I’d recommend the backcountries. They have a fit kit that you can order- the size you think you need, one size up and one size down. You could also consider the transition - a bit more protection overall and I have heard good things about using them for injuries

[CrowneDragon]

[QUOTE=ehwaz;7871810]
I’d recommend the backcountries. They have a fit kit that you can order- the size you think you need, one size up and one size down. You could also consider the transition - a bit more protection overall and I have heard good things about using them for injuries[/QUOTE]

I did see the fit kit. I am hoping to get something that works sooner rather than later though, so it may be easier to just order the boots and hope that I pick at least one that fits. It looks like the Back County boots have the same strap that goes under the heel bulbs that the regular Easyboots do, and I wonder if that is going to cause an issue. That and the hardware for the strap is right where her defect is. Hmm. The shape looks very good, though.

The thing that scares me about the Transitions is I have seen so many bad reviews about them. They also seem to be sized for a somewhat wider foot, but they surround the foot and pastern really well.

The other option being to try one more Trek and see if one size smaller will fit. The boot is really wiggly on her foot but it is tough to tell if that might be entirely a width issue, or if this boot is just too big overall. I wish I could get a big sampler box of boots to try. When I was in Northern CA there were trimmers who carried huge inventories that you could test out. That would be awesome now.

Decisions!

[ehwaz]

The transitions might be a bit wider. The Backcountries don’t have the same heel strap that the orginal easyboots/epics have. The part around the hoof is the same as the glove, just the gaiters are different. I am close to a few trimmers and that makes it much much easier- too bad you don’t have any close to you.

Best of Luck

[chicamux]

Soft-Ride Equine Comfort Boots do make narrow models. https://www.softrideboots.com/default.asp
They hold up OK for turnout and protect hooves well… Very easy to put on. Call them.

chicamuxen

[CrowneDragon]

Yes, I have thought about the Soft-Ride boots. They look lovely, but the $200 price tag for a pair is a bit steep for me.
I went ahead and ordered another Trek in one size down, and a fitting kit for the Gloves (Back Countries). If the Trek doesn’t work I will know what size to order for the Back Country.

Thanks to everyone for the help!

[CrowneDragon]

We have a semi-fitting boot.
The smaller Trek is doing the trick. It doesn’t fit the back of her foot quite right, because her heel bulbs are almost on the ground and the boot is shaped for a more upright foot, but it looks like it is going to work. I got the Glove fitting kit and that would not work as well, because the shell comes partway up the defect on her foot, putting pressure on the lower part and encouraging the corium above it to bulge out.

The only issue I have seen with the Trek is mud coming in through the drainage holes, so I filled those with silicone caulk. She isn’t going to go out if the ground is particularly bad, so she shouldn’t need the drainage.

Thanks for everyone for their help!