Hoof boots for fox hunting

[fuzzyland]

I see there are some old posts on this topic but wanted to revive it given all the new products that have come out in the last 10 years. We are just recovering from a horrible 4 months where I pulled shoes on my 20 year old veteran field hunter only to end up with winter laminitis secondary to aggressive farrier trimming. He is gradually getting used to being barefoot in his stall opening to run at night and hoof boots (Easyboot Fury Sling) for turnout during the day. We have a lot of rocks around here. I have a five year old with great feet who was raised on the rocks, has never been shod and tolerated some trail rides last summer pretty well. After the experience this winter with the veteran I am reluctant to put shoes on the youngster for the first time if it is only going to result in the kind of problems I’ve had with the older horse.

So far I have had the best luck galloping the veteran in Easyboot Gloves but use the Slings for daily turnout because the velcro and neoprene on the Gloves never dry out in the Pacific Northwest. However the Gloves have been the most secure so far. I recently tried Scoot Boots but they were an expensive fail as they twisted around after only 5 minutes on the longe line.

I have not yet actually hunted in hoof boots and wondered what others’ experience has been? I know there are a lot of posts on the endurance board but am wondering specifically about people’s experience with jumping in the field.

Sue

[libotome]

Hi Sue. I have hunted in scoot boots on a thoroughbred once or twice. Scoot boots fit one shape of hoof and they need to fit perfectly, or else you will lose them. I found them to be a pain in the behind to get on and off, though I have read this becomes easier. I am not sure at what point, but that is what “they” say, haha. I opted to put shoes on her because I did end up losing the Scoot boots twice on trail rides and knew if it ever happened on a hunt there would be no way I would find it again. I now have two non-thoroughbreds that I recently purchased Flex Boots for. I have yet to take them through aggressive footing at speed but I like them quite a bit. I wonder about putting something like these on, with bell boots, and wrapping the connections up with black duct tape before a hunt.

Home | Flex Hoof Boots

Good luck.

[Martina]

I used Old Mac’s several years ago. The big thing to understand is that if the boot gets loose and needs to come off, you’re kinda in a pickle. This happened to me and I was fortunate that I was hilltopping. We got to a point where I could get off, take them off (leave then on the side of a road), then get back on and continue. A faster field would have been more problematic. It sounds like yours fit your hose well, but just consider the terrain you would be covering, as well as pace.

[chris10astra]

I used Scoot Boots while my two horses were getting used to being barefoot. It wasn’t the jumping that pulled them off consistently…it was running through tall thick grass! We are barefoot 100% now and I don’t use the boots anymore. I’ve seen another foxhunter use Scoots and she didn’t have problems that I know of. They do need to fit just right. I used them for rehabbing my mare’s coffin bone fracture instead of eggbar shoes (she just kept losing shoes and I was so done) and in the beginning I had to get her used to them as they rubbed on the heel bulb. I got very used to taking them on and off during that build up. After she got used to them they only came off inadvertently in turnout once or twice in 2+ months with 24/7 wear in very deep mud. I did use the mud straps when hunting and they seemed to help but were no match for tall thick grass apparently.

My horses are out 24/7 on (unfortunately for environmental conditioning) gentle flat land so I do some regular asphalt driveway conditioning (10-20 min) and in the entry of the non-bedded feeding stall I throw all rocks from the dirt arena so they have to step over a rocky area regularly. Yesterday the mare trotted in to that stall full force on the rocks and a year or so ago she would refuse to walk a rocky creek bed so I’m very happy with her progress.

[lizloveshorses]

If you can’t find any boots that work, you might want to look at Epona glue-on shoes. More flexible than metal and more durable than hoof boots, with the right hoof care professional, they can make a world of difference. Good luck!

[kt-rose]

I’ve used these with a lot of success:

Lander Industries Inc.

Jump, trail ride, whatever, they never move if properly fitted. My TB Mare uses the Viper version but a draftier foot would probably do better with the Classic.

[Equibrit]

http://equine-jogging-shoes.com/

[Bogie]

I hunted in Cavallo simple boots for several seasons and they worked fine. I didn’t lose them but I did add cable ties to hold the velcro in place. Ultimately, I transitioned to glue on shoes for that horse as he seemed quite comfortable in them and they really stayed on well.

[Warmblood1]

I don’t think I’d use any other hoof boots other than scoot boots with the mud straps for extra security. I want my horse to be sure footed and many other hoof boots are bulky and can be too easily pulled. Id also get brightly colors straps to make them easier to find because if pulled it’s likely going to be hard to find as is.

[toryfoster]

scoot boots didnt work for me. It seemed as if my horse was uncomfortable the whole time. whereas cavallo was a lot better, we roamed around just fine.

[Warmblood1]

I personally wouldn’t hunt my horses in hoof boots. They all over track and pull shoes, let alone boots, easily. I would just shoe but not every horse or circumstance is the same.

[halena]

I used fusion jogging shoes. When I first took the shoes off my tb, his feet were changing, My trimmer lent me easyboot epics but he outgrew these quickly. Got some gloves but they didn’t work for long. The fusions were forgiving fit wise and came up big.

He has one bigger foot so I ended up buying 2 pairs secondhand but the smaller pair fitted both so I sold the bigger size on.

Now his feet are stable, I’ve got renegades. I call them his Cinderella boots as they were secondhand and a mismatched pair but suit his mismatched feet.

[HaffieHunter]

I hunt in New England in rather muddy conditions most of the year… with a haflinger mare that gleely stomps in the mud and insists upon dragging her feet through thick grass.

I use scootboots. You do HAVE to have the mudstraps and the other accessories for them to stay on with rougher riding. Mudstraps prevent the boot twisting off, and the pastern strap locks add extra security. I have used mine for 2 years now and only when I have neglected putting on the accessories have I ever had an issue. Proper fit is essential and if you can either get someone who fits Scoots or get a measuring tape out, all the better. They do sell scootboot slims for more oval-ish shaped hooves. Once you get a proper fit and the accessories, they are the best boots for hunting IMO.

No slippage (I personally experienced slippage with Renegades…), and they bend and flex with the hooves as you go over terrain.

I promise I’m not a scootboot fitter or seller lol. I’ve just have had good results with them with a few different horses.

[lizathenag]

I second the Renegades. I had them fit by my trimmer (2 on right and 2W on left) and once I got a lesson in how the put them on properly I have never had a problem…