Hoof boots for long narrow hoof

[twhs]

I’ve read the many threads on hoof boots but none are addressing the problem(s) I’m having in order to get the right fit for my Tennessee Walking Horse. Can someone help?
My horse has a really long narrow foot which measures 116mm in width and 140mm in length. He’s been barefoot and with a new farrier since November and I’d like to keep him barefoot so we can get the contracted heels to grow out, the toes backed up, and the whole hoof wider. His hooves are toughening enough so I can ride him around the neighborhood but we need hoof boots so we can return to some of our favorite wooded trails.

I need boots I can get on easily by myself (arthritis in hands & lower back problem) and the newer Old Macs and Simple Boots by Cavallo sound like they would work – except for fit. Simple Boots sound best for Indy because he doesn’t like caulks or borium on his hooves and I think Old Mac’s traction might be too agressive for him.

When I contacted the customer service person with Cavallo about Simple Boots she suggested size 4 but said I would need to make inserts cut the size of a business card out of foam and duct tape them to the inside of the boot so they would fit. Has anyone done this? Does it work?

Old Mac sells inserts but they do not suggest using their boots if there is more than one size difference in the length & width measurements. Of Indy, there’s a difference of 3 sizes.

Thanks.
THWs

[matryoshka]

Your best bet is to find a boot fitter near you. I think I’ve seen shims recommended for when the feet are narrow, but I haven’t had to do that. If your horse moves narrow (dishes in), shims might not work. I think they used to sell shims on the www.easycareinc.com. Not sure. Still, if you can find a boot fitter, they will be able to help you figure it out.

With good trimming and time, the feet will hopefully widen out. Be on the lookout for thrush and deep center sulcii (there should be a divot, not a crevice). I’m trimming a horse who had very narrow feet, especially at the heels. I trimmed him to help the heels decontract, but he also had a center sulcus infection in both fronts. Owners didn’t treat it regularly (mastitis ointment) as requested. Now when I see the horse we also do a White Lightening soak, since he has thrush in his white lines.

Those feet are finally opening up, but it has taken much longer than expected. And he’s been sensitive barefoot. I’m wondering if more aggressive treatment of thrush present would have speeded up the process. No way to know for sure.

[jazzrider]

[QUOTE=matryoshka;4302211]
…Those feet are finally opening up, but it has taken much longer than expected. And he’s been sensitive barefoot. I’m wondering if more aggressive treatment of thrush present would have speeded up the process. No way to know for sure.[/QUOTE]

My boy had the same issue (not the narrow foot, but contracted, infected heels) when I got him, and likely did for quite some time. Once we got his back shoes off and I went at the thrush and infection in the heel agressively with Tomorrow (Today?), it took about 2 months to completely heal up and about 4 to 6 (I can’t remember) for the heel to fuse. And that was over the winter when things were muddy. Even with everything healed up though, he’s still a tender foot on those feet, particularly back left. I just went with Easyboot Gloves, but with the OP’s horse’s hoof dimensions, they won’t work for him.

Good luck, TWHs, in finding a solution to your boot issue! :winkgrin:

[PRS]

http://horsesneaker.com/

the above link is a website for the hoof boots made by HorseSneakers. I’ve contacted these folks about making boots for my mini donkey as they do make custom boots. Although they are more costly than off the rack boots they will do the job and I’ve heard nothing but nice things about these folks.

there are lots of great testimonials on their website and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them.