While my mule generally has very tough hooves and is comfortable on a variety of terrain, I’ve found that the recently regravelled logging roads near my home are too much for him. My riding options have become very restricted as a result of his tenderness on the gravel (sharp 2" and bigger pieces) and I’m wondering if boots might be a solution. The question remains: are there boots to fit a mule hoof? It is oblong (not round), cylindrical (not wider at the base than the hairline), and just plain different (bars further towards the front of the hoof, and longer/narrower hoof shape when viewed from the bottom) as compared to a horse hoof. Tips? Thanks!
Ask your farrier about putting shoes and pads on your mule wich would probably be the
way to go.
I ride a mule and generally she has all four feet shod but She had pads and shoes put
on all four feet today as we leave next week for a trailride in MO wich some trails are
rocky and we cross rivers so to protect the soles of the hoof we shoe and pad them.
Thanks for the reply. I’m really hoping to go the boot route if at all possible, but that may not be a reality. Shoes may be the answer unless I can get REALLY creative!
Measure his feet and see what range of Glove boot might work and then have them send you a 3 boot fit kit. The Gloves really do fit narrower feet and if they are really narrow you can use the power strap to make them tighter. The Gloves do only work on feet that are not flared though.
Or you can probably get away with an Edge or Epic on a narrow foot too. The Gloves are just so easy and have good traction.
Ann Szolas
I rode in the mountains last week with a lady who had a mule. She used the Cavello Simple boots on him. He seemed to do well with them on the rocky footing.
Update - I ordered the Glove fit kit size 0 and found that the 0.5 appeared to be a fit. I didn’t quite trust the hardware-free boot to stay on, though, so I bought a pair of size 0 Epics and tried them out this weekend. They are awesome! I rode for about an hour on Sat. night (mostly on dry, gravelly footing but also up and down a muddy slope, over some logs and through a creek) and they were great . . . no slipping, no chafing. I rode for two or three hours this morning, walked, trotted and cantered, and rode through water, mud, gravel, dirt, etc. with no issues. I think they will work!! I am very, very pleased, as my riding options at home have been very limited by the abundance of freshly graveled logging roads around here.
[QUOTE=didgery;4388439]
Update - I ordered the Glove fit kit size 0 and found that the 0.5 appeared to be a fit. I didn’t quite trust the hardware-free boot to stay on, though, so I bought a pair of size 0 Epics and tried them out this weekend. They are awesome! I rode for about an hour on Sat. night (mostly on dry, gravelly footing but also up and down a muddy slope, over some logs and through a creek) and they were great . . . no slipping, no chafing. I rode for two or three hours this morning, walked, trotted and cantered, and rode through water, mud, gravel, dirt, etc. with no issues. I think they will work!! I am very, very pleased, as my riding options at home have been very limited by the abundance of freshly graveled logging roads around here.[/QUOTE]
Glad you found something that works. I love mine too, I have the easyboot though, the epic without the gaitor. I’ve never had any issues either. Have only had one come off and it was in deep mud. We have size three though, big feet.
I’m glad those boots worked. That huge gravel is NASTY, even on shod feet. Happy riding!
I am glad the epics worked for you! i have a pair in the mail coming to me and I am excited/nervous! I just REALLY hope they fit and work. I (well me AND my horse) miss riding out in the woods- The ring is getting boring fast, even though it’s good training and all, we deserve a break! lol. And very happy to hear you cantered and they were good. I worry about that. Then again, I would probably do mostly trotting in these woods because of the steepness and such
