Hoof Boots on Gaited Horses

[chipper2128]

We have a couple of Gaited trail horses that we usually don’t have shoes on them because they don’t get worked too hard and the terrain is not very rough or rocky.

But there are times when we do go up in the mountains where it is much rougher and rocky. I have been reading some of the old threads on hoof boots and some of the manufacturers websites and there are some cautions about using them with gaited horses…due to boot traction and the potential for the horse to over reach with his rear feet.

Do any of you have experience with boots on gaited horses and if so, which boot(s) do you recommend?

Thanks

[GreyDes]

We’ve used Renegades routinely on my husband’s TWH for 5+ years. http://www.renegadehoofboot.com/

I generally only put front boots on unless it is extremely rocky. He does have a big overstride, and will sometimes catch the back of the boot with his hind hoof. This has not caused any issues, and the boots stay on.

It seems odd to me that using boots on a gaited horse would be any different, but I’m certainly not an expert.

Good luck!

[katarine]

I have Simple boots by Cavallo on a 3 YO TWH colt I’m trying to avoid shoeing.

Anywhere I am riding him at a flat walk or RW he’s going to be barefoot. So today I rode him on a short trail ride in rocky, rooty territory. He was booted. And we just dog walked the whole thing.

They don’t offer any slip when the foot hits the ground- none, and I think in a walker that added traction could be a detriment. the walkers like to hit and slip just a wee tiny bit on the front end, like you walk 'into a pair of slippers w/o stopping- does that makes sense? So if you intend to hit a lick on the trail, your horse might feel inhibited by all that grip on landing the front feet. but for the ways you are intending to use them, I think you’ll be fine. In that territory, you are not asking them to walk on

[trailpal]

I first tried the Easy Boot trails (fronts only) on my boy with the good overstride… anything faster than a flat walk, and he’d catch the back fasteners with his hind. There’s ~3 layers of velcro on the back and it seems to stick out far enough to get caught and then he ends up pulling the boot off.

My present horse is in gloves in the front - all the velcro is in the front, and it’s tight fitting on the heel bulb - and they do very well for him.

Something worth considering - if you don’t boot all four, you can easily end up modifying your horse’s gait. My present horse is pacey and the weight of the boots in front help to break it up a bit.

[PRS]

I don’t own a gaited horse but my friend does and every boot she’s tried on that horse the horse has pulled off with her hind feet. I guess trial and error is the only way you’re going to know if your horse is a candidate for boots or not.

[jazzrider]

My TWH forges, particularly on the right. I have him shod in the front and he wears Easy Boot Gloves on the back. We’ve only thrown one of the gloves on trail once, and that was because I was trying to get the last life out of one that had lost the center screw and the gator was bit torn. We usually go through a pair a year or every 18 months.

I have Cavallos for the front, if he throws a shoe. My guy’s gait stays true when he’s shod in front and has boots in back. We have yet to try the Cavallos out on the trail, thankfully. They fit him well but have stayed in my pack so far.

We’ve ridden my husband’s SSH with Cavallos just in front and he did fine. So how they hold their gate and how the boot stands up to forging if you have that issue is really individual to the horse and how it goes.

[baylady7]

I have had good success with Hoofwings, www.Hoofwings.com

[katyb]

I have a borrowed walking horse, and he wears Gloves. They do pretty well, generally, but he did lose one in deep mud last summer. It was REALLY deep - like knee deep, mud. I don’t think he normally has any problems with them, although he is fine without on most any terrain.