I’m trying to find out if there are any legal boots available for a horse that needs front shoes, but pulls them almost immediately when I start riding him…I know the rules say no boots that touch the hair, so I’m wondering if grab boots would work, and are legal? Or does anyone know anything else that is legal and works?
As far as I can tell, grab boots go over the hairline and would therefore not be allowed.
https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/sAH3…ipment-booklet
“7. Martingales, bit guards, any kind of gadgets (such as bearing, side, running, balancing reins, neck straps, nasal strips, tongue tied down, etc.), any kind of boots (including “easy-boots”) or bandages (including tail bandages) and any form of blinkers, earmuffs or plugs, nose covers, seat covers, hoods are, under penalty of elimination, strictly forbidden.”
This bit a tad further down:
“Shoes (with or without cuffs) that are attached with nails or glue, or wraps that do not extend past the hair line of the hoof are permitted.”
appears to be in reference to “wraps” that are used instead of shoes or to attach shoes.
Yes. My understanding is that this refers to Equicasts, or similar. I do not believe there are any legal overreach boots. They are fine in warm-up though.
You could contact USDF about something like the ShoeSecure, which screws into shoes tapped for studs. It technically extends above the hairline at the heels as I imagine anything that could be effective would, but I’m not sure that it actually touches the horse above the hairline. I suspect the answer is no, but you could try.
You may be able to trim down Acavallo gel boots to legal. https://www.tackroomonline.com/acavallo-gel-hoof-bell-boot.html
What about Grab Boots.
https://www.rods.com/grab-boots-3.html
Oops, just noticed you checked these, but carefully applied it looks like they would stay below the hair line.
Back in my AQHA days, we just used duct tape and used hoof black to cover it. It seems that is legal.
Now in the 21st century, you can actually buy black duct tape.
Do you have a good farrier and talked to him about the problem? Is your horse pulling shoes off because he is unbalanced? Does it happen at any particular time during the ride?
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At one point my horse had bar shoes that also had a lot of excess shoe behind his heel, so very easy to grab and pull on a horse that is already short coupled and overreaches. My vet told me to use duct tape. I basically found some filler, like a cotton material or roll of something. to stuff into the space between the excess shoe and his hoof, then I used duct tape. This made a striking surface and made the shoe not so vulnerable/easy to grab. It worked. I put a bell boot over it, but at a show, if done correctly, everything should stay on for a test or two. It could look okay with black duct tape and black hoof polish/paint.
I had the same reaction. If your horse is consistently pulling shoes, there is a balance issue somewhere.
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