My little quarter horse and I are building up to a great summer of trail riding. Riding him 3 times per week, hour at a time, mostly walk, a little trot. I know this sounds lightweight but he’s a little green and I’m a little old. Just trying to give us both pleasant experiences while gradually building up fitness. Yesterday he was ouchy and short strided on hard surface lane (packed gravel)…nothing visible, no heat in hooves. I would really like to avoid shoeing him. Years ago I used easyboots on a horse but they were not, IMHO, easy to put on and off. Can anybody tell me what products are out there now that I might use?
[QUOTE=HPFarmette;7071462]
My little quarter horse and I are building up to a great summer of trail riding. Riding him 3 times per week, hour at a time, mostly walk, a little trot. I know this sounds lightweight but he’s a little green and I’m a little old. Just trying to give us both pleasant experiences while gradually building up fitness. Yesterday he was ouchy and short strided on hard surface lane (packed gravel)…nothing visible, no heat in hooves. I would really like to avoid shoeing him. Years ago I used easyboots on a horse but they were not, IMHO, easy to put on and off. Can anybody tell me what products are out there now that I might use?[/QUOTE]
Sounds to me as if the cavallo boots would be fine for you. Super easy to put on and take off.
When I first went barefoot we used the cavallo a lot and never lost one the first time. Seldom use mine now but when I need boots that is what I reach for.
If his feet are the right shape, Renegades are a favorite with the endurance crowd.
Thank you, these hints are what I was looking for. More suggestions welcome.
Are you using Durasole? That can help.
Another vote for Renegades, if his feet are the right shape for them. They go on in seconds, and mine have always stayed on until I took them off, my horse went very comfortably in them, etc.
Another option is one of any number of types of Easyboots.
Great customer service! I’m using Gloves for situations like yours and glue-ons for endurance competition.
–Patti
I like the easyboots but I struggle with them too, the ladies I ride with do it so often it only takes them seconds though… however this is another vote for renegades. Just super easy and effective. Most of my endurance friends have all bought themselves a pair and I’m seeing the easyboots sitting in the trailers more often than not.
I think a lot depends on the shape of your horse’s hooves. I use Easyboot Gloves on my TWH, they are easy to get on the first 3-4 weeks after a trim, harder to get on in weeks 4-6. But they fit him so perfectly and we get no shuffling noise or rubs.
We just got Cavallos for my husband’s horse. Very easy to get on and off. We did a lot of asking around and trying other folks boots and decided they made the least amount of noise and fit him the best. Everyone who had them raved about them.
Renegades…hands down easiest to put on/take off and don’t rub the horse.
Another vote for Renegades! Easy to use, doesn’t rub the horse. They are a bit expensive, but they last for a long time, and are still way less expensive than shoes.
I love Renegades and used them successfully last summer. My horse’s hooves grew out of his pair and the next size didn’t fit correctly. He has been going without boots successfully and if he is sore I wrap his feet w/ Magic Cushion after I ride. It has really helped him stay sound. I have heard that Old Macs are a good choice. I will probably give them a try. I need boots that I can jump in.
I’ve used the Cavallo Simple boots for years. I had Boa boots previously, and watched a friend struggle with the Easy-boots (bares in his case) before he got the Simple boots. Easy to use and I’ve gotten a couple of other people using them as well. :lol:
I’d like to try Renegades, but my horse has a scar that might be irritated by the heel captivator so I hesitated and replaced the worn out Simple boots with another pair of the same.
We have a pair of Hoof Wings–which were inhumanely euthanised by the WB a few weeks ago. I can’t remember how long I had them; years and years, though. Also, they were refurbrished when I got them. I should call the mfgrs to see if they can do anything with the remains.
IOW, they last a long, long time.
sHOES!
I recommend shoes. Too many problems w/boots and they are a pain to worry about losing. At least shoes on the front. What you’re saying is classic that he needs shoes. Boots just delay the in-evitable and have their own problems. JMHO!!
Thank you for the input Wateryglen. Farrier comes Monday…will have a conversation…
I used the Cavallo Simple boots for a couple of years. They were easy to get on and off - but.
It’s still an extra thing to do before you ride, and they just never looked all that comfortable for the horse. Since my horse’s short-stridedness never got any better, I decided to put on front shoes.
Made a world of difference immediately.
I think talking to your farrier’s a great idea.
Another vote for Renegades, if your horse’s feet are Renegade-shaped. So easy, and they work really well for us.
what is Renegade shaped?
Oh, you know… tall, dark, often handsome, heavy stubble, cowboy hat pulled low over hooded eyes, one hand never too far from that pistol on the right hip, cigarette dangling from the side of the mouth…
Like all hoofboots, some brands fit some horses better than others. Renegades reportedly are designed for horses with a low heel and not too long a toe, but more than that, I don’t have the knowledge to say. I want to say they’re better for horses with rounder feet than oval feet, but, I could be wrong (my horse is smack dab in the middle of round vs oval).
