"No-Trip" Bell Boots?

[HereComesZach]

I recently acquired an 8 yo OTTB who has a short back, a large stride, and weak front feet. He will rip his shoes off fairly easily while in work, so I need to protect his hoof. I’ve always used the regular rubber kind, with velcro so I don’t need to wrestle with a pull on. However, if I leave the boot so that the bottom is level with the ground, he will trip himself. If I tighten it a little so it sits just off the ground, he has pulled his shoe off.

I’ve never really had much luck with the ‘no turn’ style bell boots, as the velcro always seems to spin to the back, exposing the bulb and defeating the purpose. Maybe I’m doing them up wrong?

Any suggestions for a bell boot that will lay flat against the back of the hoof and stay put, hopefully not interfering with the hind hoof?

[Nestor]

What do you mean, he trips himself? As in, he steps on the bell boot with a hind foot?

There are some other options for keeping shoes on, like a minimalist “bell boot” alternative that is a rubber ring that fits pretty snuggly around their foot and against the bulbs of their heel.

If he’s pulling shoes off that easily, can you talk to your farrier about adjusting his shoeing? It could be that he’s in a slightly larger shoe and the ends are leaving more overhang than needed.

[EventerAJ]

I only use pull on bell boots and those that need them wear them 24/7. They should be long enough to just barely touch the ground, covering the heels of the shoe. Pick the foot up: the bell boot should not be so long that it “folds over” the shoe heels (if too long, use scissors to trim it). Horses can trip over bell boots if too much rubber hangs over, and is grabbed by a hind hoof.

Try different shapes/brands to fit your horse’s pastern size and heel height. In my experience, most average size TBs (size 1 feet) wear a large in most brands. Size 2-3 in XL. Long pasterns may do better in Nunn Finer long necks, most others fit in Roma or Centaur pull ons. Equus rubber pull ons are stretchy and a tiny bit wider, perhaps a little better for open pancake feet with low heels.

[HereComesZach]

Yes, sorry, so he does not normally trip, but when we are working on anything that will lengthen his stride, his back shoe clips his front, and he catches the bell boot and trips.

I just got him, so my farrier and I working closely on getting his feet in good shape. He really took a nice chunk out last weekend when we were schooling and he pulled his shoe. I feel (fairly) competent at assessing shoeing and think he’s doing good work on him. There is no overhang in the back that should account for him catching.

I think you might be referring to the acavallos? http://www.acavallo.com/ac_product/anatomic-no-turn-gel-hoof-boot/

Those have always looked interesting to me, but I’ve heard bad reviews that they ride up. Does anyone have any experience with them?

[Write_amp_Ride]

One of the tricks with the no turn bell boots is to place them up high enough on the pastern. They are intended to be high enough to protect that area as well as the hoof. When the top is at a narrower part of the leg and you close the tab securely but not tight, they shouldn’t move. You just need to make sure the length is good to cover the lower hoof to prevent pulling off shoes.

[PNWjumper]

Regular bell boots will not truly protect a shoe. They’re just not designed to do that job.

The only thing I’ve ever found for a true “shoe puller” is Shoe Secures (www.shoesecure.com). They’re a bit of a pain to put on and take off, but were an absolute life saver for a young, short-backed, goofy gelding I had. He lived in them 24/7 except when I rode him.

For riding, there are some cool bell boots that will protect the shoe (look at the leather bell boots at www.equusport.com), but I don’t think they would hold up to turn out.

[sascha]

Square the front toe, set the shoe farther back, roll the toe, rock the toe if necessary. It is absolutely normal for a short-backed horse to grab when not yet in balance. The trick is to get the front foot out of the way of the hindfoot. Boots and so on should only be necessary to prevent that one in several thousand steps, not for every step.

FWIW, the last truly short backed, long legged youngster I started lived in pull on bell boots for the first year I worked with him. They only came off for shows. The more expensive ones (Italian, I think?) are a little easier to work with and last longer than the cheaper pull ons. That said, again refer to above - they were only on as a precaution because he was shod well, and only until he learnt to take more weight on his hind end so he could consistently be light in front to get those feet out of the way all by himself.