Renegade Boots - 2 or 4?

[LLee]

To those of you who ride trails with lots of rocks/gravel…

I am buying my draft mare a set of renegade boots because her feet seem to be very sensitive to the gravel on driveways, trails, etc. She has always been barefoot, shoes are NOT an option as they wouldn’t last one week on our hilly pasture.

Sooooo the question is, should I buy 2 boots for just her front feet? Or should I just go ahead and spring for all 4? The farrier said since most of the weight is being carried on her front feet, putting boots on the front should solve the problem. But I’ not so sure, she is a heavy lady (1650).

What’s your opinion?

[irish_horse]

On more casual rides I’ll go barefoot, or sometimes boot just the front. But on rocky trails or when we’re really moving out, I prefer to boot all four. I can see a difference in my horse’s confidence.

My horse lives in a soft, grassy pasture, so doesn’t have a lot of time to get used to rocks. But by the end of summer, after a season of riding, his feet are much tougher.

Good luck with your big girl!

[GallopingGrape]

All four… I never fell for the “they carry more weight on the front” rule. Gravel is gravel and bare feet are bare … if I lightly step on a rock its going to hurt… If I’m walking “heavily” its going to hurt. I love the renegades and use them on all 4.

[GreyDes]

I use Renegades as well, and typically only boot the front for “normal” trails. I do go with all four for very rocky/gravelly footing. For example, when my husband and I go to Acadia on vacation, the carriage roads are all crushed gravel, and I boot all four for those.

FYI - you probably already know this, but most horses will be a size smaller on their hinds than the fronts.

[LLee]

Thanks for the input, y’all! I definitely will put 4 boots on her since the rocks around here are everywhere, and gravel driveways have pointy rocks (road bond). The farrier will be here next month so I will tell him to measure all her feet again before I order her boots. I am so excited for spring to come and the chance to ride out more often, and farther. :yes:

I think I will put boots on just the front and walk her around for an hour or so to see how she likes them on grass, pavement, and driveways. I should be able to see a noticeable difference in how picky she is about where her feet are going.

[enjoytheride]

How often are you getting her trimmed? A lot of boots fit very close and if you let the horse grow out quite a bit between trims you will have trouble fitting them.

[PRS]

I boot my horse too when riding on rocky or unfamiliar trails. I’ve only ever booted his front feet even on the rockiest trails. So far haven’t had any issues. I’d start with just the front boots and see how she does.

[LLee]

The farrier comes every other month, he is going to show me how to use a small rasp to keep her feet shaped, and if that isn’t going to work well, then he will be out more often. The front shoes will be a close fit, as size 6 is their biggest size. Daisy is a big girl.

She is just so picky about were she puts her feet…it’s going to be nice to ride out and not always be worrying about her wanting to walk in the soft (sometimes too soft) shoulder. Plus, I’m limited to riding only when the ground is pretty dry, but with boots I can ride the roads. I don’t need to ride fancy, I just need to ride. And Daisy loves the whole grooming-tacking-up-walking-out-come-back-more-grooming thing. That horse loves loves loves attention.

[jade2058]

I love … “My biggest fear is that when I die my husband is going to try to sell all my horses and tack for what I told him they cost.” this quote!!!

[sbwinde]

I too also boot just the front feet, but then again, I only shoe front feet as well.