Yes -- Another Boot Thread...Chose Easyboot Gloves, Not So Great Update

[jazzrider]

Ok folks, I need some directional help on what type of boots to get for my TWH. Background: When I got my TWH Luke he was so tender footed and had three contracted heels (two back, one front). Thankfully my farrier has done a super job and after this winter he’s doing great and able to go shoeless in the back. For the most part, the trails we ride regularly are not overly rocky. But I’ve found that when we do ride particularly rocky trails we’re going to need something in the back. I don’t want to put shoes back there again (and neither does my farrier) so I’m investigating boots and I’m a bit overwhelmed. I know folks rave about old Macs, and I have heard a lot of people recommend Easyboot gloves. And some comments here made me curious about Renegades and Epics. But to be honest, I’ve never even looked at a boot up close so I’m not sure where to start.

My concern is that the boots be simple and easy for me to get on and off (my hands are messed up, and I hate having to rely on someone else to get them on), not have any metal inside that would damage the hoof (my hubby has an ancient emergency boot with metal ridges inside:eek:), and not impact his wonderful gait. And since I’m guessing I won’t use them too often (once a month?), it would be great if they weren’t overly expensive.

I know there are threads about boots here already (and I’ve read them), but I’m looking for advice on what would work well for an over-reaching, trail riding gaited horse, that would be easy to get on and off, and not need socks/pads/tape etc. that all you endurance folks talk about to keep them on!

So, any advice?

[pines4equines]

Hay

I have the easy boot epics and they are a bear to get on and off. I would cross them off the list. They are pretty good otherwise. THey are made for a pretty round foot as well.

[katarine]

this is just a thought, a pondering

All the boots have pretty good grip. The gaited horses I have- the TWH and SSH…both tend to land those hooves then slide them a smidge forward before settling. I wonder about that abruptness of the boot gripping, that foot not getting the slip it’s designed to by God and the resulting possible joint soreness/leg soreness. They don’t hit the ground in the same way my QHs do.

With that said, my two gaited hosses carry flat front shoes and nothing behind, JJ the QH wears Simple boots by Cavallo (very easy on and off, not the best fit ever but eh, they are ok)- I measured them multiple times but to no avail, I think they are a bit big on him and I DON’T like that they come up onto the hair line=potential sandy/muddy rubs from that, I think), and Jake the QH wears 4 shoes b/c his tiny feet suck.

[AZ_Native]

The Glove

Try these :

http://www.easycareinc.com/our_boots/easyboot_glove/Easyboot_glove.aspx

DH is a trimmer and Easy Care Dealer. These are the ones he recommends the most.Easy for women to get on and off, a definite plus !!

[jazzrider]

Thanks for the input guys. So Kat, are you saying that you don’t think boots would be great for my guy? That’s my worry. I’m told my guy moves like an “old style” TWH, whatever that may mean. I could throw back shoes on him for the summer if need be…

Any other gaited folks have feedback?

AZ – Right now I think the Easboot glove is the one I’m most considering trying – but thought I would check in here before I shell out the bucks.

[katarine]

I really just don’t know. I study their footfalls b/c they fascinate me. both land and slide- example my Qh can walk down the paved road to the bottom pasture w/o slipping …the two walkers? Slip a good bit.

I think if I were you I might ask over here:
http://gaitedhorsesense.com/category-view.asp

That’s a pretty busy gaited horse board, might get some interesting input. Were he a Paso, Icelandic, etc, it wouldn’t be an issue. But IMO the walkers expect that slipper-foot type landing- and I’m not sure any boot would accomodate that well, does that make sense?

[jazzrider]

Yes, that makes sense. I’ll mosey on over there and see what they say. I think I have a logon name there from when I first got Luke…

[SouthernTrailsGA]

We have 9 barefoot Horses.

These are the one we tried:

The Easyboot Epic ---- Hated Them, always getting hung on something and coming off, also oversteppers pull them off too. They were better than than Original Easy Boot.

Old Mac’s G2 ----- This new style is very nice, only had them for 6 months, but so far a “Winner” – PS, Original Old Macs were not great!

Boa Boots ---- If you do not trim the hooves ever 3 weeks or less they are Very difficult to get on, they lasted about a year with hard use and two years with the 2-3 times a month crew

Cavalo Simple Boots ---- Very Easy to get on, held up about a year under hard use and about a year and half under the 2-3 times a month crew.

The New Style Old Mac G2 look to be the most promising of anything we have tried, if the make it to the one year make (which it looks they will) they will in every way I can think of better than any of the others.

.

[ponygrl25]

I’m interested to hear about this since I’m looking at putting something on my older TWs hind feet. She has a huge stride and I am afraid she won’t keep boots on. I like reg. old shoes for her front feet as she is post-founder and does better with the constant support, however, she is the dominant one in the herd and has been known to kick before. I hate to put her by herself since I have limited T/O and need to rest certain areas so it isn’t always a mud pit with no grass. She also does not do a stall except at meal times, so I can’t put her up while the other horses are out and switch them for her T/O.
I have been looking into Sole-guard by Equithane. Has anybody used this with any luck in a humid situation? I live in VA and I don’t know how well it will hold up during our summer heat/humidity.

[jazzrider]

I had, after I posted this thread, decided to give it a little more time to see if his feet would toughen up a bit (we didn’t ride as much as normal this spring because of all the rain). But a ride last week (and yesterday) made me realize that he really just needs something on his back feet for certain trails. Fortunately the farrier came out this week so he just had his back feet trimmed and was ready to measure, and his width and length fell into the range that made him a good candidate for Easyboot Gloves. I ordered them about an hour ago from Valley Vet ($47.95 per boot + free shipping!). They’re out of stock right now, so I don’t know when they’ll get here. But for those of you who are interested I’ll let you know how it goes after we try them out.

[Lifting_Chickk]

See, I don’t know why many of you had so much trouble with the Easy Boot Epics. Mine are a piece of cake to get on/off and they stay on with no turning or rubbing.

I’ve tried Old Mac G2’s, and didn’t like how clunky they were. They also tangled my horse’s feathers.

I’ve tried the Boa’s, they rubbed.

I’ve tried the Cavallos but they didn’t fit my horse at all.

The best boot for us is the Easy Boot Epic, size 4 with the size 3 heel strap, teeth covered with the guards. I use the 12mm EVA pads and the combo is just right.

Good luck!

[jazzrider]

They’re back ordered…:mad: So it will be a few weeks.

[rmh]

The glove is the best of all of them. I have used it on a Rocky in very rocky places and in knee deep shoe sucking off mud and these boots have done great. The traction on slippery slopes is about the same as other boots I have tried. He hasn’t had any slipping issues.

[mzpeepers]

I’ve ordered the Gloves yesterday from Valley Vet and received the shipping confirmation and tracking information this morning. I’ve ordered fairly small sizes so perhaps that’s why they are in stock?

[jazzrider]

[QUOTE=mzpeepers;4235690]
I’ve ordered the Gloves yesterday from Valley Vet and received the shipping confirmation and tracking information this morning. I’ve ordered fairly small sizes so perhaps that’s why they are in stock?[/QUOTE]

The first day I got a message they were backordered, and the next day I got a message something shipped. So maybe they aren’t? Or maybe the shipping message is for the two free hoofpicks I’m supposed to get! :lol::lol::lol:

rmh – Great to hear. Did it impact your Rocky’s gait at all? I’ll be using these on my Walkers back feet (he has shoes on front).

[rmh]

Not that I could tell. I have used some that I believe did. I noticed when I had one break so took the other one off. I noticed a freer movement. Or it could be he was chasing the two horses that went by as we were stopped. :winkgrin:

[jazzrider]

[QUOTE=jazzrider;4236885]
The first day I got a message they were backordered, and the next day I got a message something shipped. So maybe they aren’t? Or maybe the shipping message is for the two free hoofpicks I’m supposed to get! :lol::lol::lol:[/QUOTE]

Ok, that was a joke. But you know what came today? The hoofpicks, in a tiny little padded envelope! :no: :lol::lol:

[GettingBack]

I know I’m late to the party and you already bought - but I’m really loving my renegades. They are easy to put on, and nothing that is hoof-damaging has shown up.

[jazzrider]

Whoo hoo! Just got my Valley Vet “your order has shipped” email. Finally.

mzpeepers - you get yours yet?

[mzpeepers]

Got them last Saturday afternoon! The shipping was QUICK!
They seem to fit, horsie seems to like them. I have a long trail ride planned for this Sunday so I’ll put them to the test and will report back.