Hoof Boots
(9)Just like with humans, the trend in footwear for horses is towards naturalness. As a counterpart to the more popular barefoot boot, there are the... LEARN MORE
Frequently asked questions about Hoof Boots
Many horse owners decide against shoeing with horseshoes and prefer their four-legged friend to run "bare hoof". This means that the horse remains unshoed. To protect the sensitive hooves as much as possible, hoof boots are ideal for riding on asphalt or gravel. Putting on and taking off hoof boots is uncomplicated and only takes a few minutes. Hoof boots are not only used for riding, but they are often used to treat hoof diseases. In addition, hoof boots are recommended for horses with sensitive hooves, because the four-legged friends can run better on courts or indoor floors.
Hoof boots are ideal when you take your horse out for a ride or harness it to the carriage. However, wearing hoof boots permanently is not recommended, as the hoof should be allowed to breathe and dry for one or two hours at a time. But if your quadruped is injured and needs medical hoof boots, you should have it fitted and listen to your veterinarian's instructions. Depending on the injury or inflammation of the hoof, it is important that the horse is protected as much as possible by the medical hoof boots and that the disease can heal in peace. Usually, such hoof boots is used for laminitis, inflammation of the hoof corium or hoof ulcers.
There are hoof boots that are only worn for a few hours and mainly cover the hard horn. These can be selected flexibly and should fit neither too loosely nor too tightly. To protect the hooves of your four-legged friend in the best possible way, it is advisable to measure the hooves and have the hoof boots made by a specialist. This way you can be sure that your horse wears the optimal and suitable hoof boots that do not lead to irritations or sores.
Important to note: Finding the right hoof boots for your horse
If your horse runs barefoot, there's an increased risk of injury on certain surfaces and in particular situations. So hoof boots are used, for example, for longer rides – like a long-distance ride or a trail ride. Here, hoof boots which cover the hoof are best suited for your horse. These variants can be worn for quite a long time without causing irritation.
The more comprehensive hoof boots, the so-called integral boots, should be worn for no more than two hours at a time. You can put these models on your horse three to four times a week. Frequent or prolonged use is not recommended. Since the integral boots cover the coronary band and the ball, they can otherwise chafe.
It's important in any case that you choose the right hoof boots for your horse. So, there are models for flatter or steeper hooves. Before you put on horse hoof boots, you should make sure that they fit perfectly. Just like when you buy shoes for yourself, it sometimes takes a bit of time for you to find the right pair.
Some models offer a slightly higher tolerance, while others have to fit exactly. If in doubt, you can get advice from our product specialists on this topic.
Therapeutic boot: Therapeutic hoof boots support healing processes
One special type of hoof boot is a therapeutic hoof boot. This is designed in such a way that it can remain on the hoof for up to 24 hours. There are no parts which might put pressure on the hoof. Instead, a horse's therapeutic boot is fastened with Velcro or a zipper.
As a therapeutic boot, the medical boot supports healing processes. It can also be used for chronic illnesses. Both lighter and more serious illnesses and injuries can heal in a protected atmosphere thanks to the therapeutic hoof boot.
Typically, a therapeutic hoof boot is used for hoof ulcers, inflammations, equine laminitis or navicular syndrome. To avoid harming your horse, it's important to use the therapeutic hoof boot in consultation with a veterinarian.
Hoof boots: the advantages
As well as horse boots, fetlock boots and bell boots for bulb protection, hoof boots provide comprehensive protection for the sensitive lower parts of the horse's legs. Hoof boots not only protect bare-footed horses from injuries, but even promote their health.
Just like the barefoot shoe for humans, hoof boots restore the horse's innate, natural running process. This improves the stability of the hoof and the shin. Misalignments are counteracted and prevented in the long term.
Sometimes this can reduce pain caused, for example, by the hip joints or spine.
In addition, the use of horse hoof boots provides a lot of other advantages:
- The costs for fitting a horseshoe are eliminated, compensating for the investment within a very short time.
- Bare-footed horses are protected from injury risks if necessary and may otherwise benefit from the natural running behaviour.
- Hoof boots provide excellent cushioning, which is easy on the joints.
- The natural sensitivity and the associated sense of touch are restored and/or improved.
- Hoof boots have a lower dead weight than horseshoes and are therefore also optimally suited for sensitive or chronically ill horses.
- Unlike horseshoes, different models can be selected as needed. For example, you can adjust the grip to difficult surfaces. An individual choice can also be appropriate to the requirements of certain weather conditions – for example, icy surfaces in winter or muddy soils in autumn.
- Thanks to hoof boots for horses, the risks arising from fogging become obsolete: no penetration of germs, no regression of the frog and hoof wall, no cracked surfaces.
- Hoof boots can be used to get your horse used to running barefoot.
Hoof boots for horses: Ideal for getting used to running barefoot
If your horse is used to being shod, it has to first adapt to the different running sensation which comes from bare feet. The initial sensitivity when walking and the conscious perception of various ground types is unusual at first.
Even the hoof itself must first adapt to what was once a natural process. That is, a healthy, hard horn has to be rebuilt.
In this conversion, hoof shoes for horses provide a reliable effect. By wearing the protection, the horse can gradually get used to the new feeling and running behaviour. The hoof, in turn, gets time to regenerate and build up the natural protection of its horn.