Hoof boots

[molliemol]

Have any of you ever used hoof boots? My section d is foot sore. He is fine when shod, but his paddock is very muddy and having trouble keeping his shoes on. Thought hoof boots could be a solution. Any suggestions? Cheers x

Are you sure he is just footsore and not laminitic? It's odd to be footsore in soft mud surely?

It can happen. The only time our shetland was ever footsore was when the paddock was more muddy than usual. Apparently the little bits of grit act as an abrasive on the softened hoof and wear it down quicker.
Agree best to rule out laminitis though.

Although shetland was barefoot obviously (never worn shoes in all her 29 years). Mollie I'm a bit confused. At first when you said your horse was footsore I assumed you meant he was unshod (as we used to call barefoot ), but now I've re-read I'm wondering if he is still shod and you are considering going unshod to solve shoe-loss problems, but are worried about him becoming footsore if you do. Sorry if I'm being a bit thick, it's been a long week .

Sorry- should have given more information. He had never been shod before we had him as far as I know and has never had a previous problem with laminitis, again, as far as I am aware. He was shod when he went away to be schooled and wasn't lame at all. He came back home, to his muddy paddock, and lost his shoes within days. He seems fine when in the paddock, but is tender when ridden. My daughter tried to ride him today but dismounted within a few minutes, as he was in discomfort. I have spoken to my farrier about it, buy he said it can be difficult to get them to fit properly and once they are bought and tried on, you are stuck with them. Just wondered if any one had used them and opinions of them.

Sounds like your farrier doesn't want to lose his income! I've never fitted them, but I'm sure you could put a bag or something over the hooves until you decide you want them. A bit like trying on a rug over a clean sheet!
I'd be chatting to the companies that make them if I was you.

Also, could he have Pulled something wading through the mud?

If his shoes have just come off again he could well be tender due to the sensation of the nerves "feeling" again now that the nails and pressure are no longer there. He could also have absesses deep in the hoof if he's been worked hard when he was sent away - again, now that the shoes aren't there, he's going to feel pain. It will all pass.

He could have pulled something I suppose, as it is very muddy. At the moment I dot have any stabling ( yet), so can't bring him in till it dries out. The farrier is pretty genuine I think and I've seen a few psirs on e bay where people have said they bought the wrong size. I assume that means it must be easy to get it wrong. I read somewhere about covering their foot with a plastic bag, but I think that could be a bit tricky. I'm hoping it isn't anything more sinister. He is a lovely boy and not very old.

how long did he have shoes on molliemol and how long since he lost his shoes. Is he just tender on roads and was he walked / ridden on roads before. ,,,, if he is as you haven't said where he is ridden. How long has he been tender ???

Taz and B been barefoot for 20 years plus between them and I have had old mac boots many years ago (now surpassed by the mac2 I understand.). We used them sometimes.

We now have boa boots .... use them somtimes when we were doing a lot of driving on roads but used them a bit more for B transitioning as she had been in shoes for 12 years before we got her and took them off.

The important thing with boots is very very careful measurements and comparing them to the charts of different boots .... some makes of boots are better for certain shapes of hooves. I know it can take a while but researching some of the barefoot sites will pay dividends .. and even endurance sites with searches for hoofboots cos they really put tem through the testing !!!

depending on the timing of the footiness I would not discount low grade laminitis as a possible cause though .... its been such a b*** the last few years what with the funny weather patterns and mineral changes in pastures .... sometimes we only tell for sure after the fact when we see changes in the hoof.

I have welshie too

and I agree with alpine pony

Thanks for the advice- I'll see how he goes. I need the farrier out anyway to trim the feet of our other two ( section a and c- who are both completely fine). I'll see what he says and will do a bit of reading up on feet in general!