Hoof Boots vs. Barefoot vs. Traditional Shoes
Horseback Magazine
10-10-13
Pete Ramey
In previous articles, I have mentioned that I usually
prefer to use hoof boots when attempting to rehabilitate horses with hoof
problems. In this article, I will further explain some of the reasons why.
My perspective
First, let me say that while I do specialize in
custom-fitting hoof boots and glue-on boots/shoes, I am not married to any
particular hoof care or hoof protection method. I am 100% in favor of whatever
works. Some barefoot horses are sound, happy, and comfortable, and they are a
wonderful sight to behold. Other horses are just dandy in their metal shoes - this
is okay, too. But shod or bare, when a horse isn't sound, or if the feet seem to
be gradually developing problems, hoof boots (or glue-on synthetic shoes) are
often perfect for turning things around.
New Hoof Boot
Designs
Hoof boots have come a long way in recent years - no longer
just a "spare tire," their use in competition is rapidly increasing. Last month,
five of the top ten horses in the AERC 100-Mile Endurance National Championship,
including the 1st, 2nd and 3rd spots wore recently redesigned Easyboots. At the
Tevis Cup, widely known as the world's toughest 100-mile endurance race, the
coveted Haggin Cup (best condition) has been won 3 of the last 4 years by booted
horses. The overall Tevis Cup (1st place) winners in the last three
years were wearing hoof boots, as were 6 of the top ten last year, and 7 of the
top 10 this year. Why this shift? The rubber-like material provides better
traction and energy dissipation on the hard roads and trails, and any little edge
really adds up over the course of a 100-mile race. At the 2012 Tevis Cup, 69% of
the booted starters finished the entire race, compared to only 41% of the rest
of the field. Another reason for increased boot use is that in recent years,
hoof boot designs have improved dramatically, becoming more compact, more
durable, and more user-friendly with each new design.
This
Easyboot Glove was heat-fit to accommodate a horse with a 20-degree coffin bone
rotation - note the distorted toe. The tread was then rasped to bring the
breakover back into a correct position relative to the coffin bone. This brought
tremendous relief to a horse that would have been very difficult to shoe
otherwise, as there was no viable or connected hoof wall at the ground surface
to nail to. This is just one example of how modern hoof boots can be modified if
you put your imagination in gear. Photo reprinted from the book Care and
Rehabilitation of the Equine Foot.
This is
a cut-down Easyboot Glue-On application for a horse that was too lame to be
turned out barefoot. The medial heel and lateral cartilage (top of photo) were
contracted and collapsed underneath the horse's foot. This setup leaves room for
the heel to expand, while cushioning the sensitive foot. As the frog expanded
and grew stronger, a pour-in pad was injected into the boot from the back. This
same setup is also being used in top-level Dressage competition, where no part
of the boot is allowed to extend above the hairline. Pete Ramey files.
Rehab and
Prevention
Generally speaking, there are exceptions, of course, if a
horse is turned out barefoot and receives routine, competent trims, the hooves
tend to improve over time; frogs improve, soles get hardened and callused, the
coffin bone moves higher in the hoof capsule, and wall flares tend to grow out.
But often the horse needs extra protection for riding. Using hoof boots for
riding allows you to "have your cake and eat it, too." You can take full
advantage of this natural healing process while also having solid protection
during work. Horses managed this way tend to have
above-average feet, and I feel that
they are better-protected from injury.
I also like to use hoof boots for treating laminitic
horses. When a horse is being supported only by the hoof walls (with the sole,
bars and frog off the ground), he is literally hanging his entire weight from
the laminae (which connect the hoof wall to the bone like living VelcroTM).
When a horses suffers from laminitis, this attachment is severely weakened,
often allowing the hoof wall to separate from the bone, or the whole horse may
sink through the hoof capsule until the sole settles to the ground. To treat (or
prevent) this catastrophe, the hoof walls can be shortened so that the sole
bears more weight, relieving sheer stress on the laminae.
This seems simple enough on the surface, but while the sole
is a weight-bearing structure, it was not designed to bear
all of the horse's weight. Hoof boots allow the vet or farrier to
trim the walls slightly shorter than the sole to take the stress off the
laminae, while protecting the sole from the resulting excess pressure. And since
the boot is not rigidly attached, all pressure is released from the sole during
hoof flight, allowing adequate circulation and thus avoiding the pitfalls
typically associated with sole pressure and nailed-on metal shoes. This was a
real breakthrough in laminitis treatment.
Hoof boots are also excellent for horses with pain in the
soft tissue of the back of the foot (often dubbed
navicular syndrome). For these
horses, I usually use padded insoles to dampen vibration and to stimulate
development of the internal structures of the foot. Often the boots will allow
these horses to impact the ground heel-first and be comfortably ridden when
nothing else works, and these are important
first steps to healing these horses.
Living with Hoof
Boots
Now for the bad news - every silver lining has a cloud,
right? Hoof boots require more work by the horse owner. Like brushing the horse,
saddling, and cleaning up manure, it adds one more thing you have to do before
you ride.
The boots must fit correctly, and this may require some
tinkering at first. Few horse owners would expect some random horseshoe to fit
their horse, but it is amazing how many people have "tried" hoof boots without
even considering whether they fit correctly. Additionally, some boot models may
not be right for your horse or your event. I carry every size of 4 different
models of boots in my truck. And still, I heat-fit or otherwise modify almost
every boot I sell. Every foot is different, and so must be any shoe, if properly
applied.
This brings up the cause of most failures with modern hoof
boots: there is a learning curve to using them. No one is surprised that it
takes a while to learn how to shoe a horse with iron. But people seem to think
they fell off the turnip truck knowing all there is to know about using hoof
boots. They do work very well, but you have to learn how to use them - mostly,
this means learning to fit them properly and choosing the right boot for the job
at hand.
Economics
Prices vary from model-to-model, as do traditional shoeing
prices, depending on where you live. But generally speaking, four hoof boots
cost about as much as getting a horse shod 1-2 times. Depending on terrain, most
boot treads last between 300-500 miles. Since you generally only use the boots
while riding, this means a set of boots will last several years for most horse
owners, although an endurance rider may wear them out in a few months.
Add to this, a little extra for replacing padded insoles
and hardware along the way, as parts sometimes break or wear out. Also, you
still have to get your horse trimmed on a routine schedule; this is critical for
healthy hooves no matter what type of protection you apply. All things
considered, I think booting vs. shod costs are pretty equal if you ride
high-mileage on rough terrain, but booting is the much-cheaper option if you are
a only ride 4-5 hours per week - as always,
it depends.
Are hoof boots right for you and your horse? That is for
you both to decide. But if you haven't given them a fair look lately, you may be
missing out on a good thing. I certainly came to like them, and I'm a sooty old
horseshoer.