Brilliant Boots; A Feature with Local Rider Magazine!

In this month's Local Rider Magazine The Saddlery Shop's proprietor Lucy Nicholas was featured taking about barefoot hoof care and hoof boots! To read the full article pick up a copy of the magazine today! 

Lucy Nicholas says... 

Many people now manage their horses barefoot in the UK with some notable hoofcare professionals, and even some barefoot-specific livery yards.

Today, I’d like to talk about hoof boots! These are just one tool in the barefoot horse’s management tool kit. It’s important to clarify that hoof boots are not a substitute for a bad diet or a poor trim. Even with the foundations of a good diet and exercise, a poor trim will leave the hoof in a weakened and unnatural shape.

People ask me, why do I need to use hoof boots at all? Well, in an ideal world, horses would not need to use hoof boots; but many factors affect hoof quality, and the reality for most horse owners wanting to keep their horse barefoot is that there will be compromises somewhere in the management of their horse.

The most common problem is not being able to exercise the horse enough to fully condition the hooves. In order to condition a horse to be able to travel across a surface, you need to be able to consistently work him on that type of ground. A lot of horse owners are not able to work their horses for increasing amounts of time every day across a multitude of surfaces, gradually building up the hoof’s ability to cope with any surface.

As hooves are reactionary, riding a few times a week will in a lot of cases never be enough to condition the hoof to be 100% on rough and stony ground. Another problem is you may not have rough surfaces near you where you ride or train, but wish to attend and event further afield, where the ground conditions are rougher than your horse is conditioned to, or are unknown.

In either case, boots will give you the solution to enable your horse to do whatever you want to do with him without concern.

 Key points-

• The fixings on hoof boots are usually such that the boot is able to flex or move, or the fixing is able to flex and move with the horse’s hoof capsule as it expands and contracts, thus allowing the hoof to work naturally.
• Booted horses will usually land heel first almost immediately, even if they did not in a metal shoe, immediately allowing the hoof to work more effectively, increasing circulation and building up the digital cushion more rapidly.
• When moving from shod to barefoot, boots with the correct pads will allow the horse to continue to work to the same level in most cases as they were when shod, whilst exercising and improving the hoof.

When selecting hoof boots-

1. Measure the weight-bearing length and width of the foot at the widest point.
2. If a reputable trimmer is not fitting the boot, contact a knowledgeable supplier with your measurements to ascertain which boot model would be suitable.
3. If your horse needs boots constantly, his dietary requirements may need to be addressed.  

Some of the most popular boots on the market including such as; 

The Easyboot Transition. The technologically-advanced Transition fits many hoof shapes and sizes, including round, slightly longer than wide, and even slightly wider than long. It is the ideal hoofboot to provide shock absorption to hoof structures / limbs.

The Easyboot Glove Back Country. This is a lightweight, breathable, form-fitting and durable boot for barefoot horses. It takes its design from two existing boots from American manufacturer Easycare – the Easyboot Glove, and the Easyboot Trail. The Back Country includes a ‘Comfort Cup’ gaiter, a section of strapping that provides stabilisation and a close fit to reduce rubbing. "         

Both the Easyboot Glove Back Country and the Easyboot Transition are available from The Saddlery Shop. Simply visit the website at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk or Tel: 0344 880 6900 to speak to a member of our friendly team!