My mare goes barefoot, but the ground where she lives isn't particularly rocky, so her hooves aren't as hard as they would be if she lived in the desert or anything. The trail we ride on is a little more rocky, and her feet begin to chip when we ride on it. So far the chiping has always been extra foot (flare and whatnot) But I'm worried about doing this 5 mile loop too often. Also I want to do some Competive trail riding (25 miles) on slightly rocky terrain. I don't want to put shoes on her unless she actually HAS a foot problem, and I was thinking about Easyboots because they would protect her feet and at the end I could take them off. (I also don't like shoes beacause they affect traction and make them more prone to slip on alot of surfaces.)
Do Easyboots work and do they stay on okay? In competive trail any hoofboots canot extend above the cornet.
2006-07-24 01:46:51 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I know someone who uses the Old Macs and they tend to stay on better but they come up over the cornet band.
The Easyboots are pretty good and stay in place fairly well on our mare. Once and a great while she can manage to pull one off. But she tries to.
I have never trail ridden in them. I have seen people do it and they had no problems. you would have to try it and see. 25 miles is a long ride.
If they work it would be better than shoes. I do not like to shoe mine unless I have to for something like jumping or riding in very rocky areas.
2006-07-24 02:01:21 · answer #1 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that easyboots don't work well. We've used them on and off over the years if we need to keep a hoof packed with some sort of medication but that's it. I would think that it would get quite expensive to replace easyboots all the time if you're going to do some competitive trail riding. You'd be better off to put shoes on dueig the part of the year you're doing a lot of trail riding and then pull them in the winter or when you're not riding so much. Shoeing your horse is not a bad thing. But you need to have a good shoer who understands what you use your horse for and shoes them accordingly.
2006-07-24 17:55:23 · answer #2 · answered by Laurie L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't like using shoes either.I do have to put them on one of my horses though.I used to use easy boots and I didn't care for them much.I just got a pair of Old Macs and LOVE THEM!!! Can't say enough good things about them.I have been through some pretty nasty terrain and never had any problems.Just make sure you clean them out after each use so that dirt and rocks don't accumulate and cause irritation to the horse.Good luck.
2006-07-24 15:11:58 · answer #3 · answered by NicoleinPA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easy boots are OK, there are a few other ones that are easier to put on. If you are going to competitive trail ride, though I would recommend getting her shod. For her safety and yours.
A good farrier can put the right kind of shoe on for this, I promise!
2006-07-24 18:17:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. We use them a lot when we go to the mountains, for our horses that are hard to get shod.
2006-07-24 08:51:06 · answer #5 · answered by Karla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know my ex wife had a pair of easy boots, come to think of it every thing else about her was easy too. :)
2006-07-24 09:26:15 · answer #6 · answered by southforty1961 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋