| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 09:38:19 AM
Keen to hear your experiences of the many hoofboots on the market - don't want to make an expensive mistake. Best for big feet? |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Karon |
Posted - 16 Apr 2010 : 1:18:47 PM
But the Old Macs will last a lot longer than shoes. My Easyboot Gloves have lasted a year of regular use and the only bit showing signs of wear is the neoprene on them (I shouldn't take them off by pulling on it....). A pair of Gloves cost a bit more than one set of shoes, but when Ash was shod it was every 4 weeks so a pair of boots is a lot cheaper than 12 sets of shoes per year. |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 12 Apr 2010 : 7:39:58 PM
Newly trimmed feet (though left a little on so I could keep riding him)
Wools has big draught shaped feet after all. 15cm wide, 14 cm long
Even allowing for them coming down a bit with the next trim he won't fit into any of the boots I like the design of 
Macs are about his only option, and I've worked out the cost compared to shoeing...... I'll keep him shod |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 8:30:53 PM
thanks, I'll have a look at those. Picked my Macs up from a carboot, as new  been really useful. |
| loosefur |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 7:21:13 PM
If he can fit into either Easyboot Gloves or Easyboot Epics then I do think they are better boots than Old Macs (not so clompy!). The Gloves largest size (size 4) fits hooves up to 149mm long and 139 mm wide - I've just fitted a gypsy cob into size 4's and my big boned 16hh arab fits into the 3.5's. Incidentally, though the Gloves are offically not recommended for round feet I've found they work perfectly well on any shape of foot, with a few tweaks - use of the Power Strap at the front for instance. The Epics fit sizes up to 195mm long and 192mm wide. They are slightly more tricky to put on than the Gloves but easy once you've got the knack and are fab boots. If he's bigger than that then the Boa Boots go up to 200m in length and 192mm in width.
Just as an aside there is no difference in the wear rate or strength of white feet v black feet. The pigmentation is only in the very thin outer layer of hoof wall anyway - the vast majority of horn is unpigmented (what is commonly called the water line). One of mine has two white feet and two black feet - I do lots of hacking with him (he's an advanced endurance gelding) and the white hooves look no different to the black ones (apart from the colour of course!). |
| Mrs Vlacq |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 5:59:10 PM
I will measure properly when he's had a trim, but he is my 16hh MW hunter and as he's an oldie it seems silly to keep him shod for his duties as hacking babysitter to the green ones. So it's not hours and hours, just to save his feet from wearing, especially as he has 1 black and 1 white in front. Biggest feet here, though not big soup plates for the size he is. I have old macs for the smaller ones and they've been good |
| loosefur |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 4:02:37 PM
How big is big? If you posted the measurements I could give you a better idea, also what sort of work are you intending to do in them? |
| Medina |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 3:31:04 PM
Depends very much on the shape of the feet - width vs. length, and how upright (or not) they are.
Check out the hoof boot section on SaddleryShop.co.uk. Loads of info on there re sizing and types of boots. Some of the new ones which don't come as far as the coronary band are good and are less prone to rubbing, but only of they suit that type of foot.
A bad fit will rub, twist or come off and be a pain in the AAAA.
You can hire them too, to try, which avoids a costly wrong buy.
Hope that helps. |
| Kharidian |
Posted - 04 Apr 2010 : 12:32:45 PM
Roger is currently borrowing a Shires one (it says 2 L on the base) and it fits "like a glove". However, he is only wearing it for perhaps 3-4 hours per day turnout, as he has to keep his hoof clean & dry where the Vet had to cut away so much frog to clear the infection from the penetration two weeks ago.
I suppose it depends what you want it for, but I have to use a couple of runs of Gaffer Tape over the holes otherwise it fills with water when he walks through puddles as the slots to take the tape/velcro fastening are so low down.
I am only using for a short time as Roger is 100% sound and re-shod by my Farrier and I am able to ride him (unbooted) on the local residential roads to keep him clean & dry. My Farrier made a sort of flange on the shoe so I can pack it with gamgee to protect the frog.
Caryn |
