Boots for Horses Feet
Originally used to aid in the treatment of abscesses, bruises and laminitis, hoof boots continue to play an important role in holding poultice material and acting as a replacement for lost shoes. However, as the commercial market has demanded products have evolved, hoof boots are increasingly being used to provide protection to the hoof to avoid bruising of the sole, provide traction on slippery surfaces, and protect the heels against laceration on particularly harsh terrain when traditional horseshoes are not being used.
There is a huge range of commercial hoof boots available and choosing the correct boot for your horse, particularly if you plan to exercise in it, is paramount to its success. Fit is everything. The width and length of the foot needs to be measured and the overall shape of the hoof assessed, many manufacturers provide a number of different shapes and sizes. Generally speaking, before the boot is tightened it should be a snug fit without hindering the natural movement and flexion of the hoof and foot. You should not be able to turn or twist the boot and once tightened there should be no gaps between the boot and the hoof wall. Particularly honest manufacturers offer instances in which their boots may not be suitable and an alternative should be sought particularly if used for exercise, for example, feet that are wider than they are long, extremely high or extremely low heels or clubbed and irregular shaped feet.
The type of boot chosen will depend largely on the purpose, the amount of work (if any), the environment and the terrain. Broadly speaking boots can be selected according to therapeutic/remedial use, short or long distance work. The soles of hoof boots are designed to provide traction on a number of surfaces and terrains. Additional traction can also be gained by employing the use of studs, similar to those used with traditional shoes. Care must be taken not to drill passed the sole of the boot particularly where boots have been worn and the soles maybe thinner than in new boots. Similar to the use of studs in traditional shoes, horse should not be turned out with studs in and studs should not be left in after completion of exercise.
The successful modification of boots by farriers and veterinarians for particular orthopaedic treatments has also been recorded. An elevated hoof boot has been used to raise the foot of a healthy limb adjacent to one with a limb cast. The height of the boot was raised using a piece of wood board cut to fit the boot outline and attached with flat head screws. In cases where supporting limb laminitis is suspected an elevated heel boot has also been used to relieve tension from the deep digital flexor tendon.
Regular use of hoof boots (for exercise or prolonged treatments) requires good basic hoof management. As with any equine the foot should be trimmed every 6 to 8 weeks unless your farriers recommends differently. The foot should be trimmed with a correct media lateral balance, the frog trimmed level and the foot cleaned of debris and left with no sharp edges. Decreased exposure to air may result in an increased risk of bacterial infections such as thrush so carers need to be particularly vigilant. The boot also needs to be cleaned inside.
Some horse owners have reported an increased tendency to ‘brush’ whilst being ridden due to the boot enclosing the entire hoof capsule and increasing the overall hoof size and therefore additional leg protection may also need to be considered. Rubbing, potentially caused by incorrect fitting, may be avoided by the application of a pastern wrap.
