Hey folks...

I asked this question in the "lets talk shoes..." topic:
Anybody use them new fangled 'boots', that you clamp or velcro on? I have been seeing more about not using shoes on horses. Am not sure what to think...any opinions...?
Like Deertick said, not wanting to start a shoes vs boots war, but am interested in knowledgeable opinions.

Thanks for your replies,

LeRoy

Archdlx ...

Just to let you know, you ARE opening a can of worms. So be it ... I kind of like doing that to the "old gaurd" now and then.

IF you are interested in boots, either for shod or barefoot horses, search the blog at Easycare boots. It's run by a DVM by the name of Teskey. He's got some good reading on the matter.

I have used them only on shod animals, though that's going to change this year. From my understanding, if you are using them on freshly deshod animals (4-5 months) get some pads on the inside of the boots as well.

Boots alone are the same to the hoof, i.e. they are peripheral loaders which offer hoof wall protection. Boots with pads add development of the Frog, digital cushion, and lateral cartilages, which eventually allows the animal to go barefoot, even over rocky terrain, with riders (search "barefoot" and "Tevis" or "endurance" for the evidence.)

Why do we shoe horses? Many horsemen say it's because their animal has weak hooves that have been bred out of them. Not true, of course. We shoe them because we keep them confined, which leads to poor development of the heel and internal structures. Also, we like to do things like raise animals on soft grass and then transport them to the Rockies for a little ride. The ancients didn't do that.

Keep in mind, though, that the indians of the west didn't shoe their animals. Nor did the Mongol hordes, or other great cavalrys for over a thousand years. We start to see historical evidence of shoeing in Europe when the Romans and others kept large numbers of animals in confined spaces.

Another place to check out is the Houston Police Department. For anyone who thinks working animals, with tack and riders, can't handle working on PAVEMENT, go try to out-run them in Houston. Those animals do fine. Most wear boots during a transitional year. Some "need" boots longer, but interestingly, it's not because of hoof wall wear, or flares, like many cowboys would think. It's because of the heel, and it's lack of development.

Feel free to send a PM, but check out Easy Boots first ... they are the big mover out there, and they service the animals of both shod and barefoot customers, so you won't get too much "Holistic" fringe propaganda (which is out there by the truckload, by the way.)

Thanks Deertick....

Appreciate the answer. Lots of info on google....maybe I DO like to a bit

Am sure I read some where the only reason for shoeing was, as you say, the Romans. They found that when attacking forces on foot, the horses caused more damage with iron on their hooves. It just became habit, I guess?

archdlx....aka...LeRoy

I use a boot to keep the foot clean if I have a horse with an absess or one that's been quicked or something like that..I soak the foot, doctor it and wrap it and slip the boot over it..

That is all I use them for, they won't last a day in the rocks and they just don't cut the mustard in our country, its too rough...Maybe back East or on trails I don't know.

Its no can of worms to me, my mind is made up! to each his own.

That's all I've seen folks use easy boots for is to soak an abcessed foot. I ride every week year round in Mo., and mine have shoes on the front year round. A lot of the cutters have stopped putting shoes on the rear feet, claim the horse can feel his way around better when squatting down on his butt. I stopped putting shoes on the back about a year ago. Don't know if it made the horses any better, but my cost of shoeing was cut in half.

The boot will last just fine. The cables and buckle break in rough country. But I've never damaged the actual boot. Either duct tape down the buckles so they don't catch on rough footing or switch to the BARES with no buckles.

I ride as rough of country as anybody, and the boots (when I use them) have held up.
I've rode through rocks


I've waded rivers


We've had horses go down in bogs.


I've never lost a boot or had one come off. Even the boots with broken buckles have stayed on.

I don't have a comment about boots vs shoes but the theory that [most] horses can be conditioned to not need shoes. I ranch in southeast az and have quite a mixture of terrain from soft flats to rugged rocky mountains. I raise horses and do my own shoeing and believe me only shoe them when necessary. Some of my horses are not shod untill they are 5. When you ride in rough rocky country you can maybe get by one day on a barefoot horse but seldom two in a row. Just my two cents worth. Fred

A fellow came to my ranch and rode his horse barefooted one day and told me how good his horse was in the rocks..I told him to shoe the horse then tell me how good he was in the rocks.
He did and confessed his horse was much much better and quicker and seemed to walk faster. I told him they usually do when they are not sore footed...The only time we use barefooted animals is in a pasture where we have some slick rock and we have a couple of mules with very hard feet that came out of Mexico and we used them their sometimes.

It amazes me how many folks don't even know when their horse is tender, they think because he isn't limping all is fine, and thats just not the case at all. I see barefooted horses getting by but they look like they are walking on egg shells and their head is bobbing.