Which hoof boot is suitable for my horse?

The choice of hoof boots is getting bigger and bigger due to the growing popularity and demand. This makes it all the more difficult to find the right hoof boot for your horse. We give you some initial guidance in the hoof boot jungle and explain which different types of hoof boots there are.

Closed models

Closed hoof boots enclose the entire hoof to the coronet band or beyond. As they have the potential for chafing over longer distances, these models are suitable for short distances. In exceptional cases, they can also be used as therapy boots, as in contrast to open hoof boots, there is no additional risk of injury from wires or buckles. Closed models offer the advantage that they provide a certain amount of leeway for the hoof due to their composition. If the shape of the hoof changes, as is often the case during the transition from shoeing to barefoot, closed models compensate for smaller differences better than open models, which have to fit the hoof precisely.

Models: Turf King hoof boot version II, EasyCare Easyboot Trail, EasyCare Easyboot New Trail

Range of use: shorter distances up to 25 miles per week, in exceptional cases as a substitute for a therapy boot.

Features: encloses the entire hoof, easy to put on and take off due to few fasteners

Price: from GBP 69.90.- to GBP 149.-

Open models

Open hoof boot models are characterised by their „sandal-shaped“ construction. The rigid boot shell only encloses the lower hoof area, leaving the coronet band free. Since the hoof shell is rigid, there is no room for manoeuvre. Therefore, the measurements of the hoof and the values from the measurement chart of the desired hoof boot must be as identical as possible. For additional fastening, a kind of gaiter is used, which is closed around the pasterns with hook-and-loop fasteners. This reduces the risk of the boot getting lost in faster gaits. Since the hoof boot has few points of contact with the horse’s leg beyond the hoof with the potential for abrasion, open models are mainly used for longer distances in extreme conditions, as is the case with trail rides or endurance rides.

Models: EasyCare Easyboot Epic, EasyCare Easyboot Glove Soft

Range of use: long distances, e.g. for trail rides or endurance rides

Features: light weight, more fasteners for attachment, offers little potential for chafing

Price: from GBP 119.- to GBP 159.-

Therapy boots

As the name suggests, therapy boots are designed exclusively for use on diseased or injured hooves. Therapy boots are usually made of soft and flexible materials such as nylon or rubber and are designed to protect the hoof and also hoof dressings from dirt penetration and abrasion.

Many hoof diseases require intensive hoof treatment. The treatment methods are based on the respective clinical picture. This can also influence the choice of a suitable therapy boot. While in the case of thrush, care should be taken to ensure that the hoof remains clean and dry and is well ventilated at the same time, in the case of hoof abscesses, for example, weeping compresses or soaking are necessary in the course of treatment.

Ideally, you should have a therapy boot at hand that can meet the individual requirements. Please bear in mind that the way you keep your horse also plays an important role when buying a therapy boot. If the hoof is to be kept dry due to the disease, but the horse stands predominantly on damp ground, such as in the field, it is essential to ensure that at least the sole of the therapy boot is impermeable to water.

Models: Kramer Poultice Boot, Turf King Medical Hoof Boot, Turf King Medical Hoof Bandage Protection, EasyCare Therapy Boot Zip, Tubbease Treatment Hoof Boot

Application: temporary for hoof diseases or as bandage protection

Characteristics: light weight, easy to handle, depending on the model with possibility to water the hooves, light and flexible materials like nylon or rubber

Price: from GBP 12,90.- to GBP 69,90.-