“Your horse is lame,” For many equestrians, these four simple words make their heart stop. We work hard to ensure the comfort and safety of our four-legged companions, but sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Calling the veterinarian out to examine your horse should be your first course of action when your horse exhibits signs of lameness, but what can you do while you wait for the vet and during your horse’s recovery? In this blog, we explore the ways that you can utilize hoof boots to support your horse’s hooves to prevent and treat lameness.
Signs of Lameness
First things first, how do you know your horse is lame? This is a bit of a loaded question, but we will quickly address the signs of lameness resulting from pain originating in the hoof. Lameness is often characterized by a horse taking shorter strides with one leg, or, in extreme circumstances, being unwilling to put weight on the hoof at all. Other signs of lameness include limping, pronounced head bobbing, dragging a toe, slower than average movements, and the inability to turn their body smoothly.
If the pain is directly related to the hoof, horses may respond dramatically to hoof testers being used. This instrument allows you to pinch and put pressure on the various hoof structures to help you pinpoint the location of the pain. Hoof testers are especially helpful when diagnosing sole bruising or abscesses (an accumulation of pus and inflammation within the hoof).
For horses with laminitis, the inflammation of the laminae of the hoof, it often attacks more than one hoof which makes the lameness more difficult to ascertain. The symptoms include warm hooves and a palpable digital pulse within the hoof. They will also exhibit a reluctant or hesitant gait, which equestrians liken to a horse “walking on eggshells.” Perhaps the most distinguishable sign of laminitis is the “sawhorse stance” that many laminitic horses exhibit, with their front limbs stretched out in front to alleviate pressure on hooves and the hind limbs positioned well under them to support their weight.
No Hoof, No Horse
Some equestrians choose to utilize hoof boots in lieu of horse shoes, because they give the support of a shoe with the freedom of keeping your horse barefoot. Additionally, for horses with poor hooves, there are no nail holes to contend with and you do not need to deal with the potential damage that comes with losing a shoe. Hoof boots can protect the sole and wall of the hoof, which may prevent abscesses, hoof bruising, and wall of the hoof from crumbling. Horses with thin soles often find that the protective nature of hoof boots allows them to move more confidently without risk of sole damage or pain.
Properly fitted hoof boots help the hoof and frog perform the way that nature intended. According to Carol Herder, the President of Cavallo Hoof Boots, “Good function of the hoof means that the hoof expands and flexes when bearing weight, to allow the structure of the horse to descend and the hoof capsule to absorb that shock. Healthy hoof function requires that blood circulates freely, providing nutrients to all the live tissues of the hoof. This is accomplished through unrestrained movement, flexion and the pumping action of a natural bare hoof.”
There are a wide variety of hoof boots available, with boots specially designed for therapy purposes, pleasure riding, and high performance training. Keep your barefoots horse’s hooves in top condition by using hoof boots during your under saddle and in hand training. For increased protection, consider using hoof boots for pleasure riding, like the highly adjustable EasyCare Easyboot Fury Heart, during turnout, especially on rocky terrain or hard surfaces. Many equestrians use hoof boots as a preventive measure against lameness, because poor hoof quality can be detrimental to the soundness of your horse.
On the Mend
For horses with chronic lameness, therapy hoof boots can provide a comfortable cushion to facilitate healing. Therapeutic hoof boots help relieve pressure from the delicate structures of your horse’s hoof, which will encourage your horse to stand and move normally. This promotes blood flow to the hoof which aids in the healing of many ailments including founder, laminitis, and sore hooves.
Therapeutic boots provide instant relief to horses experiencing pain in their hooves or limbs. These hoof boots also minimize the effects of concussion and impact, making them a popular choice among equestrians as a preventative measure when shipping their horses over long distances. The Cavallo Transport Air Regular Sole Hoof Boot was created specifically for this purpose, and can be worn by shod horses and barefoot horses alike.
Hoof boots can help to combat chronic lameness, laminitis, founder, navicular, and more. Utilizing innovative technology, they support the rigid structures of the hoof while cushioning the sole and allowing the frog to expand and contract. They help to keep your horse comfortable while standing on hard surfaces which can speed recovery and lessen fatigue. Some specialized boots, such as the EasyCare Easyboot Stratus, allow you to adjust the levels of support and personalize it to the needs of your horse with their patented TheraRod system. With three different levels of support, you can even customize the boot to completely remove pressure from certain areas of the hoof if necessary.
Other therapeutic hoof boots, like the EasyCare Easyboot Cloud, utilize high-quality, high-density foam to support the frog of the hoof while minimizing the pressure put on the sole. This provides instant and long lasting relief. These unique boots also feature ventilation points, which keeps your horse’s hooves temperature regulated and free of excess moisture (which may cause thrush).
The best hoof boot for your horse depends on his or her individual conformation and situation. We recommend working with your veterinarian to find a hoof boot that meets the needs of your horse.
Meet Frodo: A Success Story
Carol Herder shares the story of Frodo, a Gypsy Cob who took the United Kingdom dressage world by storm. This athletic cob competed at the Prix St. George level with his human companion, Sue Grice, a British Horse Society Accredited Professional Coach and holder of the UK Coaching Certificate. “An undeniable avid competitor, Frodo attained honored accolades against any supposed odds,” says Carol. “And then Frodo’s challenges exploded in an unforeseen direction. He developed laminitis. Frodo became very sick and potentially lame forever.”
After six months of stall rest, and another year of continued symptoms for Frodo, Sue discovered Cavallo Hoof boots. Frodo’s healing was fast-tracked, and miraculously they were eventually able to head back to the show ring. Carol continues “Discovering the extraordinary comfort, flexibility and ease available to him in his Cavallo Boots, Frodo’s pain was forgotten. He remembered what it was like to move.” Frodo re-discovered ease and comfort in this hoof boot. By encouraging physical activity, blood circulation, and oxygenation, overall vitality returned to his body.
The Right Boot
When selecting the best hoof boot to promote healing and comfort for your horse, it is essential that you choose a boot that properly fits your horse. Some boots are sold individually, while others are sold in pairs. Those that are sold individually will generally offer a closer more personalized fit since they can be tailored to each individual hoof. Generally, hoof boots from EasyCare tend to fit a narrower hoof, while those from Cavallo fit a rounder hoof.
Measuring for Easyboots
- After a fresh trim, measure the width of the hoof (green line).
- Measure the length of the hoof from the toe to the buttress line of the heel.
- Compare your measurement with the appropriate size chart.
Note: Each boot style has its own unique size chart. If you are fitting an Easyboot Glove, width and length must fall into the same size category.
Measuring for Cavallo Hoof Boots
For the Good of the Horse
Hoof boots are highly versatile pieces of equine equipment that can be used for a myriad of reasons. Whether you use hoof boots to support your barefoot horse’s hooves when riding on difficult footing or to assist your horse in healing from laminitis, founder, white line disease, navicular, or other chronic lameness, every equestrian and their horses can benefit from their use. Help your horse stay sound and comfortable with a pair of properly fitting hoof boots.
We invite you to shop our extensive selection of horse hoof boots and hoof boot accessories. If you have any questions regarding the therapeutic hoof boots that we carry or would like assistance choosing the right size boot for your horse, we encourage you to speak with a member of our friendly and highly experienced sales staff. Please note: The information provided in this blog is for informational purposes and is not meant to replace routine veterinary care.