Let's have a boot discussion again...

[Linda Y]

OK, so it looks like Cita may be sound enough for me to try riding her again. I have been looking at some shoeing options since she will have to be shod to ride.
The farrier uses Equi-pak. http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=8e82f259-23b3-42b9-b00c-1a6141146fa3 Says we could try that and see how she does.
I am thinking possibly boots. Looking at the new Valley Vet catalog today, I see Easyboot glue ons. Has anyone tried them? http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=ef10698b-9c0a-48f4-90cb-fc895f181787
All you folks that were just beginning to try your hoof boots, what do you think of them now?
I will have to shoe/boot all four feet since she foundered in all 4, so would like to know the most cost efficient solution. I won't be riding all that much, but want to make sure she doesn't hurt when I do. That is why I am thinking boots, so I can take them off when she doesn't need them.
Thoughts??

[pnalley]

Linda,
Caliente has foundered in the past (5 to 6 degree rotation and dropped soles). He wears regular nail on shoes with gel pads. When the farrier nails the shoe on, he puts a mesh thing between the hoof and the shoe, he then uses a caulk gun to basically cover the mesh. Then he puts a piece of plasic on the hoof. By the time the plastic (half a ziploc) comes off the gel pad is stuck good to the hoof.

It has worked wonders for him. It is nothing like the old pads used to be where dirt & mud got between the pad & hoof and caused thrush.

[kteufel]

I don't know about special shoes, but if you want to learn about using hoof boots to treat founder, the best resource is probably Pete Ramey's site. He uses them a lot, from what I understand, and they are currently involved in a university study regarding the use of boots to treat founder and navicular.

I think he would also say that you shouldn't ride her until you're sure that she has a well-connected, re-suspended coffin bone again (i.e. no white line stretching, no dropped flat sole, etc)

www.hoofrehab.com

These articles in particular may be of interest:

http://www.hoofrehab.com/HoofRehabProtocol.htm
http://www.hoofrehab.com/AuburnUvetschool.htm
http://www.hoofrehab.com/bootarticle.htm
http://www.hoofrehab.com/hoofcast.htm


If you're at the point where she's pretty comfortable while turned out, but just needs extra protection while being ridden, you can easily use easyboot epics with comfort pads (or any of their boots that accomodate comfort pads) for riding. I think with the easyboot gloves the most you can fit in them is the 6mm comfort pad, which may or may not be thick enough for her.. it probably is. If you go for the gloves, the fit kit is strongly recommended!

The pads really aren't negotiable if you use boots, because if she's foundered, then you want the pads to help support the sole, rather than have her be peripherally loaded on those weak laminae by putting her in a hard flat-soled boot. The pads mold beautifully to the bottom of the foot and really increase the comfort.

Glue-ons aren't really meant to be kept on for more than a few weeks at a time. They're best for rehab situations (where the farrier wants to recheck the feet often anyway) or for camping, endurance rides, etc where you don't want to deal with on-and-off hoof boots. With glue-ons, they frequently use a variety of sole packs to support the sole instead of pads, so you don't interfere with the fit of the boot. Goober Glue is the current protocol for endurance rides, I think. The easycare website has into about it, esp on their blog.

[Linda Y]

Wow, that is some great info! Thanks so much!

[jodiTowne]

I have used the Cavallo's which were easy to put on but bulky. I think they have comeout with a slimmer model.

I have used the Easyboot Bares with 2 years of success. They are difficult to get on but worked well.

The glue-ons. I have looked into these but could not justify the expense. They would probably be good for a multi-day ride, but most people report that they experiment before getting it right. Goober Glue is widely used. On my other computer I have additional info w/ glue ons if you want it. Most people use them for an event and then remove. I would not leave them on for prolonged periods.

The Easyboot Gloves. I bought them but did not use enough to give a report. They were easy enough to get on. They are hard to fit so recommend the fit kit and use after a trim.

The Easyboot Edges seemed the favorite for non-competitive riding. I will look at my "sources" and report back. When they first came out they had good reviews. This is probably what I would try.

I would use the 12mm pads with whatever boot you use. The are found on ValleyVet or the Easycare site. I would read thru all info found on Easycareinc.com before you buy boots. Be prepared to do some filing between farrier trims to make it easier to get the boot on. Maybe the Edge opens up enough that you won't have to worry so much. I would also make sure your mare is desensitized to a boot flopping around her leg if it comes off. We have lots of mud here. Thats how I broke my wrist.

Check/google "hoofswap " for good prices on used boots. Even with all my boot trials, it was cheaper than shoes. I put them on when needed and the ones I used consistently lasted two years. The gaiters needed replacing. Like I said, I would try the Easyboot Edge if I was starting over.

Let us know how it goes.

[Linda Y]

Well, I ordered the fit kit today. Cita just had her feet trimmed, and measuring shows that she would wear a size 1 in back and 2 in front, but the front may be a 1.5. So I got the kit with those 3 sized to try.
Then I will have to decide if the Edge or the Glove. You are right that the Glove can only have a 6 MM pad in it.
I think I will make an appointment for next week to haul her in for a vet visit and see if he thinks that she will be good to go.
I think she would be ok with flopping if it came off, but you never know for sure. I had a cantle bag come loose on one side while I was riding a difficult trail. I didn't even know it until someone told me! She could have cared less that it was banging around her hind legs.

[motorgypsy]

WOW big feet. We have a mare that foundered multiple times before we bought her and we used the regular easy boots on front only for a rocky ride. The rest of the time she was fine barefoot so don't think you have to shoe. It depends on the horse, the pasture terrain etc. I would give MSM and biotin in the feed.

[Linda Y]

Yeah, she has nice size feet for her little tiny body and legs.
She did founder in all 4, the back more recently than the front. That is why I am getting 4 boots. I will look into the biotin!

[Linda Y]

Anybody ever heard of these?
http://b4boots.com/s/

[pnalley]

Has anyone tried these?

http://www.renegadehoofboots.com/

Mel posted a photo of them about a year ago. they look like they would fit well and be fairly easy to put on.

[Linda Y]

I got the fit kit today...man, did they ship it fast!! Will try it on her tonight, and also making the appointment to have her xrayed so I will know if she can even be ridden.

[Linda Y]

Well, I got the fit kit, and it is real obvious that the Glove won't work for Cita. Nor will the glue on Easyboot. I have an email out to them to see what may work instead. She has a scoopy toe from the founder that makes this one not fit right. Rats.
We are going tomorrow for xrays.

[DSDECKERT]

We use the equi-pak on Bianca - with Natural Balance shoes and screen.

http://www.horseshoesandtools.com/naturalbalancealuminumshoes.aspx

Let me know how the boots work! How great it would be if you can ride Cita!

[Linda Y]

Just got back from the vet. Her feet look pretty good. The back ones are just about normal, and the fronts have a small rotation. The vet said that if I had my farrier come look at the xrays, he would know what he was dealing with. Her toes are kinda long and he could take those back some. I also had her pull a thyroid test cause Cita is looking kinda cresty again.
So, if it looks like I am going to try to ride her...the vet said I could as long as she has on some kind of protective shoe and it wasn't for long periods or hard riding. I am tickled pink!

[pnalley]

Congratulations!

[DSDECKERT]

That's WONDERFUL news! Congrats

[Leather]

If you don't want to shoe, what about Sole-Guard? It's similar to the Equi-Pak but can be used without shoes.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=064b18a0-c717-4a16-b6ff-81de17e80f4d

What about synthetic shoes?

I used Ground Control shoes last summer and liked them. No special tools are required for application. The only negative is if your horse is between sizes--the nail channel placement won't be optimum.

http://www.plastichorseshoes.com/

I've also heard fantastic things about Epona shoes--they can be either glued or nailed.

www.eponashoe.com

[Linda Y]

I will check into these...thanks!!