Hoof boots are a type of protective footwear that are designed to be worn by barefoot horses. Hoof boots offer durable hoof protection that can benefit the horse's health in a number of ways, and have some key benefits over metal shoes.
Why do we need hoof protection for our horses?
One of the main reasons that horse owners use hoof boots is to protect the barefoot horse’s hooves from damage. Horses that are ridden on hard surfaces, such as rocky terrain, can easily damage their hooves, while riding on smooth but abrasive surfaces like concrete or asphalt roads will wear the horse's hoof down like sandpaper.
Horses in nature are designed to wander around 10 miles each day. If we ask them to travel further than that or at speed, or on abrasive surfaces, their hooves will wear down, and may become bruised or chipped.
For this reason, people have traditionally shod horses hooves with metal horseshoes. Metal horse shoes prevent most bruising and ensure that the natural horn of the horse's hoof wall does not wear down when they travel on gravel or tarmac or rough rocky countryside.
However there are a number of down sides to using metal shoes on horses. The main disadvantages of shoeing a horse are:
- Metal horse shoes interfere with the natural function of the hoof
- Metal shoes increase the impact force on the horses hoof and limbs, increasing the risk of injury and of early onset osteoarthritis
- Applying a metal shoe correctly requires a highly skilled farrier who can adapt their method to suit the horse's needs and understands the functions of the hoof structures
- The cost of shoeing a horse with metal shoes is very high and shoes must be done every five weeks at the most. For horse owners with more than one horse the cost can quickly become prohibitive.
Like metal shoes, hoof boots provide an effective physical barrier between the hoof and the ground, protecting the hoof from impact, bruising and abrasion. The key differences are:
- Hoof boots only go on while you ride, then the horse is barefoot the rest of the time
- Hoof boots last 400-1000 miles so you don't have to pay as much as often
- Hoof boots let the horses hoof function naturally, which is a huge benefit to the whole horse.
So, what is a hoof boot?
A hoof boot is essentially a 'running shoe' for your horse. Horse owners who use hoof boots will leave their horse barefoot unless they intend to ride on a surface where their horse needs hoof protection - then they will simply slip on the hoof boots and ride as usual. It's just like how we would put on running shoes before we go for a jog!
And just like running shoes there are a wide range of hoof boots. There are some that if they were running shoes would be the 'comfy-casual' pair which are fine for a short stroll with friends to the coffee shop. Then there are the trail or hiking shoes that are really designed for action and technically superior - they are easy to run in and beneficial for your foot, supporting the structure, providing stability, tread and dampening impact!
You guessed it - Renegade hoof boots are the second type of hoof boot. Sure you can stroll to the coffee shop with your horse, but you can also take on the rocky mountains or the wide plains with confidence.
Hoof boot design - what to look for
Hoof boots should be simple to put on and easy to take off, yet stay secure while the horse is in action.
Our horse hoof boots are made from incredibly durable polyurethane and are designed to protect the horse’s hooves from damage or wear and tear - but the material is also soft enough to flex and allow the hoof to expand and flex as it is designed to do, so the horse gets all the benefits of being barefoot while being protected.
Renegade hoof boots also have a patented Pivoting Heel design which in combination with the boot shell which only sits on the hard hoof wall and sole, means that the two parts of the hoof boot are only attached by the military grade cables and can move freely with the hoof's natural expansion and lifting - this means that the boots do not rub the horse! This is a key difference in our hoof boot design.
The fact that the hoof boots are done up with very tough velcro means that each time you put them on there is a micro-adjustment as you can fasten the tension strap 'snugly' (but not 'tight' - just like you would do up your running shoe laces) at the exact size of your horses hoof at that point in their trim cycle, giving an ideal fit each day. Another key benefit of the velcro straps is that they are super easy to do up and take off, so no broken nails or levering with hoofpicks required!
Hoof protection that contributes to your horses health
In addition to providing a protective barrier, hoof boots with really good tread and technical design can also help to improve the horse’s performance by providing better traction and support.
Good hoof boots even reduce impact concussion, helping prevent injury and reducing the chance of arthritis long term.
In addition to protecting the hooves, hoof boots can also help to improve the horse’s gait and posture if the horse has sensitive soles - and this will benefit the horse's whole body! Sole sensitivity can occur in the near term after pulling horse shoes while the newly barefoot horse rebuilds their hooves, so using hoof boots during transition to barefoot can help to prevent sensitivity - then long term, the use of hoof boots can help to prevent injuries, improve hoof and limb health by boosting circulation (compared to metal shoes), encourage the horse's natural way of going, and improve the overall health of the horse.
Ready to see our hoof boots?
You can see our hoof boots in action around the world here, or browse the shop hoof boots here and get started on your Renegade journey!
