How To Make A Hoof Boot Fail

Over the years I’ve found five different criteria that really test hoof boots and can cause them to fail.

1. Riding at high speed adds to hoof boot failure.
2. Riding steep hills adds to hoof boot failure.
3. Riding in water and mud adds to hoof boot failure.
4. Too large a size/improper sizing adds to hoof boot failure.
5. Rear hoof boots are much more prone to failure.

Any of the above can be combined to really put hoof boots to the test.  For example, cross a muddy creek and then gallop up a steep hill.  Or fit a horse with a boot that too big and ride through mud bogs.  Or combine all five.  Start with rear hoof boots that are a size too large, get the boot and hoof nice and slippery in water or a mud bog and then aggressively gallop steep hills at speed.

Cyclone fitted with his sloppy rear boots before going out to ride hills at speed

I’ve personally been testing a new hoof boot concept by exposing it to the five things that I believe are hardest on hoof boots.  My horse Cyclone wears a size #0 Glove on his rear feet.  I’ve been fitting him in a size #2 in this new hoof boot concept and heading for the hills.  Not just walking the hills but attacking them with speed and power.  In addition I’ve been adding water and mud to the boots before the hill work and flat gallops to really put the boots in the most difficult situations.

I’m super excited about the results.  Not one failure yet.  I’ve not had the new design come off even with me putting them in every situation that I know makes hoof boots fail.  Good things are in the works at EasyCare!