Checking Into Hoof Boots One More Time

A couple years ago I posted an article about hoof boot options. In the summer when the ground is hard and dry, my barefoot horse tends to slide on dry grass and pine needles. Hoof boots are really helpful for us this time of year. It seems like every summer I try them all and always come back to Easyboot Gloves (see the prior article on hoof boots). Well, this year I am trying something new; Scoot Boots. Easyboot Gloves fit my horse well and usually stay on EXCEPT that the Velcro gets clogged with stickers almost im-mediately during the time of year I need them the most. Plus they collect debris in the gaiter which my horses hates. (stomps his feet) So, even though a bit more money, I decided to give Scoot Boots a try.

Scoot Boots were developed by Dave McDonald, who designed the first “Old Mac” boots back in 1998.

Here is a summary of MY pros and cons.

PROS:

NO VELCRO!!!!

Nothing to collect debris

Pretty easy to put on

Good traction

Seem sturdy, made with some sort of very tough yet flexible plastic like material

Replaceable parts

CONS:

Not all that easy to figure out sizing

More costly than most other boots, typically around $190 a pair

If your horse needs a lot of protection, the sole is not as solid (is more flexible) than other boots

In reading many posts on Facebook, it appears people often have them twist and also fall off. I am not sure how much of this is a fit issue. An endurance rider I know had the front buckles shear off when gal-loping and the horse’s front feet hit the buckles. She only recommends them on the front. For people who are interested, I’ll write my journey with them. My final decision is that I bought them for front and rear. No boots are perfect for me, but in my circumstance I believe this could turn out to be the best op-tion.

My Journey into the Scoot Boot World

One would not expect this to be a big deal, selecting boots. I found the sizing on these to be super im-portant. And confusing. So my first tip is: contact www.tryscootboots.com if you want to check these out. Trevor and Wyntre are really good at advising and have a great option for trials. There is a $10 fee to try the boots for 14 days. You are charged for a new pair at the time of sale and refunded when they are re-turned. If you like the boots, you can purchase the trial pair from them, sometimes at a discounted rate depending on their condition when you received them. I strongly advise going this route. I have been watching other sellers and advice they give. I bought my first pair from another seller and learned a couple things. Most other sellers do not let you try the boots. One scratch and you own them. Plus some sellers charge shipping. Trevor and Wyntre do not. AND after reading various posts, I trust their judgement on fit and questions. They are also quick to refund your money if you return a pair of boots.

When you receive your boots, you will also receive some spare parts and a nice storage bag.

Your first step in measuring for the boots is to have a fresh trim on your horse. Then contact your seller to see what size is recommended for your horse. The boots come in a size regular and a slim size.

Accessories: There are several things you can purchase to help with your boots. A shim is available to

help with twisting or for a better fit during certain periods of your trim cycle. The boots come with a “trail gaitor”, which helps to prevent rubbing near the heel bulb. An “endurance gaitor” is available also, which covers a larger area where the boot has contact with skin. If you like a little bling, you can buy straps in various colors.

Things I learned in my particular situation:

My horse is base narrow and travels close behind. This has always been an issue in fitting rear boots. I found that with Scoot Boots, the pastern strap and hardware that it attaches to really causes the horse to interfere. So I removed them. The pastern straps purpose is to retain the boot should it come off. So far I have not had a boot come off, even after several creek crossings. I have not tried them in deep mud. Dave, the designer of these boots, said he is coming out with a new mud strap which will not attach to the hardware that the current pastern straps use. In my situation, I travel through a lot of debris and I have concerns of the pastern straps getting caught on things. It is not recommended to remove them but in my case, I do.

There are several things to look for in fit that you will learn. One is that the front opening should not form a “V” shape. All of mine do just that but a size bigger does not work. I was told by a vet to watch for rubbing or soreness and so far I have not found that to oc-cur on this horse. I think the boots I have are a tighter fit than a lot of people are riding with. So far I have not had one come off. Time will tell if this is working. Bottom line is that I believe all the fitting tips play together and it is not an exact science. This is where Trevor and Wyntre can help. One helpful tip I got from Trevor about fit was that if I could fit a finger behind the thong type part of the strap, the horse could probably go a size smaller. I saw several people on Facebook adding vetwrap and duct tape to the back of the boot to take up space. I think a size smaller is the smarter option.

At the moment I have hopes these new Scoot Boots will serve my purpose. Everyone’s situation is different and the best boot for a horse is really an individual issue. I’d love to hear your experience if you try Scoots.