Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

> So I pulled out my barrier boots
> (one still has the price tags on - from 
> 1999!)  And caught my newest addition to my 'endurance
> string'.  I've just put her 
> back in conditioning, and since she's been barefoot for 8 months, I felt
> she 
> was the perfect 'victim' to test this boot idea on...

Eeeeeek!!! Don't ride with those boots, they don't have the tread or the
material for riding in and it's not safe.  Seriously, your horse
could have a major wipeout with the tread on those!  

> I'm going to keep getting these
> two used to the boot idea. I think it'll help 
> the concussion from the roads, and save money at the same time!  But
> man, 
> it's amazing how boots/bell boots will really change a gaited horse's
> gaits!!! 
> They don't tell you this in their advertising!

I'm sure my horses (that are used to using riding boots) would move
really weird in a barrier or soaking boot too.  In fact, they'd
probably slip and fall in their butts.  You're lucky that your horse
is that coordinated to stay upright.  ;-)

That being said -- everybody who wants to ride a horse with a boot either
over a shoe or over a bare hoof should spend the time necessary to get
the horse used to going in them just as they would take the time to get
the horse used to any other type of new tack.  Some horses will
adjust rather rapidly while others will take longer and some will quite
possibly never find boots suitable for them.  When I got Weaver and
Rocky ready to use 4 boots for the 2001 XP I spent six months riding them
that way even though they both had already done thousands of miles with
boots on their fronts.  After that ride they had gotten so
accustomed to using 4 boots that I continued to ride them that way
because they feel and move better that way.  

I've seen many many many horses have boots put on them for the first time
at or during an endurance ride and continue on without any ill
effects.  I wouldn't recommend doing that, but if it happens that
person wouldn't be anywhere near the first person to do it. 
;-)  

If you are planning on doing any endurance rides (50 miles and up) next
ride season using boots over bare hooves you may want to consider
entering the hoof boot contest.  Not only is there $10,000 that can
be won (and I'm not eligible to win any of that) but there are going to
be lots of other fun contests and promotions available to those who are
entered in the contest.  Here is a
link
to the 2007 entry forms, verification forms and rules.  

Karen
http://easycareinc.typepad.com/karen/