A Hoof Boot is a device made primarily of plastic or rubber designed
to cover the hooves of a horse as an alternative to horseshoes or as a
protective device when the animal has a foot injury that requires
protection of the sole of the foot or the full time application of
medication. There are many different designs, but all have the goal of
protecting the hoof wall and sole of the horse's foot from hard
surfaces, rocks and other difficult terrain.
Hoof boots are most commonly seen as a substiture for horseshoes, either
as a backup for a thrown shoe when a farrier is not available, or as a
temporary form of additional protection to a barefoot horse that may be
subjected to conditions that its unshod feet are not able to handle
without damage. Horse boots are particularly popular for trail riding
and endurance riding, though are also sometimes seen on horses in
parades and on police horses who have to work on hard pavement.
A horse with hoof boots on its front feetThe other major use of horse
boots is for veterinary medicine. If a horse has a puncture wound in the
foot or a bruise to the sole, the boot provides protection to the wound
or injury, increases the cleanliness of the area, and may at times be
used to keep a poultice or other medication in contact with the sole of
the foot. They are also very useful for protection of the feet of horses
who cannot for some reason wear horseshoes, such as a horse that loses a
large chunk of the hoof wall due to disease or injury. In some cases,
horses with laminitis also respond well to the protection of horse boots
while their feet recover.
As a general rule, horse boots are not kept on horses full time, they
are put on and taken off as needed. Riding horses have their boots
removed daily at the end of the ride, though they may be kept on for a
couple of days without harm if properly adjusted and watched carefully
for rubs and slippage. In the case of horses with injuries, they may be
kept on for longer periods of time, but need to be periodically removed,
cleaned, the horse checked for rubbing or unusual abrasions and then the
boot may be replaced.
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