Are your horses still barefoot if you use boots? This seems to be a rolling debate.

My personal view is, yes they are. While it is no secret boots are hoof protection, they are even marketed  as so, yet they hardly behave as a nailed on shoe there is little in change of the fact the horse is barefoot. Boots will continue to allow the hoof to expand on contact with the ground, no nailed on shoe will do this. A properly trimming hoof while in a boot will also continue to allow the frog to come into contact with the force of movement on the ground, though the ground becomes the boot sole. Plus, you can take them off the moment the ride is done.

It is not always possible to ride barefoot. I rode a fantastic trail today and was very pleased to have my boot of choice on the Easyboot Glove. It worked beautifully. This trail had a few major climbs, lots of rocks and some excellent footing for some fun fast trotting.  I have attached Power Straps to the boots and found I had no need for tape, even through the rocks on these steep uphill climbs.

Here is a link the ride GPS track log; Tom’s Thumb 11/14/10 by Rusty – Details

That is Tom’s Thumb way up there at the top. You ride down into the valley then you climb up in two miles, can you say Western States Tevis type switchbacks?

The view looking back down as we begin the climb.

On  the way up. Where did the Thumb go?

Almost there!

Get your boots on and RIDE!