Boots
Roman
Hipposandal, c. 1st-2nd Century AD
From the series:
Meisho Edo Hyakkei,
Ando Hiroshige; Japan, c.
1850
Hoof boots have been around a
long time, considerably longer than horseshoes. In recent times
however, they have typically been thought of as little more than a "spare tire"
in case of a lost shoe. The hoof boot is proving to be of far greater
value; it provides even more protection than a shoe offers, and yet provides
this protection without the harmful effects of a metal shoe. As part of a
holistic system of natural hoof care, they can be an invaluable tool.
There are a number of boot designs, and some are better than others, but designs
have improved greatly in recent years and are continuing to evolve to meet the
demands of the barefoot community. Will your horse need boots? It
all depends, every horse and rider are different and variables such as hoof
condition, living environment, riding environment, miles, and time need to be
considered. The most common times to use boots are during the transition
from shod to barefoot, as a therapeutic treatment for some hoof pathologies, and
for horses who are used or ridden in environments that are more severe than the
environment in which they live.
Easyboot
Epic