| In this article I review the Cavallo Hoof Simple | | | | 2. If your horse's hoof has a lot of flare, measure |
| Boot. I think it's important to write about my | | | | the hoof after a fresh trim in which you take off |
| experiences because it took a lot of research to | | | | all the flare |
| figure out how to fit this boot to my quarter | | | | 3. These boots stretch with use so buying one |
| horse gelding, Walker, who is currently in transition | | | | size smaller makes sense |
| from shoes to barefoot living. If I had not done | | | | 4. In order to ensure a better fit, buy a few of |
| the research, I would have ended up with boots | | | | the pad inserts in case you need them |
| that were the wrong size, not to mention | | | | 5. You want the fit to be snug (with Walker, I put |
| ultimately detrimental to Walker's progress | | | | the boot halfway on and then he has to put his |
| toward a barefoot lifestyle. | | | | full weight on the boot to get his hoof in). With a |
| Walker's Barefoot Trimming Situation | | | | snug fit you prevent rotation and rubbing (the |
| Walker is a 4-year-old quarter horse gelding I | | | | inserts also help with this) |
| purchased as a reining prospect. The moment I | | | | 6. When you first get the boot, wrap a plastic bag |
| brought him home I immediately yanked his shoes | | | | around your horse's hoof and around the boot to |
| off. His feet were typical of an overly-bred | | | | try the boots for fit. This prevents the boots |
| quarter horse: thin walls, hoof wall separation | | | | from getting dirty and allows you to exchange |
| (giving his toes that lovely long "ski" look), and a | | | | the boots if necessary |
| thin sole. I figured this was no big deal, as I had | | | | 7. Let your horse break the boots in slowly to |
| had a lot of experience transitioning horses out of | | | | prevent rubbing and sores (20 minutes the first |
| shoes. Plus, Walker had only worn shoes for | | | | day, an hour the next, and so forth) |
| about four months. | | | | Walker's Experience with the Cavallo Simple Hoof |
| I was wrong. Walker, being a Shao Yin personality | | | | Boot |
| type (read more about this and other horse | | | | Walker loves his Simple Hoof Boots. The first day |
| personality types on Dr. Madalyn Ward's Horse | | | | I put them on and rode him, he literally galloped |
| Harmony site), was a hot house flower. With | | | | down our gravel drive. This is the same gravel |
| every barefoot step he took he winced. He | | | | drive he literally could not limp across barefoot. He |
| limped. He looked totally pathetic. Worst of all, he | | | | wore the boots for a short 20 minute ride the |
| was totally unrideable. I live in rough country, | | | | first day, then for a longer hour ride the next day. |
| where rocks, gravel, and rough terrain abound. | | | | Over time, we've increased the amount of time |
| Walker, in total contrast to my mustang mares, | | | | he wears them. |
| could not hack a single step. | | | | One day I decided to let him wear the boots all |
| I tried to tough out the situation for a couple of | | | | day in his pasture. He was mostly sound in his |
| months. I tried several different barefoot | | | | pasture barefoot, but occasionally he would hit a |
| strategies. I tried taking off less flare with each | | | | rough spot and limp. Plus, I noticed that he rarely |
| trimming and using a severe mustang roll. This | | | | ran or bucked with Fezzywig, his pasture buddy. I |
| only caused the hoof wall to separate more. I | | | | also noticed that he had become quite |
| tried taking off all the flare. Walker, in contrast to | | | | swaybacked and had been working to remedy |
| his name, could not walk. I tried trimming every | | | | that with bodywork. The day he wore his boots |
| few days. No dice. Same with going a long time | | | | all day in pasture, he ran and bucked like a maniac. |
| between trimmings. Ditto with all kinds of hoof | | | | He also didn't look as swaybacked. To understand |
| paint, iodine, and other remedies. The nutritional | | | | what has happening to his body, I got down on |
| aspect, with my home made "horse goo" of | | | | my hands and knees and tried to imitate a |
| mangosteen juice and algae, was helping him grow | | | | sore-footed stance. In that stance, I noticed that |
| much better hoof wall, but that was way up at | | | | I rocked back on my knees and dropped my |
| the top of his hoof. In the meantime, he was | | | | back down to avoid putting weight on my hands. |
| trying to walk on the crummy lower portion of | | | | Hmmm, not exactly rocket science but pretty |
| his hooves. Ouch! | | | | nifty nonetheless. |
| Cavallo Simple Hoof Boots | | | | Walker now wears his boots all day and has them |
| I finally broke down and decided that my boy | | | | off at night. We live in a dry climate, the high |
| needed some artificial help; I either had to slap | | | | desert of Colorado, so he can get away with |
| shoes back on him (makes me wince) or buy him | | | | wearing his boots for long stretches without any |
| some boots. Since the boots cost exactly double | | | | moisture buildup. This is important since the goal is |
| the cost of a shoe job (about $145), I opted for | | | | to develop a hard, dry, tough hoof, and moisture |
| boots. In my experience they last longer and cost | | | | buildup tends to soften the hoof (especially the |
| less in the long run. | | | | sole). Depending on where your horse lives most |
| In the past, I've often used Old Macs, especially | | | | of the time, you may wish to do keep boots on |
| on my bigger horses. I love the Old Macs and | | | | him for many hours at a time, or to just put |
| have taken them everywhere, but they are fairly | | | | them on when you are riding him. |
| large and clunky. Walker is small (not quite 15 | | | | Finally, in addition to his new Simple Hoof Boots, |
| hands) and has slender legs and tiny quarter horse | | | | Walker loves his extra doses of Simplexity health |
| hooves. Instead, I opted for the Cavallo Simple | | | | Omega Sun Algae, which is unparalleled when it |
| Hoof Boots, which have a much slimmer profile | | | | comes to building strong hoof wall. We are about |
| and looked easy to put on and take off. | | | | four months away from him actually walking on |
| I got online and researched a bunch of reviews, | | | | his new hoof wall (you can see a line that |
| as well as visiting the Cavallo site for their sizing | | | | separates the old hoof from the new growth), |
| chart and instructions. According to those | | | | but I can tell that the algae is producing a much |
| instructions, I measured Walker after a fresh trim. | | | | thicker and stronger wall. Can't wait for him to |
| Using their sizing chart, Walker was a size 2. I was | | | | actually be able to walk on it! |
| all ready to hit the "buy" button for a pair of size | | | | I hope this article helps those of you who are |
| 2 boots when I decided to read through a few | | | | considering buying the Cavallo Simple Hoof Boot. |
| more user reviews. Here's what I learned based | | | | It's a high quality boot and well worth the |
| on the user reviews: | | | | investment for those who want to transition their |
| 1. Order one size smaller boot than the sizing | | | | horses to barefoot but need a little "help"! |
| chart suggests | | | | |