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Problem:
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Probable cause:
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Solution:
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Twisting when in use
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Usually occurs when the boot is too wide. Particularly common
on hind feet as many horses have a tendancy to ‘screw’ their foot on the floor causing
the boot to twist.
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Ideally use old mac G2 boots with inserts to really grip the
hoof. If easy boot epic/bare/grip is used, you can tighten the boot more successfully
by using the easy up buckle we sell, or glueing two squares of dense foam either
side on the plate of the heel strap for additional grip if the width allows.
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Rubbing
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Rubbing will occur on the heels if the boot is too short in
the length. Usually more common in horses with under run heels, or boots that fit
above the coronet band.
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Go to the next size up boot if the length measurement exceeds
th recommended length for that boot size. For epics/bares, you can remove the heel
strap and replace it with taper plates, or cut the heel strap down along the grroves
(this method also woks for horses with low/under run heels). For boots that fit
above the hairline, use gaiters, pastern wraps or if these take up too much room
old wollen socks, tub grip or vet wrap also works very well.
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Sore feet even with boots on
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Dropped or thin soles, laminitis, other hoof pathology
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Use 12mm comfort pads
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Ripped gaiters/broken cables or lost boots
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Hoof boot is not the best fit for the hoof or was not fitted
correctly/tightly enough. Most common cause is the horse treading on himself during
exercise, either overreaching or spooking. The parts of the boots are designed to
break to prevent a serious accident, if the boot didn’t break the horse could be
brought down!
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Check the break over is not too long in front- a length that
is over 5mm longer than the horses actual measurements is enough to slow the front
hoof down long enough for a hind foot to come through and tread the boot off. If
the horse is trimmed in such a way as to prolong break over, even when booted to
fit the foot the break over can never be short enough so check with your trimmer
if loosing boots becomes a problem and the boots are correct. Over reach boots on
any boot hoof can sometimes help if all other angles have been covered, but as with
shoes, some horses will always be at risk of lost boots as they would be with shoes.
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