We are considering trying a pair of boots.  not sure which brand yet.

Sooooo many styles. 

After long rides what are the effects on the Pastern area? 

Rubbing chaffing sores?

What are your thoughts pro's and cons would be appreciated.

Blaze

I have used EasyBoot Epics with pretty good success.  I ride endurance (50 miles) and have used vet wrap under the gaitors.  For shorter training rides, I don't wrap.

Most of the other brands I don't see used for endurance.

New brand out is Renegade Boot.  Less widely available, but a good boot (so far)

I've never had any chaffing problems.  If the boots fit properly.

EasyBoot has a new boot coming out in February called the "Easyboot Glove".

I'd wait and see how it performs before spending money. 

It slips on and off MUCH easier than the older Easyboot EPICs or BAREs.  I broke too many buckles on the EPICS so I have converted most of my boots to the BAREs. The new Glove has no hardware on the front of the boot to snag and break. So I'm excited to see it.

You can go to the hoof boot swap page and get used boots and try some out, I bought 3 pair there.  My mares size 8's came from Australia.

  If the boots fit properly there is no twisting.  If that's a problem, the boots are to big.

http://www.naturalhorsetrim.com/boot_swap.htm  You have to go about half way down the page to get to the ads.

Thanks... I will look on the website... I'll need to measure her first.

I am appreciating all this feedback!

Our Ferrier is coming out this weekend and most of the adds encourage you to take your measurements after a fresh trim.  Seems he has all the right tools I will get my measurements from him.
However I am still on the fence regarding brand and style.  Which equates to ease of putting on and then the ability to stay on.
I am assuming that most are starting to include the Gaiter to protect against rubbing and securing the boot.

Ridingarocky,   learn to give your horse a mustang roll when you trim her. It will almost stop all the chipping.   Chipping on the hoof wall is usually sign of pressure against too long of a hoof wall.  If you change the way you are trimming, you can ride on almost anything with out the hooves chipping.  Now the horse may still get sore.  You may still need the boots.  Riding in the rough stuff barefoot means you will have to trim their feet every two maybe three weeks. You can't let them go 6-8 weeks between trims and not expect them to chip.

Horses getting sore on bare feet is usually more a matter of the white line seperating because of pressure against the hoof wall or bruising the sole and heel of the foot. The hoof boots can protect the sole from the rocks.

The Easyboots are hard to put on the 1st time. But you will learn how to get them on with out a fight after you do it once or twice. I slip them on as far as I can get them and then put the horses foot down and make him shift his weight onto that leg. Maybe even push him a little to make him twist his foot. Pick it up and finish putting it on.  The weight and twisting seems to push the toe of the hoof into the end of the boot. No sense me fighting it, I'll let the weight of the horse do the work. The new Easyboot Gloves look like they just slip right on. We will see how well when they actualy are available.

We ride as nasty of stuff as anybody can dream of, either barefoot or in boots. This ride was a two day ride, about 13 miles on friday and 22 miles on Saturday, all barefoot.

All these horses coming down the ledges are barefoot.  But this is sandstone and shale and the barefoot does well on it.  Granite usually is a little sharper and harder on feet. So I usually boot when riding in areas that are more granite.

My horses can ride barefoot almost any where for a day. I need protection when I do 2-3 days straight of riding. Or if I expect them to trot/canter over rough stuff.

Painted Horse.. I'll be sure to ask my farrier about a mustang roll.. I don't do my own trims.. As much as these girls take out of my paycheck, I'm tempted to buy a book and learn.

Tom Tom.. I've read nothing but good stuff about the renegades... I've about decided that if/when I buy boots, they will be my choice..

It will take some effort on your part.  You will need to develope the abiity to look at the hoof and tell if proportions are in line.  You learn how to manage a rasp and get it to bite, while having your elbow bumping the horses gut and having the horses tail in your face.

All this is done with you holding a horse's foot in the air and often having the horse lean on you. You will develope some new muscles.

If your horse has hoof problems, then it becomes much more difficult.

Read the book, do a  search for other website that focus on barefoot trims, And you can learn a lot. Don't become fantical about being barefoot. Do what is best for that horse. If the horse is comfortable being barefoot and you can master the trims. Great.  If trimming becomes too much of a chore. hire the barefoot trimmer, if the horse is ouchie, put shoes back on him.

Before this thread goes way off the beaten path.  Remebering why I originally posted it...

Rasping, Trimming and shoeing horses are done by experienced individuals.  I think it is fair to jump in here and say that you can cause serious damage to your horse by just rasping away.

I pay my Ferrier for the same reason I pay my vet.  They are the pros.

I am also sure many ranchers and experienced horsemen and horsewoman have similar if not vastly advanced skills. 

However let’s make sure for the purposes of this audience, we all understand these are skills that take years to learn and do not expect to run out to your barn and alleviate yourselves of a ferrier or vet over night.

Many of my friends into the natural trimming have watched, learned and tried their hand at the trim in between visits and eventually took over the task.

I would personally be scared to trim one of my horses.  I would be scared I would make them lame.  My farrier does a great job and is well worth the money I pay him.  I have always heard "No hoof; No horse".  He keeps their feet going strong and when I need something more my barefoot guy wears his Rengades boots.  My trail horse wears shoes, but both my daughters ride barefoot horses.  I think it depends on the horses foot and what type of riding he does.