Hoof Boot Fitting
Experience the difference that hoof boots can make for your horse!
My in-person hoof boot fitting service covers most of the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Fife and the Central Belt. For other areas, please see the FAQs section below.
If you are interested in an in-person hoof boot fitting appointment, please have a look through the following information and fill in the “Hoof Boot Fitting Enquiry Form” at the bottom of this page.
Hoof Boot Information
There is now a great range of hoof boots available for barefoot horses. They can be a real game changer for your horse’s comfort. Correctly fitted hoof boots do not rub, stay on at all gaits and and are suitable for use over a wide variety of terrains.
They are very useful to improve your horse’s comfort on surfaces their feet are not acclimatised to. Horses kept in a grassy field with soft ground, and only working on a stony track for a few hours a week, often benefit greatly from using boots while on the harder ground.
As you will only be using the boots at the times your horse needs them, they last far, far longer than a set of shoes which a horse wears all the time. Modern synthetic materials are incredibly durable.
Hoof boots are brilliant for road work. They have excellent grip on tarmac, help reduce concussion, and will stop excessive hoof wear.
Most hoof boots can be fitted with studs. These can be used with care on slippery wet ground as well as icy conditions.
In-person fitting
Hoof boots that fit well are a real game changer. I have many satisfied clients with hoof boots that fit really well. Hoof boot fitting is best done by a professional, seeing the horses in person to watch them move, and trying the boots from various manufacturers on their feet.
The overwhelming majority of issues users have with hoof boots are caused by boots that do not fit. Hoof boots that do not fit can cause rubbing, and often come off. There is a thriving second-hand market in boots that have been purchased online, used a few times and found not to fit!
You will save yourself money, and avoid the many problems caused by poorly fitting boots, by using a hoof boot fitter who visits your horses in person. Save yourself some hassle and do this before you first use boots, not as a last resort!
I am often called out to horses who are having issues with boots bought online. The problem is so often that they do not fit the horse or are not appropriate for the intended usage.
Measuring the length and width of a hoof, and comparing it to a boot maker’s size chart, very often doesn’t get the right fit as horses feet are more complex that a measurement in 2 dimensions.
It is best if I fit your horse for boots within a few weeks of their last trim.
With plenty of notice, I am better able to arrange this. I plan my area visits well in advance.
Hoof Boot Fitting FAQs
What happens at a hoof boot fitting appointment?
I will discuss your horse’s requirements and what you plan to use the boots for.
I will watch your horses move before fitting boots. This is best in a school or on a flat and solid surface.
I will then try the most appropriate boots on your horse. As far as possible, I need clean, dry feet standing on a hard surface.
Many clients start by using just front boots, later deciding that they might also like to use hind boots. If you only want front boots to start with, I will usually also try boots on your horse’s hinds. This helps you know your options if you decide to add hind hoof bots later and also saves me from coming out again.
For most horses, there will be a choice of several types of hoof boots that will fit well, and I can discuss the benefits of the different options
For some horses, there might be only 1 good option.
I am a stockist for Scoot Boots. If Scoot Boots fit your horse, you can buy them from me at the appointment. I try to keep all sizes in stock, including Scoot Enduros and also carry some of the more popular Scoot accessories.
If the best boots for you and your horse are those from another manufacturer, I’m able to provide you with a 10% discount code to buy them from the web retailer Hoof Boutique.
For a minority of horses with unusually shaped feet (such as significantly asymmetric hooves), I may need to make a custom modification to have the boots fit well. I will usually do this to the Scoot Boots that I stock. I can use heat to stretch certain parts of a boot, and add shims to take up space where required. This will cost extra. The price depends on how long it takes me.
I keep Scoot Boots in stock as many clients like to buy a pair of boots at the fitting appointment. I make very little from selling the boots themselves, and it is expensive for me to keep them all in stock. So I have no incentive to push you towards the boots I stock. I mostly use Scoots on my own horses, both for riding and driving.
What fit kits do you have?
I have a very comprehensive range of fit kits to find the best fit for your horse.
I have fit kits for:
- Scoot Boot: Regular, Slim and Enduros
- Equine Fusion: Regular and Slim
- Cavallo: Regular, Slim, Big Foot Boots and Cute Little Boots
- Flex Boots: Regular and Wide
- Swiss Galopper
- Evo Boots: Regular and Wide
- Explora Magic: Regular and Slim
- Renegade: Viper and Classic
I do not have fit kits for Easyboot Glove / Back Country or Fury, though I would consider adding them to my range if there is enough interest.
There are no fit kits currently available for Easyboot Trail, Cloud, RX, Sneaker, Epic, Mini or Old Mac.
Pricing
The price I charge for a hoof boot fitting is not fixed, it varies depending on how many horses there are at each location, and how close you are to other clients.
It will usually be £50 for one horse, and £40 per horse for several horses at the same location, if you are close to other clients.
Please get in touch for a price for your horse!
If you are remote and a long way from other clients, I will add a travel charge to make it worth my while to provide you with a fitting service.
Area Covered
I regularly offer fittings in most of the Highlands, Moray, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, Fife and the Central Belt.
If you are outside this area, including the islands, please do get in touch. I will come to you if we can arrange several horse owners together at nearby locations.
What will you do if I have any issues with the boots?
If you have any issues with boots you have bought directly from me, I will give you unlimited advice by message or telephone. If I can’t resolve the issue this way, I will return in person without charging you for the visit. If you are having issues because of boot fit, or feel they are not suitable for you or your horse, I will take a return on the boots less a hire charge.
I offer this as boots bought after an in person fitting should be a near perfect fit, and clients almost never need to return their boots.
If I recommend you buy boots that I do not stock, using my discount code from an online retailer: I always suggest choosing the ‘hire’ rather than ‘purchase’ option, so you can return them after a trial period if needed.
I see you’re also a trimmer, can you trim my horse before fitting boots?
If you want to continue with your current hoof care provider, I will not trim your horse prior to a boot fitting.
If you want regular hoof care going forward, in addition to a hoof boot fitting, please get in touch to see if I can take you on as a trimming client.