Need new boots - help please?

[Peaches]

Lance has thoroughly outgrown his front gloves now (size 3's). I've not used them for a while anyway, but following mystery lameness, he's had several weeks off and his feet are struggling a bit sensitive wise, even doing an inhand trot up across our concrete yard (not the concrete being the problem but the teeny tiny stones: most my hacking has stoney bits too, and so whilst he had improved, he's going to need a bit of protection for a little while now too).

I've remeasured his front feet and have the following measurements as a guide - not taken just after a trim - that will be done next trim, but these are as a guide:
Near fore; 147mm wide, 151mm long
Off fore; 147mm wide, 153mm long

For all you booting brains! Am I right thinking my best bets, based on these measurements at the moment, are Old Macs G2's, or size 6 Cavallo's?
Are easyboots out?

What are your experiences of those 2 boots?

He has a huge great flicking toe front end movement, and also paces - so whatever boots we choose need to be pretty good at stopping on. I did find the gloves weren't spot on fit even before he outgrew them, so on somedays would flip off...

I have a few concerns. I went for gloves partly because they fitted at the time when I tried the fitkit, and partly because he is a close mover, and so the more slimline the boot, the better to avoid him knocking himself. Even in them if he got tired I could hear him brushing the boots against his other leg - something he never does unbooted or when he was shod. Do I just have to accept he's likely to brush with clumpier boots? If so, is my best option to simply use brushing boots when using front hoof boots? I don't currently leg boot or bandage for hacking...

Thoughts please?
Thank you

[Yann]

My first concern would be why his feet are getting bigger, how long has he been barefoot? What is causing the increase in size?

A size 9 G2 looks a good match for size, but they are clumpy and you might find you have issues with them if he brushes. I'd try a size 4 easyboot personally.

[devonlass]

As you know from all your very helpful advice you gave me on my post,I have been trialling the gloves recently,have to say just didn't like them,and have now gone back to my renegades,will live with the twisting on one foot (ponio's action not a fault of the boot),just to have my rennies back,love 'em.

Could you maybe try the renegades?? They make them in a 2ww now,although not sure what the actual measurements are,but is the widest one they've made so far.

Have to say though they are clumpier than the gloves so maybe that wouldn't work for your lad,although like you say it might be that he has that sort of problem whatever boots he has.

Sorry if not much help,but just a thought

[Yann]

If the measurements are correct then those feet are too big for Renegades

[Peaches]

Yann, why should the feet not get bigger? My farrier warned me right near the start they probably would do(although I can't remember the reasoning now - shall ask next time around)? There is a bit of flare at present, but nothing huge going on - no more so than earlier on...
I thought that on horses who had been shod for several years, there was an expected change in size over in some cases (besides that of smaller related to removing flare...)?

I'd looked at the size 4 easyboots - it's just that on paper I thought the G2's looked more appropriate? Are you suggesting easyboots on the basis of them being a preferred boot, or because you do think they might offer a better fit than the g2's? Thanks for your thoughts

Thanks DL - renegades are too small I think - and a bit above my budget right now

[Yann]

If the feet are getting bigger because the wall is getting thicker, or because they were previously over trimmed, that's good. What isn't good is if the increase in size is down to flare. The width appears to have increased by 15mm or more, which is a collossal amount in hoof terms and would make me wonder about what's happening with the quarters. Have you got any pics?

As far as Easyboot vs. G2's go, it is a personal preference, I just think they're a much neater boot

[Peaches]

15mm - I'm not sure about that. I'll try and dig out original measurements...

The fronts were never a perfect fit on paper for the gloves - but I was recommended to try a fitkit due to the flexibility etc, and the fitkit stayed on and he seemed comfy so we went for them anyway.

I'm perhaps overmeasuring the length a touch - still having to 'estimate' where the heels should be as still a bit under. I'll have my farrier re-advise me on that.

I think the increase is good - there is a bit of flaring, as there was from the start, but doing my best to keep it down. The thing is, he'd been on several months boxrest from injury, and had then had remedial shoes on which he was continually pulling off (they just didn't work for him, no matter what we did). From what I understand, reduced movement and trauma to the hoof can all cause contraction, so I wonder if his feet were contracted before shoes came off too??

I don't have any up to date pics no. I want to get some after the next trim
I think the wall is getting thicker - but I should really get photo's to compare directly. It's so difficult to tell when you're looking at them on a day to day basis as everything is so gradual (y'know how people never notice how tall a foal is getting when they see them every day - but somebody who only visits every 6 weeks is surprised everytime? lol)

Thanks for your help so far. I'll update after next trim.

I agree easyboots are so much neater than G2's too, but I suppose thats only any good if they fit well enough to stay on! Is there any more adjustablity in some of the easyboots than the G2's, or vice versa?