Installing (Putting) B4Boots on your horse

These instructions are highly detailed. We tried to show each and every step. Instead of "LEFT" and "RIGHT" we used "INSIDE" and "OUTSIDE". "INSIDE" means underneath the belly of your horse, and "OUTSIDE" means towards the flank, or not under the belly of your horse. B4Boots are not intended, nor have they been tested for shod horses or mules. It is highly likely that if you use B4Boots on a shod equine, the metal shoes will quickly cut through the sole of the material we use, and destroy the boot.

This tutorial was photographed using one of our prototype boots. Unfortunately the purple colored straps are not available. We are considering offering colors in the future.

When you are done installing the boots, it should look something like the following three pictures:

You can click on any photo for a bigger version.

If the B4boot has already been attached with the velcro to the included bell boot, you can simply open up the back, and slip it onto the (hopefully cooperative) horse. If you have fitting issues, you will want to detach the bell from the boot, and do the following steps.

Attach a clean bell boot (yes, it is included with each B4Boot, it's special for us) snugly around the ankle of the leg. The bell should extend down past the coronary band (that place where the hoof transitions to hair on the leg). It does NOT need to go any farther than that. If the bell extends any farther than the bottom of the hoof, trim it with heavy duty scissors. The overlap should be towards the rear of the
leg. Close it the bell tight and snug.

Here you see the bell on the leg, and the boot has been slipped onto the bottom of the hoof, with the straps completely undone ( This is where you step in if you have adjusted the bell's for your horse.) If this is the first time, or you are readjusting, you should now slip on the boot, and press down on the three tabs that have velcro© on them that are attached to the boot bottom. Only re-adjust onto a CLEAN bell boot. Ours can be machined washed (and dried on low).

You should now take the OUTSIDE strap and pull it straight up through the crevice between the heel bulbs towards the INSIDE, as high as you can arc it on the bell under the side loop strap. Pulling it tight, simply lay it across the bell where the velcro© will hold and do its job for awhile. We are looking at a right leg in this picture.

Now repeat this for the INSIDE strap, pulling it up between the heel bulbs and
arcing it as high as you can towards the OUTSIDE of the leg. Don't forget that
side loop strap.

This is how it should look from the front. Since the straps also have velcro on them, we usually just stick them to themselves while we adjust things.

Now, working with the strap that started on the INSIDE, pull it snug and HIGH onto the bell
boot, angling towards the plastic clip on the front INSIDE.

Twisting and pulling the clip for your best angle, slide the strap UNDER the clip THROUGH the strap hole, and back - up - towards the heel bulb.

....

....

Slide the strap under the side loop. (OK, so on brand new boots there is NO
sliding, use your hoof pick to drag it through the loop)

Like this.

Now, on the outside strap, repeat the process. Undo it from it's holding place, and pull through the side loop.

Down and towards the OUTSIDE plastic strap holder.

Through the strap holder from underneath.

Up and towards the side loop.

Slip (yea, or tug, or pull) through the side loop. If you have difficulty with this step, it helps to use a hoof pick to expand the loop and drag the strap through.

Pull it down and back towards the heel bulbs.

All done.