Posted By Bonnie on February 1, 2010
Thought I would take our Standardbred gelding Rather Arbitrary out for a ride today. Temps were up around 35 degrees and the sun was out. Good day for a ride. I had noticed all the rodes seemed clear of snow and ice, so I put the regular B4 boots on instead of the test boots with Ice Traction Studs. This proved to be a mistake. Rather was feeling good and very willing to go gaiting down the paved road once we got out of the driveway. Went to turn right on the gravel road and WHOA, lots of ice to the right on the hill. Didn’t look promising so we turned left onto the gravel road instead as it seemed to be clear. We only got about mile down the gravel road when we hit a north facing hill that had a lot of shade on it. Lots of ice. So we had to turn around and go home. By then it was too late to change boots and go back out as I needed to run to the post office and do some other errands. If I go out tomorrow, I am just going to put the Ice stud Traction boots on as we are supposed to get more snow tonight. I guess I need boots that have the ice studs that pop out with a remote switch 
Rather actually seemed disappointed he didn’t get to go out longer and farther. I was disappointed, need to ride, but I am not suffering withdrawal so badly that I am ready to ride circles around the pasture.
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Posted By Bonnie on January 31, 2010
Just getting started on learning about this blog thing. I hope to be putting posts up about trimming, hoof boots, riding horses both barefoot and booted, nutrition, trail rides and endurance rides that we use our B4 boots on.
A little backround information is probably in order. I started making B4 boots in response to not being happy with the other boot choices that were out there. At the time I started on this project the only boots available were easyboots and Old Macs. I have tried most of the easyboot hoof boots and several other hoof boots over the years and they have all left me hoping for something a little bit better. I want a boot that goes on easily, comes off without any effort or tools, but will stay on my horse and last a long time even when I do most of my condtioning rides on pavement and gravel roads. Also, don’t want any rubbing, or damage to the hoof or soft tissues of the hoof capsule when I use the boot. I want a boot that will let the horses hoof act as close as possible to bare. I have ridden horses for over 35 years and almost all of them were barefoot. I have also been trimming my own horses for 35 years. While I know how to put a shoe on a horse and have done so, I don’t like to put them on horses and I have had several horses that have let me know that they don’t like being shod but will happily stand there and let me pull their shoes and put boots on them without a fuss. I have one horse that pretty much demands to have his hoof boots on for riding.
I am hoping to never have to use shoes on any of my horses again. Haven’t had shoes on any of our horses for 5 years. And we only shod our stallion in plastic shoes for his 50 mile endurance rides. Our other endurance horses have completed all of their ride either barefoot or booted.
I am very happy with how the B4 boots are working for our horse. I am hoping to work on improving the boots and offering options of pads, ice/traction studs and perhaps boots that are made just for hind hooves. STanding back and trying to give an objective view on B4 boots is very hard, but sometimes, I feel like a stranger when I look at them or use them. Almost like I didn’t come up with the idea and make the boots. I pick them up and put them on my horses hoof and I am amazed at how simple it is to put the boots on. I just pick up the hoof and with one hand give a slight twist and a push and they go on. Fasten the back of the neoprene bell snugly and fasten the straps. When removing the boot, you undo the two straps and open the neoprene bell and if the boot doesn’t fall off on its own, a slight push with your thumb or your hand and the boot pops off. If they are muddy or dirty, I hose them off and sit them in the sun to dry. So sometimes I just stand there and go “wow, that worked so well, I would buy these boots” . Then I laugh at myself and start thinking of things I would like to improve or try on new prototypes.
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Tags: barefoot riding, endurance, hoof trimming, hoofboots, riding, trail riding