Tuesday, October 2, 2012

What You Should Know About Hoof Boots

By Randi Boyer


Hoof boots are special devices that are commonly made of rubber and sometimes plastic which are used to cover hooves of horses in order to provide protection and comfort to them. In the absence of horseshoes they are such a good alternative or the two can be used together to achieve maximum results. These devices have been in use for about forty years and have proved to be worth the task. As evident from the saying, No hoof no horse, they play a major role in the well being of these animals.

These boots can be generally divided into three categories based on the task they are used for. There is the rehabilitation type which does not have many uses because it is only used for treatment reasons. There are also those used for soaking the hooves and the ones used when riding the horse. Those used for riding are further classified into two depending on whether they are attached to the hooves or not.

Several technological advancements have taken place in this field over the last six years leading to an improvement on subsequent designs in terms of the materials used. Materials that allow free air circulation are now being used to ensure good health. Moreover other designers have even gone a step further to make devices that allow for expansion and contraction of the hoof. The major factors that are being put into consideration are the ease with which the boots are put on and removed. Others have additional features like gel pads, studs and pastern wrap to improve their effectiveness. Of uttermost importance is their weight which is minimized as much as much as possible to ensure they are used without any difficulties.

This technology is such a great relief to the horses as they go about their daily lives. They are useful in good and bad times. In most cases they are used to provide protection to the sole when the animal has been injured and to help in the application of medication in these parts. Moreover these devices are also used as therapy for those animals that may be feeling pain in their hooves.

These boots are very useful in the period of transitioning the horse to move barefooted to help it cope well with varying surfaces without any difficulties. In cases where one of the horseshoes has been misplaced they can effectively be used as spare tires. When covering difficult terrain consisting of sharp rocks and hard surfaces they are a great relief by offering protection and comfort.

Horses are used to participate in many outdoor activities and therefore chances of getting injuries or wounds are very high. When riding or climbing high mountains the boots protect the hooves from any possible hazard. Security officers using horses move on pavements that can be very hard and therefore protection is also essential in this case.

Another field where they have proved to be of great help is veterinary medicine. By offering protection to the injured parts of the hooves to prevent any complications, quick recovery of the animal is achieved. Medicines applied are kept in contact with the wound and also keep away any forms of germs and thus maintaining the cleanliness of the injured section.

Hoof boots play a major role in veterinary medicine to take care of wounds and bruises. The general rule is that they should be removed periodically after they have served their purpose to make the horse free. Cleaning should be done and any rubbings checked on the animal.




About the Author:



No comments: