One of the protocols for MamaTess’ laminitis was to get her some Soft Ride Boots.
(The vet has no affiliation; he just likes the way they work.)
I had never looked into Soft Ride Boots because no one around here has ever been this sick except Norma and I didn’t think about them then – and the vet didn’t suggest them.
Anyway, THERE INLIES THE MISCONCEPTION – to only use them when a horse is sick….
These boots are good for so many things!
Not just laminitis.
…Trailering distances, walking on hard show grounds, older horses…
I totally missed the boat! I shouldda, coudda, wouldda on these, for sure!
Tess in her Soft Ride Boots… see the airholes on the sides. They slipped right on easily and have stayed on!
This is from the website. You can see the sole, the boot and the insert.
Except the velcro straps are now diagonal. Really easy to put on a sore horse.
FIRST, THE LAMINITIS USAGE.
The reason I am using these boots for Tess is because the insoles cushion and support her. It is an easier way to apply the purple pads. Much easier than duct tape booties.
I have never had a boot go on a sore horse so easily and stay on so well. You spread open the boot and they stay open – nice. The horse puts their toe inside and you help them put the foot down evenly. Then just zip zip on the diagonal velcro and you’re done!
Another nice benefit are the air holes on the sides. Air is good.
This gives a nice description
SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSOLES
You should go to the website and check out all the possibilities…
Here is a chart that explains all the different uses for the different colored inserts.
There are many different types of insoles
THE MAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE
When I called Soft Ride to make sure I was measuring her correctly; on the other end was ‘Jerry’.
He couldn’t have been nicer to me.
We discussed sizing and we were not sure which would be perfect so he said, “Let me send you both pair but only charge you for one. Then just send back what didn’t work.”
Nice.
We did exactly that.
HISTORY
The history, in brief, was that two guys, around 17 years ago, started making a new stall flooring material. It was purple and many of the large farms were flooring their stables in it.
But then… someone thought, why not put the product inside of boots and make it more cost effective?
And, the journey began!
Both men who developered the Soft Ride Boots are horse owners themselves. So, they knew what would work and what wouldn’t or – they could test on their own horses.
I was told that Tess might benefit from Gold Bond Powder inside the boot, or lambswool from Home Depot. But, so far, so good. She has no rubbing or chaffing. (I was going to use some llama fiber in there in case she needed it.)
OTHER USES
Trailering/Hard Ground: I wish I had these when I was showing my horses! To think that those loooooong trailer rides to far away places could have been more cushioned…
As it was, we would have to make sure the horses arrived a week early, just to recover from the journey. Then, they would stand on mats with shavings on top of CONCRETE.
And, all show grounds are concrete… sheesh.
Now, with these boots, the horses arrive fine – I’m told. And if they wear the boots while walking around, even betta!
In fact, there are many stories on the Soft Ride Boot FB page.
Geriatric: How Smart! Duh. So much easier to help out the feet of the older horses. Especially on new hard Spring/Summer ground…
Tendon injuries, navicular, cushings… ringbone, sidebone… Of course!
HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!
Storm, our May Bucket Fund mare who needs our help to get a lifesaving surgery! Click image to read more…
Well, drat, I wish I had read this post BEFORE I went to Rolex; Soft-Ride had a booth there and I dallied briefly to inspect the really cool thing that had on display. It was a real horse hoof that had had some kind of preservative stuff injected into the blood supply, so it looked like a web of red spidery things in the shape of a hoof. Very interesting! I thought it was the laminae, but nope, blood vessels. Anyway, if I’d known more about the product in advance I would have spent more time in the booth. Glad they are helping MamaTess!
can these be bought for a mini?
These are truly wonderful boots. A laminitic horse I work on in Hawaii has worn Soft Ride boots for turn-out and trail riding for the past two years. They not only stay on in the moist grassy pasture, the mare is very comfortable in them out on the trail.