This message is from: "Dagrun Aarsten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Old Mac's are a bit spendy -- found them in the Valley Vet catalog > recently for $145, item #27604 -- but they look like they would work > nicely. I wonder if they go on with less struggle than Easy Boots. Any > comments about that from your friends, Brigid?
Hi DeeAnna, being one of Brigid's mentioned friends that uses easyboots, I can tell you what I think: Tinn that I ride gets sore on gravel and on hard ground, plus his feet seem to wear down very fast, so we use Old Mac boots on him when riding (and driving) outside the arena. They ARE a bit big and bulky, and I guess they change the breakover point of the hoof somewhat. (I have never tried the easyboot, I thought it looked nice but people say it's very hard to get on and falls off easily...) Once they The Old Macs give instant relief to sore hooves/soles. Quinn, who usually has feet hard as rock and doesn't need boots, jerked his foot away when being trimmed and caught the farrier's nippers in his sole, making a cut and bleeding a little. It didn't get infected or anything but his sole was (and still is) a little tender, I could see a slight lameness and "hesitation" at the trot (but that didn't stop him from galloping around...). Then I put on Tinn's Old Macs and he got his strong, powerful trot back instantly and didn't hesitate to canter with me on his back for a second. Old Macs are easy to get on and have an "interior" strap plus velcro and buckles on the outside. They don't have a chance of falling off. One of ours has a buckle missing and it still stays on, even through mud. I was worried they would rub the horse's hair off, but once I had to put them on wet feet (rub easier) and then went for a 3-hour trail ride and Tinn showed no discomfort and no rubbing. Might be different if you have a tender-skinned TB or something :-) I guess they might rub if used for hours every day, I usually don't ride Tinn more than once or twice a week, so I wouldn't know. The horses (fjords) accept them without any fuzz, and seem happy to get support when walking on gravel. If your horse walks "narrow" I guess they might interfere with the movement a little. Tinn has also tripped a couple of times, when he gets excited by something and "forgets" he is wearing boots. Took him a little while to learn to lift his feet properly. Quinn did it instantly, though, never tripped even once. Might vary from horse to horse. I guess they're worth their price. Tinn's were bought used, and have lasted a year and the sole doesn't look worn out. However, they are a bit "tired" and I suspect they're slightly small for him, so some stiches on the back are opening up. If you make sure you buy them big enough I am sure they would last 6 months even with almost daily use. What else...they are easy to put on, can be opened completely and partly "custom fit" with the velcro. They wash out nicely, I just hose them off after going through mud and leave them to dry. The leather straps on the outside get slightly dry but not bad. Oh, and I might mention that we only use them on the front hooves - back hooves are usually stronger and carry less weight so usually they can go "bare". Hope some of this information is useful? Never tried them in "winter conditions" - they would grip excellent in snow but not on ice. Dagrun PS: Here's a link: www.oldmacs.com.au
