Barefoot Horse Hoof Boot Riddle

How do you give your horse all the benefits of a Glue-On below the hairline hoof boot and give your horse the benefits of being barefoot all day except when ridden?

Use the Easyboot Glue-On Cuff! 

Quick update on the Easyboot Glue-On Cuff testing and R&D. 

I installed a pair of Easyboot Glue-On Cuffs on one of my horses front feet on February 15th.  The "Cuffs" have been on now for 15 days and they performing better than expected.  The cuffs are glued to the vertical wall of the hoof and a have a t-nut embedded in the cuff.  The t-nut then accepts a screw that allows you to add or remove a below the hairline hoof boot when needed.

The beauty of the design is that the horse is still barefoot and has all the benefits of a barefoot horse.  In addition you have all the benefits of a glue-on boot. 

 

The horse with the cuffs installed is spending his days in a large 2 acre paddock.  He does a bunch of movement in a day and is constantly self trimming his feet.  I've been riding him three times per week and install boots when I ride him.  Boots are removed after riding and he is turned back out with just the cuffs on the outside of his hoof wall.

Here is a quick video showing how I install the shells before a ride. 

Another video showing how I remove the shells after a ride. 

Comments

[Jenny Moncur]

Great concept Garrett!
Do you still use the same size shell with the cuff as you would if just glueing on the bare shell or is a larger size needed to allow the cuff to fit inside the boot?

Jenny Moncur

[Garrett Ford]

Yes, the same size still fits well. The shells have such a high amount of stretch the accommodate the cuff well.

I'm really liking this concept.

Garrett

[Kerry Greear]

This is the innovation of the year, best thing since "sliced bread"! Will you show us what the hoof wall looks like as well as the cuff condition when you remove them? It's 3 degrees and we have 9 more inches of snow. These innovations are keeping me excited--plan to start at Color Country. Yes, we still have inches of ice under this snow. Kerry

[Laney Humphrey]

The cuffs shown here look bigger than ones you showed earlier. Will the cuffs come in different sizes? They look very exciting!
Laney

[Susan Gill]

Hi Garrett, is there a video yet showing how you glue on the cuffs?
Would you anticipate that the cuffs are re-glue-able multiple times as they need realigning as the hoof grows or does the glue make them a one or 2 use item only?
Does the cuff still allow that really neat fit at the top of the shell that prevented nearly all debris getting in?
Do you think for "pad-aholics" like me, this could be an answer as to how we can use pads with the Glove shells ?
Totally excited now - Susan :)

[Garrett Ford]

Kerry- Yes. I'll take photos and film them coming off. I hope to get another 50 on them next weekend. I anticipate pulling them after the event.

It was roughly 80 degrees today at the ride. Too hot.

Garrett

[Garrett Ford]

Laney- Actually the same size. We only have the #1 mold done right now, so it had to be the #1 mold I showed in the past.

Yes, we will have a cuff size to match each shell size. It's important they match so the holes line up.

Garrett

[Garrett Ford]

Susan- No video yet but I'll get one in the next ten days.

The fit at the top is really good but not as good as the glove or glue-on.

I'm actually making a dome pad specially for the Easyboot Glove and Glue-On. First mold should be done in a week. I'll send you some to try. The pad-aholics will be happy!

Garrett

[Annie]

Hi Garrett, I am fairly new to boots, one pair epics, my horses have just been barefoot until now. I like what I'm seeing; am currious as to how you aline and place the cuffs when gluing them?

Thanks, Annie

[Garrett Ford]

Annie- Take a look at one of the earlier cuff posts. It shows how the boot and cuff are screwed together first and then the hoof is traced for alignment. You then take the cuff off the shell and glue the cuff to the hoof to match the tracing line. Works well.

Hope that helps?

Garrett Ford

[rick]

Do you think these boots are a better solution than the epic or the new edge

[Elizabeth Lamb]

How about using a screw with a thumb or wing-nut type "handle" that would just lay down out of the way once tightened? This would eliminate the need for a screw driver.

[Garrett Ford]

Elizabeth- Good idea! We are producing a large thumb screw that will eliminate the screw driver. Should have photos up soon.

Garrett

[Sharon]

Nobody will hold you to it, but do you have even a GUESS when the Cuffs will be available to us?

[Garrett Ford]

Sharon- I'm not sure. I just figured out a way to really make the installation simple. Glad I waited on the release. I'll post the new method soon.

Garrett Ford

[Carla Richardson]

Hi Garrett,

Have to tell you, I'm new to boots, having ridden shod horses for 50 years. But I tried your glue on's and my horse so far has competed in 255 endurance miles, including a 3 day at Mt Carmel XP this year. Wow, I am SO impressed. However, I had the boots on for 4 weeks and although his hooves look GREAT after that period of time and the 255 miles of 50's, I'm even more excited about the cuff concept. SO, when are they going to be available, I want some right now. I'm heading to the 5-day Fort Schellbourne XP next week and will have a new set of glue-ons on my horse. Thanks for your great products.

[Garrett Ford]

Carla- Thanks for the e-mail.

I did a small change to the cuff mold and will start testing them again in a week or two. Almost there.

When I get them I'll get you a pair and you can help test!

Have a great XP.

Garrett

[Carla Richardson]

I would love to help you test these! Christoph is helping me with my glue-ons, he's close enough that I can haul my horse to him. I figured if I was going to change over to hoof boots I'd better get it right - the first time.

Thanks so much, and I'm as anxious as everyone else for these cuffs to be on the market!