Innovative Flex Hoof Boots for Barefoot Horses

Softest on the market:

Protective gaiters:

Two adjustable straps:

Softer boots are more comfortable and enable the horse to feel the ground better.

The gaiters are designed so that they prevent rubbing and help boots stay on.

The two-strap design allows more fitting adjustments and makes boots more secure.

Measure after a trim
This is when the hooves are at the correct size and shape. Hooves should be maintenance trimmed weekly, to retain the shape and balance of the hoof.

Length
Imagine drawing a line across the back of the hoof, from heel to heel. From the middle of that line draw another line straight to the toe. This is where you measure the length of the hoof.

Heel bulbs
When measuring the length of the hoof, do not measure the heel buttress, only the weight-bearing area of the hoof wall.

Width
Measure the width at the widest part of the hoof.

Size post-trim
If after a fresh trim the hoof is for example 115mm wide and 120mm long, we recommend size 120 with Flex Pads to accommodate slight hoof growth between trims.

Growth speed
If the last trim was, say 3 weeks ago, and the hoof measurements are the same as right after the trim (115mm wide, 120mm long), then size 110 would be best, as long as you trim frequently enough to keep the hooves from getting any bigger.

Hoof shape
Flex Boots suit many different shape and size hooves. However, if the hoof width is over 10mm greater than the length, our boots are not ideal for your horse.

Twist
If the hoof is very narrow and the horse has a habit of twisting its legs a lot, it may be that our flexible boot is not suitable for your horse.

Measure your horse's hooves and compare the measurements to the chart below.

Take the measurement a day or two after the hooves have been trimmed, and make sure to measure all four feet, as they may differ in size.

Flex Hoof Boots do require an accurate fit, so I recommend that you take photo measurements (as shown) and email them to me so I can double check the sizing for you.

How long do Flex Hoof Boots last?

This depends on many things; how the horse moves (uses his body), how fast the horse travels, how often the boots are used, on what kind of terrain they are used, whether the owner is doing a weekly maintenance trim, and so on. Extreme disciplines cause boots to wear out faster than boots in recreational use, just like a marathon runner wears out their running shoes faster than someone who runs just for fun.
Flex hoof boots are very durable when you offer the horse a trim based on anatomy, and when his body is balanced; our clients have reported using them from anywhere between 500-2000 km or 300-1200 miles. Considering that an average hack is 2-3 miles long, that's at least a hundred rides or more!
It's worth emphasizing though, that because Flex boots are soft boots, we can’t guarantee that they will last a minimum distance or number of riders on your horse. It all depends on conditions, use and care of the horse and its hooves. You can read more about this in our fitting guide.

Why should I trim my horse's hooves every couple of weeks?

You don’t need to, if the hooves stay in shape. If your horse has ideal living conditions and wears its hooves at the same rate they grow, consider yourself lucky! But if the hoof grows out of its natural anatomic shape and balance, the break over point moves forward. If that's the case then you do need to keep the hooves in shape by more frequent trimming. 
We are taught that hooves are supposed to be trimmed every 6-8 weeks. In most cases, this is far too long and the hooves can grow too much during the trim cycle. The guideline is that every time you see excess growth, you trim. So every time you pick the hooves, check if there is need for a small trim.
You don’t have to trim more than your horse’s anatomy requires. This is very important to understand and you should learn to do the maintenance trim yourself, for the benefit for your horse. Ask your farrier, barefoot trimmer or equine podiatrist to show you how to do a maintenance trim on your horse between their visits.

Can Flex Boots be used in 24/7 turnout?

Yes, you can use them 24/7, but you need to be aware that every horse acts differently when turned out. Some are calm, some tend to run around a lot, and so forth. So if your horse has a habit of running around, they spook easily, or have a tendency to over reach, then we recommend using bell boots to protect the Flex Hoof Boots.
We often use Flex Hoof Boots when turning out our horses if the ground is frozen during cold temperatures in the winter, or hard from dry weather in the summer. One of our horses wore the boots continuously for over three weeks at a time, and during this time we only took the boots off for daily grooming and to change the gaiters for clean ones when it was necessary. Even with such extensive wear, we didn’t see any rubbing or discomfort, and the boots lasted beautifully. That being said, some horses break their boots almost immediately when you let them loose, regardless of what brand of hoof boots they wear.

What warranty do you offer?

We offer a 90-day warranty from the date of purchase against defects in materials and workmanship for the products we manufacture. Normal or excessive wear of the product is not covered by the warranty.Excessive wear on one part of the boot is normally caused by an imbalance in the horse’s body or hooves, so keep this in mind when you start using Flex Boots. For example, if a horse wears the toe of the boots faster than other parts of it, this is usually due to issues with the horse’s neck/shoulders or pelvic/hind knee area, or the lack of proper trim. Just one centimetre of excess hoof wall length on toe area can cause excessive wear of the soft barefoot boots. Therefore, a weekly maintenance trim is important for making your Flex Boots last as long as possible.The warranty does not cover a product that has been damaged as a result of misuse or intentional damage, such as when a horse steps over the boots and the boots get damaged, rivets become loose, the gaiter’s rubber band breaks, marks that have been caused by ice or grass studs, or the horse has otherwise damaged the boots, or the user instructions are not followed when using the boots. The warranty does not cover the breakage of the boots caused by hooves that have not been trimmed correctly, or that are not trimmed often enough.If your horse has a tendency to over-reach, you may want to use bell boots over the boots to protect the boots from potential damage.

Can I use Flex Boots on rocky terrain?

Yes you can, and your horse will love them. Because of the design, material and structure of the sole, Flex Boots offer very good shock absorption. And if the horse is sore, you can add Flex Pads into the boots to make your horse even more comfortable. Our boots are as soft as they are for a reason: we want the horse’s soles to function in the boots as naturally as possible. Flex Boots offers maximum protection without making the hoof numb.

Are Flex Boots slippery?

No, they are not. Flex Hoof Boots have a great grip because of the material and structure of the sole.

Can you add studs to the boots?

Boots are sold without studs, but you can buy the studs separately. They are great for icy conditions, or if you need some extra grip for example of grass surfaces. All our boots come with pre-made holes that make adding studs easy. See the video below for instructions of how to add studs.

Are there problems with snow compaction when using Flex boots?

No. Due to the shape of the outside sole, there is no space where snow could collect and get compacted. Also, the studs are so small that they don’t collect snow like metal shoes with big studs do.

Will Flex Boots rub?

We have not discovered any rubbing whatsoever. Flex Boots are very soft and the durable neoprene gaiters make the boots very comfortable for the horse to wear. The gaiters are also changeable, and when the boots are fitted and adjusted properly, they fit the hooves snugly without any rubbing.

Why is it necessary to tighten the straps after a few steps?

After a few steps with the boots on, you might discover that the straps are too loose. This is because the horse’s toe has moved forward in the boot and is now in the correct position. To adjust the fit, you need to tighten the straps by one or two holes but make sure that after adjusting you can still comfortably insert two fingers under the pastern strap, and one finger snugly under the back strap. If you see that the pastern strap holes are stretched over the rivets, then the strap is too tight and you need to loosen it by one hole.

When should I use the higher or lower back strap settings?

Start with the higher setting, which is the initial setting and the one that works best for most horses. However, if the boot is slightly loose, or the horse has very slim legs, you may want to try the lower setting.

I discovered that during a ride, the back strap had opened. Why did this happen?

If the end of the strap is too long, then it may open more easily. After adjusting the strap, it’s recommended that you cut the extra length off to be sure that the strap will remain closed. Only one extra hole is needed past the strap closure.

How long does the Flex pad EVA last when used 24/7?

Like with everything, it depends on the horse. For example, one of our own horse’s feet are unbalanced, and he bears more weight on the lateral heels on his fronts. Because of this, the pads showing signs of wear in that part of the hooves in a few days, but we can still wear the same pads continuously for well over three weeks. In his hinds, which are balanced, the pads last at least three times longer. 
Understandably, softer material (Flex Hoof Boot) against hard material (your horse’s hoof) will wear out quicker. But the harder the material (as is the case with some other hoof boots on the market), the less comfort and shock absorption you get. So we have decided on a level of softness in our boots that offers an ideal combination of hard wearing boots and comfort for the horse. Flex pad kevlar is a great option for horses with unbalanced weight bearing.