For horses that wear shoes, bell boots can prevent them from pulling shoes off when a hind foot clips the back of a front shoe. One of the most durable types of bell boots are rubber pull-ons. Putting them on and taking them off your horse’s feet, however, might not seem intuitive at first. We’re here to help! To put rubber bell boots on your horse, follow these steps:
- Make sure he’s tied or cross-tied so he stands still.
- Brush the lower leg, particularly the fetlock (or ankle) area to remove dirt or debris.
- Take one bell boot, and flip it inside out.
- Approach your horse from the side and, facing his tail, run your hand down his shoulder and the back of his leg, applying light pressure with your fingers to ask him to lift his foot just as you would when picking out his feet.
- Hold the hoof capsule with one hand and pull the bell boot over the toe, large opening first, stretching and sliding it over the entire foot and heel until it’s around the fetlock.
- Gently place your horse’s foot back on the ground and flip the bell boot right side out, making sure it fits securely over the entire back of your horse’s foot.
Rubber bell boots are designed to stretch easily over the hoof, but if your pair is particularly stiff, soak them in hot water for two minutes before putting them on. To take rubber bell boots off your horse when he’s not turned out or exercising, pick up his foot and turn so you’re facing his head. Rest the toe of his hoof on your thigh, grab the top of the bell boot, and pull it over the horse’s heel until it slides over and off the foot.
Here’s a video demonstrating the steps described above:
Related Reading: The Different Types of Leg Protection for Horses
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