Have you used hoof boots?

[Snowflake]

Have you guys tried hoof boots? If so, what brand/style? I have just bought my horse some cavallo simple boots but his feet are a bit too narrow to fit them properly. I'm looking at easyboot bare as they are on clearance and are apparently a better fit for smaller hooves. Anyone tried them?

Also, anyone got tips for picking out stuff that's set in hooves like concrete? -.- I have tried soaking his feet in water but it's not working. He has a few small rocks and a bit of wood compacted into the dirt that's dried as hard as concrete in his feet. apple cider vinegar maybe?

[*Ripley*]

I've used the cavallo hoof boots, which sound similar to what yours are. They fit when I kept my horse's hooves slightly longer during the spring, were good for riding on the roads. However, muddy trails would instantly suck the boots off. Mine were more for my horse's nervousness and pain on rocks. He has a smaller heel because of his thoroughbred feet and is kept barefoot 365 days a year. He gradually grew out of the pain as he became more used on trails.

Not sure about the concrete stuff. I've only run into that a couple times and most you just had to determinedly pick it out. Anything liquid should do it I would think. Maybe with soap mixed in as a lubricant.

[Snowflake]

I put in an order for easyboot bare last night. hopefully they arrive before the weekend so I can take Teddy out on the trails for a spin. Since the trails are on a mountain they are quite rocky in places and last time out his feet chipped quite a bit. They were quite hard and due for a trim so I think that's why they were worse than last time despite the trail being more dirt than rocks compared to a different one we went on (down the mountain as opposed to the bottom of it) and he was also freshly trimmed last time. He's been barefoot presumably since he got off the track age 10 and he's 17 now. Apparently trainers make their farriers give TB's almost zero heel so they can run faster.

The stuff in his feet actually turned out to be tar. TAR. I have no idea where it came from but it was in his paddock and obviously he stepped on it. Had to stand him on hot gravel so it would melt a bit and I could pick it out. So thats why water wasn't helping - it was just cooling it and making it harder to pick out. My poor horse