Fitting & Sizing
Options for fitting your horse by Jeannette:
1. REMOTE fitting- After you send me pictures (see below), I mail you fitting shells that you try on your horse and we discuss. A $50 deposit on the "Fit Kit" will be charged before mailing you the kit. Your deposit will be applied to the cost of new boots when the Fit Kit is returned. In the event that you do not purchase boots from Jeannette/Scoot Boots NY, your deposit will be refunded minus $25 to cover the shipping costs. A return shipping label will be sent with the Fit Kit.
2. TRAILER your horse(s) to my farm in Hubbardsville, NY (or to Brookfield's Moscow Hill Assembly Area during riding season) for a 'live' fitting - by appointment only.
***Before a horse is fitted either remotely or live, a full set of pictures -following the directions below and taken the day of a fresh trim- must be sent to Jeannette by email or Face Book Messenger. This is to help to determine if your horse's feet are candidates for Scoot Boots.
ScootBootsNY@gmail.com
facebook.com/ScootBootsNY
- How to Measure Your Horse's Feet -
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING HOOF PICTURES
Please ensure your horse's hooves have had a correct trim and are clean before you take pictures. (You can find more information on correct trimming below.)
The best time to take pictures is right after a fresh trim.
All you need to do is take four pictures of each hoof needing boots as per the images below:
First picture - start your tape measure at the center of the toe and work backwards over the frog towards the heels. Do not start at the heels and work forward. Take the picture parallel to and as close as you can get to the hoof.
Second picture - place your tape measure across the widest part of the hoof. Do not cover the tape measure with your fingers. Take the picture parallel to and as close as you can get to the hoof.
Third picture - front of hoof which shows shape. Hint- place the phone/camera on the ground directly in front of the hoof so as not to distort the hoof angle with camera angle. Try to safely get as close as possible to fill the camera frame with hoof image.
Fourth picture - lateral (outside) view of the hoof which shows shape. Hint- place the phone/camera on the ground parallel to the side of the hoof so as not to distort the hoof angle by having the camera tilted. Try to safely get as close as possible to fill the camera frame with hoof image.
***Label your photos as LF (left front), RF (right front), LR (left rear), RR (right rear)
***Important- indicate in your email/message the date that the pictures were taken and the date of the last trim.
***It is very difficult to take useable pictures by yourself. Ask a friend to take the pictures while you hold the foot and measuring tape. Of ask your trimmer to help you take the photos after each foot has been freshly trimmed.
***Email your pictures to Jeannette at: ScootBootsNY@gmail.com
After Jeannette has reviewed your pictures, she will contact you to discuss how to best proceed in either fitting live or remotely.
CORRECT TRIMMING for Scoot Boots~
The terms "barefoot trimming" or a "natural trim" are used to describe a trimming method which replicates the shape of a wild horse's hoof where the horse had been running free over large areas of rocky, sandy terrain. It has been shown that these wild horses, with low heels, short rolled toes and wide, flat, hard frogs are less prone to hoof and lower leg injuries compared to domesticated shod horses.
The images below show a "naturally" trimmed and highly functional hoof suitable for Scoot Boots.
SCOOT BOOTS ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR
- Hooves with high heels, long toes or flared hoof walls
- Clubbed feet
- Hooves that are more than 10mm (3/8") wider than longer or more than 10mm - (3/8") narrower than the hoof length measurement
The Scoot Boot fits a larger range of hoof sizes than any other hoof boot on the market today. It is important that your horse's hooves have been trimmed correctly to ensure you are purchasing the correct size Scoot Boots.
To ensure your horse has had a correct trim - this means low heels, no flare and bevelled hoof edges and rolled toe:
The heel height should range from 0mm (0") to a maximum of 15mm (5/8") from the bottom of the collateral groove to the top of the heel at the heel buttress (this is to ensure that the horse's frogs have sufficient ground contact)
The ideal angle of the hairline at the coronet should be at least 30 degrees which will ensure the coffin/pedal bone is ground parallel
The toes must be short and rolled to approximately 45 degrees to ensure correct breakover
The outer periphery of the hoof wall at the ground surface has been rounded to prevent chipping and the quarters have been lowered to prevent flaring
The two obvious indicators that your horse's heels are long are the frog shape and texture and the angle of the hair line at the coronet.
A proper functioning frog is essential to the overall health of your horse. It is important that the frog has proper ground contact because it is responsible for the following important functions:
Placing pressure on the digital cushion to assist blood circulation throughout the hoof capsule and the horse's body and limbs
Absorption of concussion directed at the hoof capsule
Provides traction for the horse
Plays an important role in preventing contraction of the hoof
If the frogs do not have sufficient ground contact due to excessive heel height, they will be narrow, high, soft and have a rubbery texture. The above functions will then be impeded. A healthy functioning frog should be wide, flat and firm in texture and this can only be achieved with adequate ground contact.The second obvious indicator is the angle of the hairline at the coronet.The ideal angle should be at least 30 degrees, which will ensure the coffin/pedal bone is ground parallel. If your horse's hairline is close to being ground parallel then you have hoof issues to address.
