6 Top Ways Cavallo Boots Help your Horse on Gravel
Gravel. It Can Be a Problem for Any Horse. (Unless they have Cavallos!)
Whether barefoot or shod, gravel can ruin your horse’s level of enjoyment and can even cause serious injury. While you can control the footing around your horse’s barn and known areas, there’s a common fear of arriving at a show, clinic, or trail ride to find a parking lot full of small, sharp stones. The beauty is, if your horse is barefoot, he can feel his feet. If there’s a damaging stone under one hoof, he’ll naturally weight the others and avoid a stone bruise. This isn’t true for the shod horse, who doesn’t have a whole lot of sensation in his hoof. And sometimes the terrain doesn’t allow an option—so no matter the terrain, or whether your horse is shod or barefoot, Cavallo Hoof Boots come to the rescue!
Gravel Pain and Perils
For a freshly barefoot horse, gravel can cause hoof sensitivity with only a few steps. While horses’ hooves can easily be conditioned and hardened to walk on any ground, sharp gravel can cause pain because of its sharp edges. At liberty, horses can pick their way through almost anything, zigging and zagging. But when we need them to go somewhere and especially if they have the additional weight of a rider on their back, they do indeed need hoof protection. Cavallo Boots help horses –of all sizes & disciplines—when traveling on rough terrain. Outfit your horse with Cavallos in the trailer and he’ll be ready to step out onto any ground.
Here are 6 Ways Cavallo Boots Will Make your Horse Love Gravel
1. Navigate Showgrounds with Ease
Many show organizations now allow horses to compete barefoot. The footing in the warmup pens and show pens is full of groomed footing made to help horses move well. But often the parking lots and paths to the manicured rings are lined with gravel. This is the perfect time to add your Cavallo Boots to protect your horse’s soles.
2. Rodeo Horses Master Gravel
Barrel racers on the competitive circuits have been using Cavallo hoof boots this season to help their horses gain traction and have support in the trailer then prep them to walk on gravel at various show grounds. A lot of areas barrel racers stop at to stretch their horses’ legs while trailering long distances are also gravel-covered, so Cavallos come in handy there as well. Once in the arena with no incumbrance of metal shoes, horses can fly around those barrels barefoot! When I barrel raced, I shaved 1.2 seconds off my time when I started racing with my horse barefoot!
3. For the Thin-soled or Laminitic Horse
If you know your horse has thin soles, hoof boots are the ultimate protection to avoid time off. Horses with thin soles or past Laminitis prefer softer ground. If gravel is present, a thin-soled horse or one who has experienced Lamititis may be in instant pain. Using Cavallo Boots with our Cavallo Pads for even more cushioning can help these horses on any footing, especially when traveling over gravel.
4. Train Anywhere you Like
Cavallo Boots are becoming a common part of training equines for events and shows. Not everyone has constant access to an arena for training. After returning from the 2019 American Miniature Horse Association World Championships, Kerri gave credit to her Cavallo CLB Boots for the role they played in the months before their big wins:
“Without a big indoor arena, the only place we can teach our miniature horses to drive a cart is on our long gravel driveway. Our Cavallo hoof boots protect their hooves from the rocks while driving. Our mini, Hughie (TWFS Moonlight Playboy), would not have been able to win World Champion in a driving class this year without his Cavallo Hoof Boots. He moves great in them and it does not affect his action. He has never had a boot slide off while working.”
-Kerri Postletheweight, AMHA member
5. Minis have it Made!
Miniature horses are often barefoot—even when they are in heavy training. When they compete in driving competitions, they need protection from the harsh ground conditions just like their taller cousins. Cavallo hoof boots can help miniature horses move from the trailer to the driving courses and many drivers use the boots to help the horses gain traction while on the courses. The CLB also provides a barrier against the discomfort of sharp gravel and uneven ground for therapy horses going to and from hospitals and care homes. Read more about how the Cavallo CLB Boot can help mini equines HERE!
6. Driving Without Limits
Horses of all sizes enjoy the relief of boots while driving on gravelly surfaces. Cavallo Boots minimizes fatigue by offering shock absorption and providing solid footing on sharp, crunchy gravel. Horses can go farther and for longer time periods in comfort, and you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they’re enjoying the drive right along with you.
We recently heard from Tracy Keretesh, who sent us the lovely photo above: “I purchased Cavallo Trek horse boots and how amazing it is to do a decent pace over gravel roads without fear of stone bruises.”
Nicole Pinto is the owner of Pinto Carriage Works in Florida. She often gives us reports about how her hard-working horses are enjoying their boots: “Thank you for helping my fur-babies. Fun fact: I have a lot of birthday party guests who comment on their boots and are impressed that we are looking after their feet. We also have one wedding venue that will only use us because we use boots (they have a lot of gravel and have horses themselves.) The boots help show the public that we care about our babies.”
Here’s what a few horse owners have to say:
Horsewyse Equestrian Magazine Editor Weighs In
Jenny Farthing, Editor of Horsewyse Magazine, AUS wrote to say, “I love watching them ride in the Trek boots because you don’t see Mistie flinch when she has to go across gravel, and I know that her hooves are now protected no matter what she steps on. She is a lovely moving pony, and her movement and general feel when riding her hasn’t been altered by wearing the boots. Her extended trot is still amazing to watch!”
Olympic Rider Uses Cavallo Boots on Gravel
Jacqueline Brooks, Olympic Canadian Team Dressage Rider says, “I decided during the Covid break to let all my horses go barefoot until I felt they needed shoes again. As time went by, I found there was little reason to return to shoes. My horses feel wonderful on footing, have no trouble with our grass and all-weather paddocks and, so far, all the jog strips have been rubber or footing. The only place I struggled with this decision was in the areas around the stabling at shows where there was primarily gravel and stones. These boots have been a godsend! The horses are now completely comfortable going to and from the ring on any footing. They are amazing! Horses are so confident on the gravel! Lots of people asked where to get them at the show this past weekend! They are also extremely comfortable in the gravel wash racks. I was so relieved to partner with Cavallo and to be able to maintain performing at this level of competition barefoot!!”
Driving on Gravel Roads in Arizona
Susan Remillard of Grand Canyon Junction, Arizona reports, “Just a note to let you know how much we love the Trek Hoof Boots! I drive my horse, Taz, because I can no longer ride (because of my legs). When riding, you can better choose where you travel. When driving, you may not have that choice. Using the Trek Boots, I can protect Taz’s hooves when the road is very gravelly, or where they put down cinders (which can be very sharp). We go out for hours at a time, and I’m very pleased with how they wear. I tried other boots… these are easy on/off, and I don’t have to mess with the fit. He has never been footsore! How many people can say they are using the same boots after a year? Yup, still got good tread on the bottoms. We are thrilled with the Treks.”