[drivingpairs] boots for minis

Last spring I set on a journey to find boots for
Angel.  Although she has a 3" round hoof, I found that
the Pony sized (smaller than 000) EZ boot was really
bigger.  The metal top of the boot cut her cornet band
and made it bleed.   The other problem is that there
is a lip at the back of the boot where the strap is. 
The back feet would hit that lip and pull off the
front boot when we did a substantial trot.

I researched http://www.sabresneaker.com and found it
wasn't a driving boot.

Then I looked at http://www.supremeequinedesign.com/
and I was pretty impressed.   But it did state that
the shoe wouldn't be tough enough for big hills etc. 
Well I have a street with big hills.

I ended up buying a semi custom set of boots from
http://www.horsesneaker.com/

These aren't bad - wonderful to put on and take off. 
They do not stay on very well *for me* in mud or if I
run fast through a pasture, but they work well in wet
weather when I am forced to trot for long distances up
and down my paved hilly street.  They add a cushin
besides protecting the hoof.

Understand the mini owner perspective.  Most mini
owners do not come from a *big* horse background.  
Breed showing requires bare feet.  When you are
driving in a breed show, the head must be up and in
regardless of what the hind quarters are doing. 
Harnesses with minimal straps are encouraged to show
off as much of the horse as possible without getting
in the way.  

There are many in-hand classes like jumping, trail and
obstacle etc.

Since most minis have tough fast growing feet AND most
mini owners do NOT trail drive their little horses,
the need for boots is minimal.  

Of course it doesn't help mini-owners like me and
Linda that uses their minis to compete against regular
horses and poinies, do CDE's etc.

Martha in VA

=====
See minis in action!
http://www.minihorsecde.com/photo_album.html
and
http://www.minihorsecde.com/

"The true adventure in competition 
is not in the winning, but discovering
the best in ourselves and our animals."
Author unknown
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