The 9 Best Horse Boots

For trail rides on a barefoot horse, the Cavallo Trek slips over the hoof and closes with one wide strap. A breathable mesh upper is kind to the pastern, and holes in the sole drain water after a creek crossing. Each boot fits a left or right foot and is sold alone, so fronts and hinds can be sized apart. The strap is replaceable. A boot that's the wrong size can twist or come off at the trot.

The Professional's Choice Ballistic Bell Boot guards the heel bulbs and front shoes from a hind foot that reaches too far forward. A tough textured shell sits over shock-absorbing neoprene with a soft lining, and it wraps on with hook and loop, so there's no stretching it over the hoof. It suits a horse that pulls shoes or nicks its heels in work or turnout. Like any neoprene boot it holds heat, so take it off after a hot ride.

With a leather upper and a sole hollowed out in the middle, the Cavallo Simple takes pressure off the center of a sore foot. Cavallo pitches it for trail work and for rehab after abscesses, bruised soles or laminitis, so bring your vet or farrier into that plan. Two hook-and-loop straps hold it on, and it comes as a pair. The leather needs conditioning, and Cavallo warns that a hoof wider than it is long won't fit.

A budget buy for turnout and everyday work, the Harrison Howard Rubber Bell Boots come as two pairs, so there's a spare set when one goes missing in the mud. The thick rubber shrugs off water, the inside is smooth to limit rubbing, and a doubled touch-close strap lets them wrap on instead of being stretched over the hoof. Rubber traps a lot of heat, so check the heels for sweat and rubs after a long day.

Straps and buckles are missing on purpose from the Equine Fusion Active Jogging Shoe. A stretchy upper hugs the foot and a small locking cone on the side holds it shut, which leaves the heel free to flex with each step. The grippy sole comes from the brand's all-terrain model, and the toe is padded. It's sold as a pair for front feet. It's a big outlay, and most praise comes from the maker and its sellers.

Built to fit like a sock, the Easyboot Glove Soft hugs the hoof wall closely, so there's little room for sticks and grit to work in. Two layers of neoprene form a stretchy gaiter, and a rugged tread grips on trails or in the arena. EasyCare backs it with a 45-day guarantee. That close fit is also the catch: it has to be sized right after a fresh trim, and a foot that grows out between trims can stop fitting.

If wrestling a boot onto a hoof sounds like a chore, the Easyboot Trail opens all the way up, so the foot steps in and the boot closes around it. A tough shield wraps the front and a padded neoprene band sits at the top. Each boot is sold alone, which helps when front and hind feet differ. EasyCare also suggests it for turnout and therapy. Owner feedback on this version is still thin, so fit reports are scarce.

The Easyboot Cloud is a therapy boot, not a riding boot. A thick cushioned pad eases horses with laminitis, thin soles, abscesses or founder, and it softens hard stall floors and long trailer rides. A tough nylon upper closes with a tall hook-and-loop cuff, and each boot is sold alone. Use it as part of a vet or farrier's plan. A boot worn for days can trap moisture against the hoof, so take it off and check the foot daily.

When a vet asks you to soak an abscess or keep a poultice in place, the Tough 1 Hoof Saver holds the medicine against the foot without a messy wrap of tape. Three layers of rubber and fabric make it tough, and a flexible top with one strap lets it slip on and off. It's sold one at a time in several sizes. It isn't built for riding, and rubber gets hot and sweaty, so keep it to treatment sessions.