hoof boots

Renegade Hoof Boots, Oct 2012

/ Ashley Wingert / 12 Comments

Disclaimer: I work for Renegade Hoof Boots as of January 2012. My original review of Renegades was written in August 2008 and can be found here. Everything I wrote then still stands today. Four years later, I’m offering some updated tidbits and feedback garnered from putting thousands of miles in with these boots, as well as a few “things I’ve learned” both in using the boots for an extended period of time as well as working for the company.

Moving well for 19: Despite her fused hocks, Mimi still moves
well. Letting her go barefoot and booting to ride has allowed her
to stay sound. An easy-to-use, worry-free boot means booting
for just about every ride is no big deal.

I personally started using Renegades five years ago: “sometime” in the summer of 2007, after watching Dad use them for about a year (and waiting for him to wear through enough boots that I could snag a pair of the worn ones to test out).

IIRC, I think I tested them for about a month or so, then ordered my own pair…the same week as the upcoming ride I intended to use them at.

Blind faith, sheer stupidity, or desperation?

Nah…more like a way-too-intimate understanding of all the things that can go wrong using boots, and a rather fatalistic “How much worse could it be?” perspective, based on using and losing boots for the past four years of Mimi being barefoot.

I was a paranoid bundle of nerves at that ride, prone to either  calling to Dad or leaning over to check whether my boots were still on every time we:
-Went up a hill
-Went down a hill
-Went through rocks
-Went through sand
-Cantered
-Power-trotted

which meant I was doing a boot check every 5-10 minutes. Probably good we were doing the LD. But I finished the ride very impressed…and doing a 50-miler 3 months later with absolutely no problems sealed the deal.

In the course of five years, I’ve had very few problems with the boots. The few issues I’ve had have been related to user error, and with a better understanding of the mechanics of the boot and better trimming, I’ve had absolutely no problems for the last two-and-half years.

It’s taken a bit of experimenting, but I’ve finally found Mimi’s ideal sizes and I’m really happy with how they’re fitting her.

In no particular order, things I love about the Renegades:

– The design on the heel captivator and the way it moves with the horse means no rubbing or interference: the horse’s pasterns are allowed to flex and move comfortably. I’ve not encountered any kind of rubbing or pressure spots, even with riding in all the sand around here, plus some wet, rainy rides.
– The tread design provides great traction (excellent peace of mind for the times I ride the paved streets around the barn). As mentioned, I’ve done several rides that have involved wet stuff falling from the sky. Not all of them were in the fast-draining desert, either. One involved slick, slimy mud, wet leaves, narrow, technical trail, and an uphill climb. On that particular occasion, I credit the boots for keeping a minor slip from turning into a major wipeout.
– I also feel that the tread design is such that it provides excellent protection over rocks and rough terrain. Mimi is very surefooted and doesn’t take “ouchy” steps in her boots.
www.renegadehoofboots.com
– The colors! Maybe that makes me a shallow airhead…but I’ve always said if I can’t ride fast, I gotta ride pretty. I’m particularly attached to the orange: It’s bright, it’s visible, and it’s instantly recognizable. The copper is also very pretty (matches surprisingly well with a multitude of colors), and black is always a classic for a reason.
– Still super easy to apply and remove. I can boot my pony in two minutes. Removing them is even faster.
– Made in the USA. Support small business, independence, and entrepreneurial minds. Buying within the US supports a local economy as well as our national economy. Every part of the Renegade is made and assembled here in the USA. Doing so enables the company to provide closely-monitored quality control, catch and resolve any potential problems very quickly, provide local jobs, and give fast, reliable service. 
To address some of the previously-mentioned potential ‘cons’:
– “The velcro is the weak spot” It was: until the material was updated as of the spring of 2012. The hook-and-loop (Velcro) material is much stronger and grippier, and has been holding up well to mud, water, and sand.
– “Attaching to the saddle is more difficult” This can still be true…factory recommendation is to not leave them clipped off to the saddle, as the bouncing can stress the cables. Instead, check out the boot bags that SnugPax has made specifically to fit the Renegades. The bags easily attach to the saddle, and unless your boots are huge and take up the whole bag, I can fit a boot + stuff like horse snacks and e’lyte syringes in there as well.
– “Cost” No, at first blush, they’re not the least expensive option out there. But sit down for a moment and price out all of the other options out there, both shoes and other boots. How often will you have to bring a farrier out? Do you do your own trimming, or do you have to bring a trimmer out? How frequently? Are there any other add-ons to contribute to the base price? Can you replace parts if they break or wear out? What do they cost? Renegades are $169/pair. Each part is individually replaceable.
Four years later, I am even more excited about these boots. I can’t even begin to describe how thrilled I am to be working for the company, doing something I love, being able to share the passion I have for these boots, and I’m eagerly looking forward to things to come!
If you’re curious, or would like to discuss boots with me, leave a comment or email me at ashley@renegadehoofboots.com. 
We

LOVE

Our

Renegades

!!!


Fun With Boots

/ Ashley Wingert / 2 Comments
Destructo-Pony. Or, “Hoof Boot Crash Test Dummy”

Don’t let the sweet face fool you.  This innocent-looking little pony has been responsible for more personal property damage than multiple horses put together.  And by “personal property” I mean:

– fly masks
– lead ropes
– tail bags
– hoof boots
In her younger years, she was extremely oral.  The ends of lead ropes were her favorite victims of her chewing fetish, and the local tack shops loved me because I predictably was in to buy cheap nylon lead ropes every couple of months.  When I wasn’t buying lead ropes, I was buying fly masks or tail bags to replace the ones she had shredded beyond repair.

Fortunately, she eventually outgrew the chewing habit, I stopped using tail bags, and flymasks usually last at least a year+ these days.

But she is really hard on hoof boots.  I pulled her last set of shoes in the fall of 2004 and started using boots.    And she promptly started destroying them.  I tried everything that was on the market at that time available in her size.  With each boot I’d try, or boot modification/fix made, she’d find a new way to wreck it.  If there was a part that moved or was somehow attached, she’d find a way to either break it or detach it.

I went for a period of time there were just about every week, I was getting a box in the mail with either a new boot or spare parts, and I tip my hat to the truly patient customer service people at, what was at the time, Sportack.

I’m not sure what it is about this pony that makes her so hard on boots.  Her movement is very low to the ground… half the time, she just can’t be bothered to pick her feet up if the footing is good.

Fast forward through a couple of years of Interesting Times and Expanded Vocabulary to the summer of 2007, when I first started using Renegades on her.  That’s five years now that I’ve been using them and they’ve withstood the most pony abuse, even through the different trial-and-error sessions of figuring out what size works best for her.

In five years, she’s ripped one boot shell and broken one cable.  Worn out countless boot shells and Velcro straps, yes…but that’s only after 500-or-so miles of training and competing.

But even after five years, she’s been a head-scratching exasperation to size, especially her front hooves.  She’s gone back and forth between a size 00 and 0.  When freshly trimmed, her measurements were a classic size 00.  But the shape of the boot didn’t match her hoof quite right, so she always had a gap on the front, and I had to remain diligent in keeping her hoof constantly maintained.

So I’d try a size 0.  The boot shape was perfect…but they were big on her.  Not sloppy, but not ideal either. So going back and forth between sizes has been the story of my booting life with her…until recently.  Y’see, I forgot to take my own advice when it came to boot sizing: Their feet grow and change.

I’ve gotten so used to her “tiny” feet that I’ve been determined to keep them that way…not taking into account that, no, she’s not “getting long” but that her feet might naturally be getting larger.  I’ve been, in essence, “over-trimming” her and doing a major no-no in trimming the hoof to fit the boot, instead of evaluating the hoof for itself and then fitting the boot to match.

So Mimi got a break from my zealous over-trimming, and after letting her grow out for a month or so, I had more of a clean slate hoof to work with.  A minor trim later, I re-sized her for boots, and she’s moved up almost an entire size.

Her fronts now fit into a size 0-Narrow with a Cutback on the length, and her hinds fit into a 00 with a cutback.  And then we got to the fun part: the box of shiny new boots with her name (okay, mine, since that’s what’s on the mailbox…) on it.

Every girl loves to get new shoes boots

And yesterday, we had some fun putting them to the test in the roundpen.  Her outlook on the roundpen is a somewhat haphazard, no-holds-barred, cage-match type of game.  Which usually involves bucking, spinning, sliding stops, fast starts, sudden sprints…all the things that make me cringe and wait for her to go crashing into one of the panels.

In short, things that will test whether a pair of boots will stay on or not.

And I actually got pictures.  (Testing my camera to make sure it’s all systems go before Tevis.)

She starts off all slow and innocuous.

So I love the bright orange boots.  They look so good on her and they’re so noticeable.  The yellow looked good, but I love these even more!

Pausing to show off just how pretty she is. Once a show pony…

She’s actually good about giving herself a slow warm-up on her own.  Ambling along, checking out the scenery, until…

THIS happens. Something made noise next door and that was
all it took to set her off.

Once she’s going, she stays going.  Most of the time, she sticks to a trot.  And what a trot she has…still.  There’s a reason that she can keep up with 15+ hand Arabs that are cantering while she’s still trotting.  And while I rarely allow the big trot (cringing at the thought of tendon/ligament damage), it is pretty to look at.

All four off the ground!

I would have loved to GPS her.  Based on GPSing while riding, I know she’s capable of hitting 13-14mph at the trot.  She can make those little legs GO.

And go some more. Her roundpen canter is fast, and usually
involves one of her shotgun, drop-and-dig gymkhana starts.

Her canter isn’t the greatest anymore…fused hocks tend to make an already- rough canter even worse.  So she usually prefers to trot, and under saddle, I have to really hold her in a frame to encourage a good canter.  But in the roundpen, she really digs in and lets fly.

With all of her sliding stops, spins, and crowhops, I was kind
of glad not to be on her back.  Really, she’s 19…

I think she enjoys playing in the roundpen.  I’ve always kept it low-pressure, choosing to go for more of the fun, “let’s dance” route, versus the “drive you around in fast circles until your little eyes are bugging out and you’re begging to stop” approach.  So consequently, it’s more of a game for her.  She would do some laps, then she’d slow down and come into the center where I was.  She’d pause, I’d scratch her head, then she’d send herself back out and pick up the speed again.  I generally let her pick her pace and change directions on her terms, stepping in once and a while to make sure she ends up going both ways an approximately equal amount of time.

She really likes her boots. I get the best movement out of her
when has them on. She’s capable of going bare, but at this point,
she still prefers her boots. We’re working on it.

She had quite a little ‘tude going yesterday…in a good way.  Lots of changes of direction that involved her skidding to a stop, spinning around, crowhopping and kicking up a few times, leaping, half stepping on herself, then sprinting off.

Pony + Mare ‘tude

All maneuvers that are pretty hard on boots.  She put a lot of torque on them, and the roundpen is all sand.  When we were done, there was a collective teaspoon or so of dirt/sand in the boots.  I’m sure stuff was getting in the boots as she was going…you can see how much sand she’s kicking up in some of the above pics.  But the open-back design of the Renegades allows most of the sand and dirt to filter out.

And the best part was that after her workout, her boots hadn’t budged.  The pic of her displaying her new boots in the barn aisle was actually taken after her workout, and they hadn’t shifted or re-adjusted at all, which is a really good sign that I’ve got the fit down and they didn’t shuffle to a “better fitting” position.
The roundpen is a good start for testing, but now I can’t wait to get out on trail and really see how they do!
So today’s take-away lesson?  Horse’s hooves can change, even ones that have been barefoot for a while.  Periodically check and reassess boot fit and sizing. 
Oh, yeah, and I love my Renegades.
So does my pony.

playing catch-up

/ Ashley Wingert / 6 Comments

Been rather busy for the past couple of weeks…nothing monumental, just lots of stuff that’s been keeping me occupied.  My parents and I did a massive garage consolidation and reorganization over the past two weekends.  It looks great, really organized and easy to find stuff now…I need to put a few finishing touches on some of the drawers where I store most of the horse stuff, but for now, it’s out of sight-out of mind…mostly.

And look what came in the mail earlier this week:

“Official” Renegade orange boots

We’re official now!  The orange is Renegade’s signature color, so we felt it only appropriate that my pony be sporting that color on her boots.  I’ve grown really fond of the orange, and it even looks good with our existing purple color scheme.  After all, purple/orange has worked for the Phoenix Suns for years.

Could we be any more matchy-matchy?
Mimi has decided that June is her favorite month this year…she’s feeling very good, flirting with everything that has four legs and hooves.  *sigh*  Her hormones didn’t get the memo that she’s 19.
Shameless flirt, talking to her favorite boyfriend

She got a really good workout this morning, breaking in her new boots with an hour in the sand arena.  We definitely put them to the test, messing with the fit of the hind boots.  She’s technically a size 000, her hind feet are so tiny.  But we’ve always been able to jerry-rig the 00 boots to fit, thanks to doing some custom shims in the sides.  

The only catch?  I always got my new boots at rides, where Kirt was on hand to be able to do the shims right then and there for me.  Since I’m not going to rides with the pony anymore, that sort of takes away that option.  However, it’s also one of those little tricks I need to learn to do anyway, so I’ll probably be messing with that in short order.  Once I do, I’ll definitely get pictures and post about it, since it’s bound to be a novel experience.
All spiffed up…the bright orange looks good
on her! Ignore her grumpy looks…she is really
not fond of mornings.

Really not sure what else I might have missed…like I said, staying busy and trying to duck the worst of the summer heart.  It’s officially monsoon season now, which brings at least the hope of afternoon monsoon storms.

Tevis 2012: 9 Weeks and Counting

/ Ashley Wingert / 4 Comments

Okay, so anyone who knows me or has followed this blog for any period of time knows I am a certified (certifiable?) Tevis NUT.  Never mind I’ve not gotten to the point of actually riding it…but just crewing has been enough to get me hooked.  Actually, just reading about it was enough to get me hooked.

And as cliche as it is, wanting to do Tevis was why I got into endurance riding.

So that’s a bit of obligatory backstory.

But I’m super-excited because I get to go up to Tevis again this year!  In an official work capacity, no less.  I’ll be up there several days ahead of time to help with Renegade booting, and then get tons of pictures and generally provide a helping hand to our riders throughout the ride.

In my world, attending the ride is the next best thing to finally being able to ride it.

I’ve already made plans to meet up with a couple of blog-buddies, which is super-exciting, as well as being able to re-connect with friends that are in the area.  If you’re planning to come out to Tevis, either to ride or spectate, come find me!  I’ll be at the Fairgrounds Wednesday and Thursday, booting, then Robie Park Friday, and doing the whole “follow the ride” thing Saturday.  Just look for the bright orange boots!

New and Upcoming from Renegade®

/ Ashley Wingert / 2 Comments

There’s been some new and exciting stuff happening in the Land of Renegade® Hoof Boots!

First of all, we’ve got a new blog/news site!  Check it out at http://www.renegadehorseboot.com/.  It’s got a whole brand-new news section, a FAQ section, photos, videos, and more!

To go along with that, we’re starting a newsletter!  Sign up by June 30th and be entered to win a pair of Renegade® boots and one of our awesome Renegade® t-shirts!

Finally, did you know we recently upgraded the hook-and-loop material that makes up the toe straps?  It’s a much sturdier, very sticky material that has been holding up great to water, mud, and sand. I tested them out on Sunday’s ride and I can concur: These things are sticky!  Rode through our standard desert offering of sand and rocks, came back to the barn and hosed the boots off, and after that, couldn’t even tell the straps had been used!  Check out the full announcement on the News Page!