Question 1

Where can I buy Flex Hoof Boots?

Accepted Answer

MKS Equine are the sole disctributor of Flex Boots in Australia and New Zealand. You can purchase the hoof boots and all accessories directly from our online store.
 
In addition, there are carefully selected barefoot trimmers in Australia and New Zealand who stock Flex Boots. You can find their contact details on the stockists page.
 
Flex Boots also have approved retailers in countries around the world, you can view details of these by visiting the Flex brand main page.

Question 2

Why should I trim my horse's hooves every couple of weeks?

Accepted Answer

You don’t need to, if the hooves stay in shape. If your horse has ideal living conditions and wears its hooves at the same rate they grow, consider yourself lucky! But if the hoof grows out of its natural anatomic shape and balance, the brake over point moves forward. If that's the case then you do need to keep the hooves in shape by more frequent trimming.

We are taught that hooves are supposed to be trimmed every 6-8 weeks. In most cases, this is far too long and the hooves can grow too much during the trim cycle. The guideline is that every time you see excess growth, you trim. So every time you pick the hooves, check if there is need for a small trim.

You don’t have to trim more than your horse’s anatomy requires. This is very important to understand and you should learn to do the maintenance trim yourself, for the benefit for your horse. Ask your farrier, barefoot trimmer or equine podiatrist to show you how to do a maintenance trim on your horse between their visits.

Question 3

How long do Flex Hoof Boots last?

Accepted Answer

This depends on many things; how the horse moves (uses his body), how fast the horse travels, how often the boots are used, on what kind of terrain they are used, whether the owner is doing a weekly maintenance trim, and so on. Extreme disciplines cause boots to wear out faster than boots in recreational use, just like a marathon runner wears out their running shoes faster than someone who runs just for fun.
Flex hoof boots are very durable when you offer the horse a trim based on anatomy, and when his body is balanced; our clients have reported using them from anywhere between 500-2000 km or 300-1200 miles. Considering that an average hack is 2-3 miles long, that's at least a hundred rides or more!
It's worth emphasising though, that because Flex boots are soft boots, we can’t guarantee that they will last a minimum distance or number of riders on your horse. It all depends on conditions, use and care of the horse and its hooves. You can read more about this in our fitting guide.

Question 4

Can I use Flex Boots on rocky terrain?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can, and your horse will love them. Because of the design, material and structure of the sole, Flex Boots offer very good shock absorption. And if the horse is sore, you can add Flex Pads into the boots to make your horse even more comfortable. Our boots are as soft as they are for a reason: we want the horse’s soles to function in the boots as naturally as possible. Flex Boots offers maximum protection without making the hoof numb.

Question 5

Are Flex Boots slippery?

Accepted Answer

No, they are not. Flex Hoof Boots have a great grip because of the material and structure of the sole.

Question 6

Can you add studs to the boots?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Boots are sold without studs, but you can buy the studs separately. They are great for icy conditions, or if you need some extra grip for example of grass surfaces. All our boots come with pre-made holes that make adding studs easy. See the Flex Boots YouTube channel for instructions of how to add studs.

Question 7

Are there problems with snow compaction when using Flex boots?

Accepted Answer

No. Due to the shape of the outside sole, there is no space where snow could collect and get compacted. Also, the studs are so small that they don’t collect snow like metal shoes with big studs do.

Question 8

Will Flex Boots rub?

Accepted Answer

We have not discovered any rubbing whatsoever. Flex Boots are very soft and the durable neoprene gaiters make the boots very comfortable for the horse to wear. The gaiters are also changeable, and when the boots are fitted and adjusted properly, they fit the hooves snugly without any rubbing.

Question 9

Why is it necessary to tighten the straps after a few steps?

Accepted Answer

After a few steps with the boots on, you might discover that the straps are too loose. This is because the horse’s toe has moved forward in the boot and is now in the correct position. To adjust the fit, you need to tighten the straps by one or two holes but make sure that after adjusting you can still comfortably insert two fingers under the pastern strap, and one finger snugly under the back strap. If you see that the pastern strap holes are stretched over the rivets, then the strap is too tight and you need to loosen it by one hole.

Question 10

When should I use the higher or lower back strap settings?

Accepted Answer

Start with the higher setting, which is the initial setting and the one that works best for most horses. However, if the boot is slightly loose, or the horse has very slim legs, you may want to try the lower setting.

Question 11

I discovered that during a ride, the back strap had opened. Why did this happen?"

Accepted Answer

If the end of the strap is too long, then it may open more easily. After adjusting the strap, it’s recommended that you cut the extra length off to be sure that the strap will remain closed. Only one extra hole is needed past the strap closure.

Question 12

Can Flex Boots be used in 24/7 turnout?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can use them 24/7, but you need to be aware that every horse acts differently when turned out. Some are calm, some tend to run around a lot, and so forth. So if your horse has a habit of running around, they spook easily, or have a tendency to over reach, then we recommend using bell boots to protect the Flex Hoof Boots.

We often use Flex Hoof Boots when turning out our horses if the ground is frozen during cold temperatures in the winter, or hard from dry weather in the summer. One of our horses wore the boots continuously for over three weeks at a time, and during this time we only took the boots off for daily grooming and to change the gaiters for clean ones when it was necessary. Even with such extensive wear, we didn’t see any rubbing or discomfort, and the boots lasted beautifully. That being said, some horses break their boots almost immediately when you let them loose, regardless of what brand of hoof boots they wear.

Question 13

How long does the Flex EVA pads last when used 24/7?

Accepted Answer

Like with everything, it depends on the horse. For example, one of our own horse’s feet are unbalanced, and he bears more weight on the lateral heels on his fronts. Because of this, the pads showing signs of wear in that part of the hooves in a few days, but we can still wear the same pads continuously for well over three weeks. In his hinds, which are balanced, the pads last at least three times longer.

Understandably, softer material (Flex Hoof Boot) against hard material (your horse’s hoof) will wear out quicker. But the harder the material (as is the case with some other hoof boots on the market), the less comfort and shock absorption you get. So we have decided on a level of softness in our boots that offers an ideal combination of hard wearing boots and comfort for the horse. Flex pad kevlar is a great option for horses with unbalanced weight bearing.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Get answers to the most common questions regarding Flex Boots.