Do mules and donkeys need boots?
I'd like to say that my barefoot animals never need hoof protection. But the truth is, sometimes in the back country when the terrain rougher than what my animals are accustomed to living and working on, they need hoof protection.
Most often, boots on the front feet are sufficient. Personally in fact, I have not found a time when I had to use boots all the way around, but I know that there are times when certain animals in certain circumstances will need them.
Don't let your pride get in the way. Give your animals the protection that they deserve. Do not do your animals the disservice of leaving their boots behind unless you are familure with the terrain and absolutely certain that they will not need them where you are riding. There are too many sad stories from people saying "I didn't think that they would need them" and they ended up walking home leading a lame horse or mule. That isn't fair to the animal. With just a few minutes of preparation you both can enjoy the outing.
Most often, boots on the front feet are sufficient. Personally in fact, I have not found a time when I had to use boots all the way around, but I know that there are times when certain animals in certain circumstances will need them.
Don't let your pride get in the way. Give your animals the protection that they deserve. Do not do your animals the disservice of leaving their boots behind unless you are familure with the terrain and absolutely certain that they will not need them where you are riding. There are too many sad stories from people saying "I didn't think that they would need them" and they ended up walking home leading a lame horse or mule. That isn't fair to the animal. With just a few minutes of preparation you both can enjoy the outing.
Hoof Boots for Horse and Mules
Yes sometimes mules and donkeys need hoof protection. Mules and donkeys have thicker soles and walls...and basically have a stronger hoof, but as you head into the high country or if you are transitioning a difficult case you may find that they need boots. I have found that the Glove and the Epic are working for myself and a few of my clients that are using them in the high country. Also another friend has found that the "Bare" is working well for her mule.
Sometimes it is a little more difficult to fit the longears because their hooves are narrow vs. the rounder hoof of the horse. I have found tat following the manufacturers sizing chart usually doesn't work for the mules and donkeys. So the following measuring tips might be of help when you're trying to figure out what size boot to start with.
THE GLOVE
Pictured above are Abby and Rosa wearing their "Glove" boots. Personally, I have found that the"Glove" works the best for my mules. The sleeker lines of the boot give it a lot more eye appeal for me. In fact, a lot of times, people don't even notice that they have them on.
Measuring Tips:
I have found that if you measure from the tip of the toe to the back of the heel buttress and ignore the frog that sticks out behind the hoof that you can find a boot that will fit the mules pretty closely. (Refer to slide 63 in the Donkey and Mule slideshow)The frog base sticks out behind the heel base on mules and donkeys and on most mules sits slightly above the ground level. That part of the frog can easily sit on the slight lift in the back of the glove and also the Epic. Funny, but its almost as if it were made with the mule in mind. In your overall length measurement, that makes about a 1/2" difference in total length and enables you to get into a smaller boot thereby allowing you to get that narrower boot that you need for the more oval hoof of the equine. If that boot is still too wide and the V in the front isn't stretched open, you might consider applying the "Power Strap" to the boot to help stabilize it. It may take some patience on your part and some creative ideas, but if you are determined you can succeed.
In the first photo Rosa is wearing a pair of "Epics" on the Ladies Pack Trip to the Trinity Wilderness. The next photo shows that the Glove is working equally as well for my mule and my horse at the Blue Lake Fish Pack in. Rosa is wearing a Sz. 00 and Dakara the horse is wearing a Sz. 3. Quite a difference in size and shape but still doing the job for both animals.