Cavallo (CLB) For Minis

The CLB Bling Hoof Boot offers secure footing on slippery indoor floors and is highly valued by miniature horse equine assisted therapy organizations around the world. These little boots offer comfort and protection while driving on asphalt, gravel, and all-terrain, including rocky and muddy trails!

The M1 – M4 sizes on both Regular and Slim soles now gives a complete range of sizing, including those very small hoofs that could previously not fit a Cavallo Boot! Size M1 is made to fit the smallest of miniature horses, and the M4 is designed to fit a large mini horse or pony, or a very small regular horse hoof. The M4 size bridges the gap between Cavallo’s miniature and regular size ranges.

You will receive the measuring card tool with your purchase.

click to enlarge

Important Notes on Fitting:

You should not have to force the boot on the horse’s hoof in any way. If you are having to force the boot on it is too small.

If the boot is rotating independently from the horse’s hoof it is too big. A wiggle is okay because the hoof expands in weight-bearing and even further in movement.

To safeguard your Cavallo Warranty

Only new UNUSED boots can be exchanged. To keep the boot clean, we suggest covering the hoof with thin plastic and checking fit on a non-scuff (not gravel), clean, dry surface.

“Jonesy is a 9 ½-year-old miniature horse who suffers from laminitis from time to time. Until this year, he had never had it in winter and laying for hours at a time. By the end of January Jonesy could not walk. The weather had been crazy in Indiana and was going from 50 degrees to 10 degrees in one day. Jonesy was in trouble. I consulted with his vet and we immediately started him on pain medicine. After a few days, I was not seeing much progress and was getting concerned that he was not going to recover from this.

I contacted Cavallo to see if they had any recommendations that we could possibly try for Jonesy. We decided to try Cavallo CLB on all 4 feet. We also used the new yellow Comfort Pads in the shoes. I placed 1 comfort pad in each front boot and 2 comfort pads in each back boot. Once I had the boots on, Jonesy was able to walk. Yes, he was in pain, but they were helping, and he was moving. That was my huge concern because he was laying for so long.

It has been a long 4 weeks, but I am very happy to report that Jonesy took off running today! Today was the 1st day he had gone back out into the big pasture and I guess he was just so excited he had to show me how good he felt. I do believe that the Cavallo CLB helped save his life. I was so afraid he wasn’t going to get up again and I was going to have to put him to sleep because he was in so much pain. I am so thankful that Cavallo helped me come up with a solution for Jonesy.”

– Kristye Lewis

Frequently Asked Questions

Cavallo guarantees the quality and workmanship of Cavallo Hoof Boots for 180 DAYS from the date of purchase. Subject to approval from the place of purchase, Cavallo will reimburse for repair or replace your boots against faulty workmanship. The guarantee does not cover natural wear-and-tear, inappropriate use, modifications, changes or alterations, unattended horses, incorrect sizing, excessive heat exposure, exposure to sharp objects, or use with metal shoes without Cavallo High Tenacity Protection Pads in place.

To be fully protected by the Cavallo Best Boot 180 Day Warranty, Cavallo Hoof Boots must be purchased from a recognized Cavallo retailer. Cavallo Hoof Boots purchased as “used” or “second-hand” are not covered under the Cavallo Best Boot 180 Day Warranty.

Boots must be clean, washed dry and free of debris, manure and dirt with dated original receipt and shipping paid.

Need to talk to us about a return? Send us an email.

Cavallo Hoof Boot soles are moulded in industrial-grade TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane). Under certain conditions, this compound may be vulnerable to a chemical reaction known as Hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a bond breakdown that may occur at least 2 years after production. This happens only when boots are stored in unfavourable conditions and not being used. Hydrolysis may be avoided by ensuring good air ventilation and avoiding humidity over 70%. Keep the storage environment cool and dry with good air circulation. A combination of temperatures as high as 40 Degree Celsius with high moisture content, should be avoided.

Hoof boots that are frequently used in very wet conditions should be allowed to dry before storage and should not be stored in the original box or in areas of poor air circulation. Follow these instructions and your hoof boots will last free of Hydrolysis for many years.

To reduce the risks of bacterial build-up mix a solution of 50% Apple Cider Vinegar to water and spray into the boot and on the hoof sole regularly.

If leaving horses unattended with Simple Boots on you may wish to cover the straps with duct tape or anything that will keep the horse from playing with the straps and possibly destroying your boots. Failure to take precautions may void the warranty.

Cavallo boots can be used on either the front or hind hoofs. Most riders find that they only need the boots on the front to keep their horse comfortable on all terrain but if you find that your horse would benefit from wearing them on the hind that is fine to do as well. The front legs load 70% of the weight of the horse and most of the conditions such as navicular, laminitis, calcifications, abscessing, bruising etc., occur on the fronts. The hind legs are more for propulsion. You can start with boots on the front hoofs and then just monitor the situation as you go along.

It really depends on a variety of issues such as how well the hoofs are conditioned to the terrain you are riding on, the internal health of the hoof and any pre-existing conditions in the foot. If you find your horse is tender on the hinds please measure them separately from the front as they may be a size smaller and are often narrower.

Riders should allow their horses to ‘break-in’ their boots gradually, starting with 15 – 20 minutes and increasing from there, while monitoring the comfort of the hoofs. Wearing your Cavallo’s in water or using a leather conditioner to “work” the leather at the heel bulb will hasten the softening progress. Cavallo Comfort Sleeves can be used to help prevent any chaffing during the break-in period.

One of the outstanding features of our boots (all models) is that the back bulb area is padded with leather on both sides – inside and out, with a foam cushion in between, which softens and conforms to the unique shape of your horse’s bulbs. So our boots literally custom mould to your horse’s feet PROVIDING PROTECTION AND SUPPORT! (For a club-footed horse or a horse with an upright hoof, the back of the boot will remain more upright.)

One of the outstanding features of our boots (all models) is that the back bulb area is padded with leather on both sides – inside and out, with a foam cushion in between, which softens and conforms to the unique shape of your horse’s bulbs. Our boots conform to your horse’s feet PROVIDING PROTECTION AND SUPPORT! For example with an upright hoof, the back part of the boot will remain upright in line with the upright club foot.

The horse’s entire body system operates best when his hooves work correctly. A properly functioning bare hoof absorbs the impact of around 1000 pounds of weight. The hoof spreads to draw the sole flat and allow the weight to descend. This is the hoof mechanism that involves a pumping action that stimulates blood circulation. When freely flowing, the nutrients and oxygen in the blood contribute to the health of hoof tissue, cellular structure, strength, and resilience and help heal any internal conditions.

Hoofs condition to the horse’s living environment, which is usually different from the surfaces we ride on. The impact is increased with the rider’s load and tack, which then pushes the sole further into the terrain. Too often, uncomfortable barefoot horses head for the soft shoulder or grassy areas. Successfully riding a barefoot horse over all-terrain is achievable for many horses but can take years and in some horses, boots will always be necessary to keep our partners comfortable.

It is best to store your Cavallo Boots in a cool, dry location with good air circulation. Boots that are wet should be allowed to dry before placing them in storage and should not be stored in the original box or in areas of pair air circulation. Storing the boots in high temperatures or high humidity levels should also be avoided. It is recommended to store boots with all velcro panels and straps closed to keep them free of hay, hair, dirt and other debris.

There are a variety of conditions that affect the life of your Cavallo Boots such as terrain, speed, gaits, frequency of use, frequency of trimming. In average conditions with adequate care, the life span of your Cavallo Hoof Boots last from 1 – 2 years, however we have many happy trail riders who have had their boots for much longer.

Many people do indeed use Cavallo Boots in combination with metal shoes. The Cavallo Boot TPU (thermo plastic urethane) sole can assist in absorbing the shock and resulting vibration up the horse’s structure and prevent bruising while transporting your horse or working on hard surfaces. Cavallo cannot guarantee that the boots will hold up over prolonged use, to the force of metal, protruding nails or sharp edges and thus the warranty is void with this usage.

Extending the life of your Boots can be accomplished by using the Cavallo High Tenacity Protection Pads, or you may customize an insole of thick leather or foam padding which will decrease the direct wear on the sole of the boot. You can replace the pads when they appear to be wearing and thereby lengthen the life of the sole of your boots.

Cavallo Boots are specifically designed for ease of use and practicality. Cavallo Boots are easy to put on, do not come off and are easy to remove. You can ride over any terrain with complete hoof protection. The following chart gives an indication of some various uses of boots and the comparison between them.

Transitioning to barefoot and natural is not necessarily difficult. In fact, in many cases it’s simply a matter of removing the metal shoes, keeping the hooves trimmed and using Cavallos for comfort and protection. It can become challenging when some more serious problems are already brewing and then with the increase in blood circulation your horse feels the discomfort more strongly. This is usually just a matter of supporting him through the rough patch. We liken it to the discomfort felt when frostbite thaws. It passes with increased circulation and stimulation. You can use your Cavallos for turnout so that your horse is more willing to move about. The freer-flowing nutrients and oxygen in the blood will speed up the process of healing. You could also use a little MSM or a mild pain reliever if it gets very bad. This all being said hoof boots will decrease discomfort and make the transition much more pleasant for you and your horse.

There are various degrees of severity with sheared heels and the symptoms/discomfort can come and go. Although many conditions can fade away, pathology suggests your horse may become conditioned to and adjust to accommodate this way of going. He may likely learn to carry his weight forward on his foot, loading less weight on the painful heel. This would affect the counter effect that a heel-first or at least a simultaneous to toe landing would have to spread those heels. And without a proper heel landing, the heels are not stimulated to expand.

Anyway, the answer is YES Cavallos can help and here’s how. The inside of Cavallos are flat at the heel. So without the fear of irritation from a sharp rock or edge, your horse will be encouraged to bear weight. Cavallos provide complete sole protection, so once he understands there is no terrain induced aggravation, he will be willing to move and will then benefit from the counter effect of this flat surface. You could certainly insert our Gel Pads at the beginning until he really feels comfortable moving around and then transition him into the Support Pads. The more he moves – the more oxygen supply – the more blood circulation, with all its nutrients and the more potential improvement.

Riders use a variety of studs and even regular screws to help increase traction while riding on ice, snow and wet grass. You must use caution that no part of it extends past the sole of the boot to irritate the horse’s hoof. The amount used and placement on the boots is dependent on various conditions such as terrain, gait and your personal requirements. There have also been reports of success by using a Dremel to create more grooves into the sole of the boot to improve grip. Whatever you decide, please ride with care on treacherous terrain.

More Products for Minis