General Questions
What are Soft-Ride boots used for?
Soft-Ride Comfort Boots are used to provide general comfort and support for both sound and lame horses. Our boots can be used when horses are trailered to reduce road vibration and heat on the horse’s hooves and legs. They are also great to use on show grounds that have concrete stalls and walkways, as well as for stalling and light turn out of horses with tender feet.
How do Soft-Ride boots work?
Soft-Ride’s sturdy, patented boots assist the natural blood circulation in a horse’s hooves by providing cushioning to relieve the pressure that occurs when a horse loads and unloads its weight up to 30 times per minute. A study by the University of Illinois found that our gel orthotics increase the hoof surface area, thereby reducing pounds per square inch pressure for your horse.
The hoof wall (shod or unshod) sinks into our patented gel orthotic, increasing the sole contact areas and providing support and comfort for the whole hoof. The unique elastomeric properties or our orthotics help keep tendons, connective tissue, muscles, and ligaments healthy and can help shorten recovery time.
How many Soft-Ride Comfort Boots come with my order?
Soft-Ride Comfort Boots should only be used two or four at a time. It is okay to use a pair of Comfort Boots only on your horse’s front feet; it is not okay to use a pair of Comfort Boots only on your horse’s hind feet.
Soft-Ride Comfort Boots can be ordered in pairs (two boots) or singles (one boot). A single boot should be ordered only when your horse has two different size hooves (in which case you will need to order two boots of different sizes), or in the event that you need to replace a boot. Single boots have SINGLE in the product title and in the SKU.
How do Soft-Ride boots help with trailering?
Soft-Ride boots help reduce the shock and vibration of horse trailers during long distance trips. The boots also provide insulation from hot asphalt, and add traction on slippery loading ramps. A less stressful journey means your prized horse can arrive rested and able to perform better right out of the trailer.
Soft-Ride boots are heavier than some other boots on the market. Does this extra weight affect a horse’s joints?
It's always best to consult your vet if your horse has any specific issues, but in general Soft-Ride boots don’t affect a horse’s joints because the weight is comparatively minimal to its body weight. It's much like the difference between a person wearing hiking boots or ballet slippers.
How long can a horse wear the boots without taking them off?
Soft-Ride boots are designed to be worn continuously because they have openings on the sides to allow airflow and venting. This also means that debris can enter the boots, so they should be taken off at least once a day and cleaned out. When your horse is first breaking in the boots you should keep him in a fairly confined area (i.e. not turned out in the back 40) because he can throw them at the beginning if he gets frisky.
Are Soft-Ride boots intended to be used with shod or unshod horses?
Soft-Ride boots are compatible with both shod and unshod hooves. They were originally designed with metal shoes in mind, so shoes won't damage the gel orthotic. They are equally beneficial for barefoot horses to give them a little extra support and comfort when it's needed.
My horse has bar shoes/ pour-in pads/ wedges. Can I still use Soft-Ride boots?
Yes! Our gel orthotic is designed to compress under the weight of your horse and can form to different types of shoes. However, many people are using pads/bars/wedges for a specific reason or to correct a problem and prefer to remove the frog support portion of the orthotic. This is easily done with a belt sander or a hoof knife and does not change the integrity of the overall orthotic.
I live in a very snowy area and I want to use Soft-Ride boots. Is there anything I can do to give them more traction?
Many of our Soft-Ride users in cold weather climates have a pair of "winter boots" that they use for snow and ice. They put screws through the bottom of the outer boot (under the orthotic) to give them more traction, much like having a set of studded snow tires. Since the screw heads are under the gel orthotic, they don't interfere with the horse's hoof or shoes.
Is the Soft-Ride Comfort Boot suitable for trail riding?
Soft-Ride boots are not designed for any type of riding, high-level activity or performance. The boots are intended to be used for comfort and support in the stall, trailer, during light turnout, at show grounds and when the horse is at rest. Soft-Ride does not sanction the use of our boots for trail riding and will not replace boots damaged by misuse.
How much does a pair of Soft-Ride comfort boots cost?
Soft-Ride boots cost $195 per pair for sizes 4-10, and $225 per pair for sizes 2-3.
Will Soft-Ride Comfort Boots make my horse more comfortable?
Yes! Soft-Ride boots will provide new levels of hoof and foot comfort for healthy or lame horses.
Do Soft-Ride Comfort Boots come with a warranty?
Yes, they come with a six-month, unconditional warranty. If there is a malfunction with your boots that is NOT caused by improper use or sizing, send us an email and we will proceed with the warranty process.
Do you ever have sales or discounts?
All of our products are sold directly from our website to ensure that all our customers are treated fairly and receive the boots at the best possible price. The only discounts we offer are to vets and farriers who buy product in bulk to resell to their clients from professional clinics. We don't have sales or discounts on our products because we believe in giving our customers the advantage of always being able to buy our products without worrying about finding them at a better price elsewhere.
Do you have dealers for Soft-Ride boots?
A: We do all our sales directly off our website to ensure the best possible price for our customers. We do not use dealers at this time, with the exception of veterinarian and farrier professionals who can carry a stock of boots to use in emergency situations with their clients.
