Do B4 boots cause rubs?
If used properly B4 boots do not normally cause rubs, however, it is best to get your horse used to boots before taking them out on a 25 or 50 mile ride. Any hoof boot can cause a rub especially if used improperly. Not all boots work for every horse. If you pull on the straps in an attempt to tighten them, you can cause a rub. If you don’t make sure the neoprene bell is clean, especially the part that is in contact with the skin above the heel bulbs, you can cause a rub. At multi-day rides we have found it important to not only clean the neoprene bell, but we also wash the horse’s heel bulbs with a neutral pH cleaner. The cheap facial cleansing scrubs that are ph balanced work very well for this. Some horses have more sensitive skin and are more likely to develop irritation or a rub. Horses with white socks will show irritation more readily than horse’s with dark colored legs.
