When it was discovered that two out of three horses on Sweden’s gold medal winning team at the Tokyo Olympics were barefoot, the jumping world took notice. Barefoot success has since continued at the elite end of the sport, and Australian hoof boot company Scoot Boot believes this trend is set to grow.

There wasn’t a steel shoe in sight on the podium at the FEI Jumping World Cup Final last month in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After three days of competition, three barefoot horses came out on top – led by Swedish star King Edward.

Producing a faultless performance, King Edward and his rider, Henrik von Eckermann, were named the 2024 FEI Jumping World Cup Final winners for the second year running.

While competing in Doha, Qatar in 2021, von Eckermann removed King Edward’s shoes and hasn’t looked back, saying at the time that it was a complete gamechanger for the horse. Von Eckermann used Scoot Boots to help facilitate the transition. Since then, the dynamic duo has claimed team gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and team and individual gold at the 2022 FEI World Championships, alongside their FEI World Cup Final successes and countless other accolades.

The rising 14-year-old chestnut gelding’s record is unmatched. According to statistics published by analytics platform Jumpr, King Edward has jumped clear 91% of the time at 1.60m this year to date. He’s earned more podium finishes than any other horse at the level in the past 25 years, and with current prizemoney of €3,582,674 (about $A5.8 million) to his name, the King is also on track to become the highest earning horse of the 21st century before the year is out.

On the podium behind von Eckermann and King Edward in Riyadh was the French combination of Julien Epaillard and Dubai du Cedre, followed by von Eckermann’s Swedish compatriot Peder Fredricson with Catch Me Not S; both horses were barefoot. Fredricson has had several horses barefoot in recent years – not least the now-retired gelding H&M All In, the horse with whom he claimed team gold and individual silver at the Tokyo Olympics, as well as team gold at the last World Championships. Fredricson uses Scoots in all his training and fitness work.

A GROWING TREND

The barefoot movement has been around for some time now; however, it’s only been in more recent years that it’s extended into the world of performance horses, namely elite level show jumpers.

Scoot Boot Co-founder and CEO Annette Kaitinis has long believed in the benefits of going barefoot and is heartened by this growing trend. Designed and developed by Annette’s business partner Dave Macdonald – a former farrier in the United States – Scoot Boots are commonly used by those transitioning horses to barefoot.

“It turned from a recreational
boot to a performance boot…”

With the barefoot benefits now more widely recognised in elite jumping circles, Annette has subsequently witnessed an uptake of the use of Scoot Boots amongst performance horses. She explains that around two years after launching the range, the uptake by professional show jumpers began with a professional rider in New Zealand and another in South Africa – and from there the word got out that they were performing well.

“It turned from a recreational boot to a performance boot, because by design it’s low profile and sits under the coronet band. It’s sleek and it flexes with the movement of the horse; it doesn’t impede their movement at all. The design is a one-piece mould, so it hugs the hoof wall and stays secure.”

An increasing number of show jumpers are looking at the Swedish horses and are considering the barefoot journey now themselves. James Arkins is one Australian rider who’s taken note. “I’d noticed lot of the top show jumpers around the world had gone barefoot with some of their horses and were using Scoot Boots. It was something that had really caught my attention over the last few years, watching the trend that’s been forming in Europe. I was definitely interested to know more… it just went from there, really,” explains James.

One of the first horses James tried barefoot with Scoot Boots was Rosthwaite Vigilante, a horse whom he competed in Europe and was ultimately shortlisted with for the 2016 Rio Olympics. “When he came back to Australia, he was not quite the same horse and so he subsequently retired,” explains James. “We recently brought him back into work for one of my students at home to get experience on… we put him in Scoot Boots, and he couldn’t have been sounder. That was very impressive to see. He’s 18 and had been out of work for quite some time; the boots really helped him.”

“We put him in Scoot Boots,
and he couldn’t have
been sounder.”

Seeing the difference Scoot Boots made for Rosthwaite Vigilante meant James was soon trying them with some of his elite performance team and is now an ambassador for the brand.

WHAT DOES THE FEI SAY?

Initially, the use of Scoot Boots was confined to training as they were not approved for use in competition by the FEI. In 2022, this changed for the show jumpers when hoof boots became permitted equipment. They are also allowed by the FEI for use in vaulting; the jumping phase of eventing; driving and para driving, with the exception of the dressage phase; and are pending review in endurance. You can find out more about the use of hoof boots at FEI events here.

“The FEI amended their jumping rules and allowed first of all Scoot Boots to be used in competition and now they’ve amended it further to allow all hoof boots to be used,” explains Annette. “The various horse associations across the globe aren’t really aware about these changes and they are still largely not allowing hoof boots in competition, which is a real shame”. One exception is Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria (HRCAV), who in 2020 made the pioneering decision to allow the use of hoof boots in dressage competitions.

Annette says it’s not just the FEI disciplines showing interest in going barefoot – she says. Thoroughbred racing circles have taken note of the benefits. “Two-year-old Thoroughbreds are shod at a time when the hooves are still developing, as is the body of the horse. The hoof hasn’t been given a chance to develop and ends up having underdeveloped digital cushion, small feet and thin soles which seriously affect the horse’s ability to carry the weight of a fully grown horse (plus a rider).

“Thoroughbred racehorse trainers are starting to realise the benefits and are keeping their young ones barefoot, and training in barefoot. Some of them are using Scoot Boots in training and then put racing plates on just for the race [because they are required to under the rules]. I’m seeing this more and more, and not just in Australia, it’s overseas as well. It is catching on slowly.”

ANY HORSE CAN BENEFIT

“Given time to transition, any horse can benefit from going barefoot,” says Annette. “Horses’ feet are meant to expand and contract but unfortunately when a shoe is applied the hoof is in a contracted position which prevents the hoof from functioning properly. The frog is supposed to make contact with the ground but is unable to when shod. By not contacting the ground the frog develops atrophy which affects hoof development.

“Once you take the shoe off the hoof goes back to its normal functioning shape. There’s better blood flow that goes to the hoof and the frog starts pumping blood back up the legs. The frog is also responsible for traction, shock absorption and development of the digital cushion which is vital for skeletal structure of the horse. There’s an awakening of the hoof and it’s able to begin functioning like it should.”

Annette warns that owners shouldn’t expect miracles overnight; depending on the condition of the horse’s feet, the transition process can require a lot of time and perseverance. “It depends on where you’re starting from with the transition. If a horse has been shod by a very good farrier throughout its life, then you can usually successfully transition without too many problems because it’s got a good healthy hoof and good healthy caudal heel.”

“A lot of horses that transition, they’re used to having the steel rim protecting the periphery of their hoof; consequently, when they come out of shoes, they can be quite tender. Scoot Boots fill the void during the transition period, allowing them to walk across stony ground or rougher terrain without too many problems,” says Annette, pointing out that the boots provide better protection against stones than traditional steel shoes, as they actually cover the sole, rather than just the periphery.

“A lot of shod horses will still get stone bruises, which sometimes turn into abscesses, whereas with a hoof boot it actually covers the whole sole. You get protection from stones and other small things that might bruise the sole, so it really benefits that aspect as well.”

In addition to helping horses transition to barefoot, Scoot Boots are also an excellent rehabilitation tool and have been used successfully to assist in rehabilitating a wide range of hoof-related injuries and ailments – from laminitis and navicular issues, to recurring abscesses and more. You can find out more about how Scoot Boots can be used for rehabilitation purposes here.

FROM TASMANIA TO THE WORLD

Scoot Boot began in Annette’s backyard shed in Tasmania and now exports to 110 countries, with the company’s boots in use with elite riders around the globe.

“We try and spread the word about the benefits of going barefoot and how much better off your horse can be. Shoeing is a 2000-year-old industry; we’ve come so far with technological advancements and the horse is still made to do something that’s 2000 years old,” she notes.

Annette says there is still a time and a place for shoes with some horses – for example, when jumping on turf there is still a need for them to facilitate studs – however, in general most horses will ultimately be better off barefoot if the transition is carefully managed and the horse is given the time needed to adjust.

“I was in LA a few years ago and I met with one of the FEI vets… he said change will happen at the top and it will filter down. That is exactly what is happening. I think maybe in another decade, barefoot – and hoof boots – will be the norm as opposed to shoeing.”

“It’s good to see this movement happening and people being proactive about the welfare of these amazing horses that will do anything for us. I’m passionate about the welfare of horses, and Scoot Boot can help with that process. Some horses, once they are free of the confines of steel shoes and using our boots, they are just far more comfortable. It’s a beautiful thing to see.”

This article was written in collaboration with Scoot Boot. You can find out more about their range here. EQ

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