Cavallo Trek Hoof Boot Review: A Boot Sold One at a Time

The forgiving boot for a hoof that is not textbook shaped, which describes most older feet.

The verdict: A structured hoof boot with built-in drainage that fits either front hoof and is sold individually, which makes it the sensible choice when a horse needs one boot rather than a pair. Buy it for a barefoot senior on stony ground, for hoof protection between trims, or for a horse that has thrown a shoe. Skip it if you need a close, low-profile fit for faster work, where a Glove-style boot with a gaiter is the better shape.

Specifications

Specifications above come from Cavallo's published specifications. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• Sold singly and fitting either side, which is the single most practical thing about it. Most horses that need a boot need one, not two, and buying a pair to use one is money wasted.
• Built-in drainage means the boot does not become a bucket in wet going, which is what causes softened soles and thrush in cheaper boots.
• Structured enough to protect a sole on stony ground, which a soft therapy boot is not.
• Simple to fit, which on an older horse that will not hold a foot up for long is the difference between usable and not.
• Forgiving of hoof shapes that are wider or rounder than the textbook, which describes a lot of barefoot senior feet.

Where it falls short

• It is a boxier, higher-profile boot than a Glove-style fitted boot, and at faster paces some horses catch or interfere. For walking and hacking it is fine; for anything quicker, fit matters more.
• Hoof boot sizing is the main reason boots get returned. Measure width and length just after a trim, use Cavallo's own chart, and expect to check between two adjacent sizes.
• Any boot worn for long periods traps moisture and grit. Take it off daily, clean the hoof and the boot, and check for rubs at the pastern and for thrush in the frog.
• Boots need the hoof to be trimmed on a consistent cycle. A hoof that has grown two weeks past a trim is a different shape and the boot will fit differently.
• It protects a sole; it does not fix a foot. Recurrent sole soreness needs a farrier and, if lameness is involved, a vet.

What owners report

The consistent report from owners is that the Trek fits feet other boots do not, which is the honest niche for it. People with wide, round or slightly asymmetric hooves repeatedly describe it as the boot that finally worked, and people with narrow, tidy feet often prefer something more fitted.

The recurring criticism is bulk, and it shows up mostly from riders doing faster work. At walk and slow trot it is rarely mentioned. Sizing complaints appear across the whole category rather than this brand specifically.

Who it suits

• Barefoot seniors who need protection on stony or hard ground.
• Horses that have lost a shoe and need cover until the farrier comes.
• Owners of horses with wide or unusually shaped hooves that other boots do not fit.

Who should skip it

• Riders doing faster work who need a close, low-profile fit. Our Cavallo Trek versus Easyboot Glove comparison covers the difference directly.
• Horses needing rehabilitation cushioning rather than protection, where a soft therapy boot is right.
• Anyone whose horse is lame and undiagnosed. A boot is not a lameness workup.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Cavallo Trek vs Easyboot Glove
• Best hoof boots
• Easyboot Glove Soft review
• Farnam Horseshoer's Secret review

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.