Boots should be fitted correctly and used when needed. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I learned this the hard way but you don't have to! I recommend soaking boots (I like the blue Davis boots best as they hold up to use and have more stretch and flexibility than the more expensive Easy Boot Soakers.) You can buy Davis soaking boots thru Valley Vet for the best price and fast free shipping!
When it comes to riding boots I like the Old Mac G2s. They have quite a lot of improvement in design from the original Old Macs. I like the boot to fit very tight as with age and use, it will stretch. I use front boots usually but in very rocky terrain I might use hinds also. you can put studs in them, they do not impede hoof mechanism and they don't come off.
I do have one pair of Renegades. I think they are very good boots especially for low heeled horses as they do not rub the heels. They will come off though as the closures are velcro. I like buckles better. The Simple boot by Cavallo seems to be a good boot but again it has velcro. When velcro meets with mud and ice it does not work well. I fox hunt so I use boots hard and in all kinds of conditions so I don't want to have to look down and check to see if my horse has lost a boot. But I will use them because you just never know when your horse might step on something that even a hard healthy hoof has no defence, like a broken drink bottle or other sharp object like a nail in a board stiking up.
During transition, boots both soaking and riding are necessary I believe. Soaking boots are the most important for horses that are dealing with founder issues as you can insert a pad to help ease pain. Its like a mobile hoof clinic and short of paving your place with rubber mats, it's a lot easier to stick some pads in a pair of boots.

Lynn and I made a one day trip down and back to deliver her camel to a trainer near Atlanta. He's a little old fashioned (not a camel whisperer!) but seems to get the job done.
I trimmed a tiny foundered pony the day before and I was so sore from bending over and doing a strenous trim. Photos before and after will be posted soon.
Sunday was hunt school. Turkeys can hide!

Be careful what you wish for....I got to lead the first flight today. Dewees is a good horse but she's used to having at least the huntsman or a whipper-in in front. But we had to go off and around the country and we got to a ditch with a pipe that until we got to it, had a big old turkey in it! Dewees spooked and I hung on but just barely. After that she fully expected another turkey to jump out somewhere but she was good and kept going. We took the first flight on a couple of gallops and jumped quite a bit. Then after the hounds had made their intro to the field, I was asked to take anyone who wanted to jump out to jump some more. Dewees was very good except one jump in a dark patch of woods. When she was satisfied there was no turkey, she jumped.

A friend invited Billy and I to go for a trail ride by the Haw river to the Grove Vineyards where there was an event going on with food, wine tasting, art and music. It was fun!

I have two older friends. One has health issues but both are a little fearful of cantering their horses so when they came over to my house for a schooling ride, I got on each horse and cantered them for their owners. One of the horses is a young draft Hackney cross. I also trim him so it's neat to ride the result! His canter depart was better to the left than to the right where I got a taste of his Hackney trot. The other horse is a Standardbred and has some joint adaptation on one of his front feet where the DDFT and joint has dropped down into a coonfoot conformation. But he had a comfortable canter that was kinda like a gaited horse canter.
The next day was hunt school. We had a great turnout (35-40 people) and I met some nice young folks that rode behind me. The young girl is an eventer that is starting her business training and teaching a high school riding program. Both their horses were keen to go. Dewees was perfect as usual. She eased over the trails, creek crossings and jumps like a been-there-done-that horse should. Took care of her moma dispite the antics of Chris's horse's leaping and lunging in front of her and the snorting goings on behind her. She's fat and out of shape but she was a good girl. Got to get her back into condition though.

Billy and I rode last night in the moonlight. Lynn and I rode this morning at North East park. I'm going with her to take Humphry the camel to a trainer. What I'm think though is after he's trained, where is she going to ride him? Out hunting? Trail riding? Down the side of the road? Maybe they have camel shows. I have seen camels do dressage.

I don't think anyone reads my blog which is ok. But if someone did, they would find me writing about riding and trimming. Well that's what I do. Billy and I took the Pasos over to Brightwood along with Chapin so he wouldn't be by himself. Last time i rode off without him, he ran through a fence and hurt his leg. So now he's out in the front pasture with his buddies. Billy and I had a nice ride and took Lyric. Later I went to trim for a new client. Very nice school teacher with a quarter horse mare. I had to pull the shoes on the fronts. Not too bad but flattened toe walls and some contraction. Should transition with little difficulty I hope. Owner was very nice and close so I like not having to drive too far.

He just did great! the more I ride him, the better I like him. Billy rode Taco who, after I rode him yesterday, was well-behaved. My back hurts though which I'm sure is from the trimming.