Bridget Helms lives in Wyoming and has had horses most of her life. She began as a trail rider, then moved into showing quarter horses primarily in reining events. After having kids she changed her focus and has now been enjoying endurance riding since her first experience in 2017.
Bridget told us:
I've been using Renegade Hoof Boots since 2018. At first I used them on and off, but for the last two years I've used them exclusively and I couldn't be happier! I've always tried to keep my horses barefoot whenever possible, but we ride some rocky places, and I initially thought shoes were the way to go.
Once I learned how to use the hoof boots it was clear they last much longer than horse shoes, and cost much less over time. I can get 400-600 miles out of a set of Renegade hoof boots easily; where before switching my horses to barefoot I was getting new horse shoes put on every 5 weeks.
Now I get to save money, and my horses hooves look great. I had one horse diagnosed with navicular changes in 2020, and I have no doubt that Renegades have kept him sound since that time. This is my endurance horse who has over 1300 competition miles now, completing 350 miles this season and earning two best condition awards. I'll also add, he's a quarter horse so not your typical endurance horse.
My daughter started riding with me at endurance rides and together with her this season we've accrued 155 miles each, using only Renegade hoof boots for hoof protection on our barefoot horses. She rides a stocky quarter horse mare while I ride my 5 year old arabian.
We use the Viper hoof boot models on our horses, some with classic captivators. We rarely have issues with the hoof boots, and I feel like that says a lot, because we ride in some tough country. There is a lot of rock, and trails can be technical and steep. We cross water and mud. We ride through winter and have started using the traction studs which were a game changer last winter.
My horses are a huge part of my life and I always want to do what's best for them. Part of that equation is keeping them barefoot and using Renegade Hoof Boots.
Photos by Merri Melde.
