Hoof boots for barefoot horses provide surface-appropriate welfare protection during the transition period and on terrain incompatible with unshod feet, with evidence guiding selection and fit.
Hoof boot welfare depends entirely on fit — a correctly fitted boot that allows a transitioning barefoot horse to work comfortably on challenging terrain is a welfare benefit; an incorrectly fitted boot causing rubbing, restriction, or abnormal gait is a welfare harm. The welfare case for boots during barefoot transition is straightforward: they allow horses to receive adequate exercise during the transition period without the discomfort that unprotected sole traversal of hard terrain would cause, supporting both the transition process and daily welfare. The welfare case against boots is equally simple: boots that fit poorly are welfare problems that must be corrected before use continues.