What’s up guys!?
I recently did a review of the Cavallo ELB hoof boot, which is easily one of my favorite horse products! There are so many reasons that I love the Cavallo ELB, or Entry Level Boot. If you’re familiar with the Cavallo Simple Boot, you will recognize a lot of similarities with the ELB. If you’re not familiar with the Simple Boot, go check out my review of it!
Basic Style and Structure of The ELB
The Cavallo ELB has a very tough out shell that is like canvass or nylon. I believe this accounts for the affordability of the boot. I have not found it to be any less durable or tough than my Simple Boots, and I’ve had them for going on a year. There whole boot opens up using velcro, and has a removable velcro strap on the front. If you wear that strap out, it is replaceable. Mine is still going very strong. The top collar of the boot is soft and squish, so I imagine that it’s very comfortable for the horse. The ELB has aggressive tread, a great breakover and vents on the sides to allow water and debris to escape. Over all, it’s a well designed boot.
What I Use The Cavallo ELBs for
I use the Cavallo ELBs for trail riding on my senior Morgan gelding Bamboozal. Bamboozal, like many senior horses has a touch of arthritis. He has ROCK HARD hooves and has been barefoot his whole life, but last year, we moved across the country, and we were going to encounter a lot of rocky and difficult trails on our two-week long horse-camping-cross-country-move extravaganza. I decided to get him FOUR boots, a full set.
I got him a pair of Cavallo Simples and a pair of Cavallo ELBs. They performed wonderfully! The thing I’m continually amazed with is the increased amount of comfort you can feel and see when you put a horse in boots. I’ve always had healthy barefoot horses, but every time I’ve ever started booting a horse, I’ve noticed a CLEAR and visible difference in that horse’s comfort. They move out like never before, and Bamboozal really FLOATS in his boots. You don’t know what you’re missing til you try them. I can’t imagine how good it feels to have that extra support and protection, especially over rocky or hard ground.
Trail Testing for The Cavallo ELB
The ELBs did great! They’re (along with the Cavallo Simple Boots) the easiest boots I’ve ever dealt with! You just open up the velcro, set the hoof in and then get on the trail. My mom, who has NO experience with boots, was able to boot him up quickly and easily when she came to visit for a horse camping-trip to Castle Rocks State Park in Almo, Idaho. I’ve had really good retention with these boots, and they stay on his hooves. One of my LEAST favorite things about booting is having to get on and off your horse multiple times during a trail ride to retrieve a lost boot and put it back on. I once lost a $90 boot (another brand) a week after I bought it!
Performance and Affordability of the Cavallo ELB
This is one of my hoof boots and horse products in general for two main reasons; Performance and Affordability. The Cavallo ELB may not be the hippest, latest, must-have boot for the distance and endurance crowd, but for us trail riders, it’s truly the bee’s knees! It performs well, stays on the hoof and provides incredible support and protection. Also, it’s SUPER affordable. If you’re just looking to get started in boots, and you’re a little unsure about all of the options available and the potential steep learning curve with some other boots, just get a pair or a set of ELBs.
Cavallo ELBs Are Easy to Use
Finally, the Cavallo ELBs are SO STINKING EASY TO USE. They’re intuitive to put on. You don’t need tools. I’ve used other boots that require mallets, allen wrenches and all sorts of gadgets and adjustments to get them on a hoof. You don’t have to deal with that when you’re using the Cavallo ELB. You can spend less time fussing with your boots and more time on the trail. What’s more important than that? Anything that performs, is affordable, easy to use, and gets me on the trail quickly is a GREAT horse product in my book. The ELBs are outstanding in all aspects, and I highly recommend them to booters of any experience level!