Shoe Boil Boots

If you have a horse that is laying down from Laminitis, Founder, or injury, your horse may become

Got a horse laying down from laminitis or injury and want shoe boil prevention boots?

Reviewed by Ann Pruitt, InfoHorse.com · Updated May 2026

Intrepid International Shoe Boil Boot, padded donut-shaped elbow guard with buckle strap

Shoe Boil Boots

Shoe Boil Boots by Intrepid International
If you have a horse that is laying down from Laminitis, Founder, or injury, your horse may become prone to Shoe Boils. The Shoe Boil Boot can help prevent or treat Shoe Boils and make laying down both comfortable for your horse

Who Is Intrepid International?

Intrepid International has been designing and distributing Horse Tack for more than 35 years. The Intrepid staff includes FEI level judges and riders and has more than 200 years of combined horse experience. Intrepid is known by the brand names they produce. Best Friend Muzzles and bareback pads being one of the most known. Intrepid produces more than 1100 horse bits known as Coronet bits as well as Dave Robart Pinchless bits. Other brands such as Exselle, Comfort Plus, Foot free stirrup Irons and Tie safe have long been offered to the most popular tack shops throughout the United States and Canada. Intrepid has always endeavored to produce and carry superior tack for the enjoyment of both horse and riders throughout the nation.

What Is A Shoe Boil?

Shoe boils are a common injury that occur when there is trauma to the bursal sac of the elbow, causing inflammation and swelling. This may develop into large open wounds that will ooze. Multiple occurrences can cause cosmetic scare tissue, called capped elbow. Shoe boils generally occur when a horse hits its elbow with a hoof or show when lying down. Horses with long feet or heavily padded shoes are most at risk. Stalls with rubber mats only will not solve this problem because the problem is caused by the hoof directly rubbing on the elbow of the horse as he or she tucks their legs underneath themselves while lying down. The Shoe Boil Boots from Intrepid International greatly aid in comfort and protection for your horse.

What Conditions Can Cause My Horse To Be Prone To A ShoeBoil?

Any condition which causes your horse to lay down more than usual puts your horse at risk. Laminitis, Founder, Leg Injuries are especially conditions to watch for, but any horse can develop a shoe boil- especially if there is cause for them to lay down more than normal

What If My Horse Doesn't Wear Shoes?

Unfortunately, even unshod horses can develop a Shoe Boil if the situation is right or they are forced to lay down for hours at a time.

What Can I Do To Prevent Or Treat A Shoe Boil?

There is an easy, affordable answer! The Shoe Boil Boots by Intrepid International are comfortable and offer protection to your horse. A shoe boil boot looks like a big donut that is split on one side and can be opened to fit around the fetlock of a horse. It has a single strap with a buckle to fasten it in place. The “donut” is made of a closed cell foam with a tough skin yet has some compression.

How Much Does A Pair of Shoe Boil Boots Cost?

A shoe boil can cause infection, swelling and a permanently disfigured elbow (capped elbow) on your horse. Shoe Boil Boots are comfortably worn around your horse's pastern. Prices vary but are typically less than $35-- a small price to pay indeed to keep your horse comfortable and free from infection and disfigurement!

Where Can I Order My Shoe Boil Boots?

While many tack shops carry the Shoe Boil Boots from Intrepid International, you can order in many popular Catalogs like ValleyVet, SmartPakEquine, Dover Saddlery or ChicSaddlery ! Make sure to order your pair today. You'll be glad you did and your horse will appreciate the added comfort and protection.

What exactly is the Shoe Boil Boot?

The Shoe Boil Boot is a single, donut-shaped elbow guard from Intrepid International that fastens around the lower leg so a resting horse cannot grind its own hoof or shoe heel into the point of its elbow. Veterinarians call the resulting injury olecranon bursitis, or a "capped elbow" — a fluid-filled swelling that forms when the elbow is repeatedly bruised against a hard surface or the horse's foot as it folds underneath the body. The padded ring keeps that bony elbow lifted off both the ground and the hoof, so the bruised bursa is left in peace to settle down. It is sold as one boot under item number 203158 for $25.00.

Who is Intrepid International?

Intrepid International is an equestrian wholesale manufacturer, importer and distributor based in Lancaster County (New Holland / Lancaster), Pennsylvania, that has supplied riders and barns with affordable, quality horse products for more than 25 years. The company stocks everything from tack and training equipment to grooming, stable supplies and leg protection, and supports brands such as Scoot Boot, EquiFUSE, Best Friend, Pro-Trainer and Equine One. You can reach the company at or.

How the padded donut design protects the elbow

The boot is built around a thick, spongy molded-rubber ring that rides at the pastern and acts as a physical spacer between the elbow and the hoof. When the horse lies in the typical "folded-leg" position, the elbow rests on the cushion instead of pressing onto the shoe's heel or the hard floor, breaking the repeated trauma cycle that creates a shoe boil in the first place. Because it removes the daily re-bruising, the device works both to prevent a boil from ever forming and to give an existing capped elbow the rest it needs to shrink.

Which horses need one

Any horse that spends long stretches lying down is a candidate — and Intrepid International notes the boot is especially useful for horses laid up by Laminitis, Founder or injury, who rest far more than a sound horse and are therefore far more prone to shoe boils. It is also a smart preventive for horses shod with extended or trailer heels, big-bodied horses that fold tightly when they lie down, and any horse already showing a soft swelling at the elbow. Owners report that worn nightly in the stall the boot can noticeably reduce an established boil over the course of a couple of months.

Pairing the boot with good stall management

The boot does its best work as part of a complete elbow-care routine. Deep, well-banked bedding cushions the joint during rest, and keeping the heels of the hoof trimmed (or pulling shoes with long, extended heels) removes the sharp edge that does much of the damage. For a fresh, inflamed boil, cold therapy in the first 48 hours helps calm the swelling, while the Shoe Boil Boot guards the elbow around the clock so the area is never re-injured between treatments.

How to buy the Shoe Boil Boot

The boot is available directly from Intrepid International's online store at intrepidintl.com under SKU 203158, priced at $25.00 and sold as a single boot. When a size or batch is temporarily out of stock the site accepts pre-orders and emails you when it returns, and the same item is also carried by many of the 1,000-plus tack shops Intrepid International supplies worldwide. To order, confirm stock or ask sizing questions, contact the company at or.

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The Solution Section (FAQ)

What Is A Shoe Boil?

What Can I Do To Prevent Or Treat A Shoe Boil?

There is an easy, affordable answer! The Shoe Boil Boots by Intrepid International are comfortable and offer protection to your horse. A shoe boil boot looks like a big donut that is split on one side and can be opened to fit around the fetlock of a horse. It has a single strap with a buckle to fasten it in place. The donut is made of a closed cell foam with a tough skin yet has some compression.

How Much Does A Pair of Shoe Boil Boots Cost?

What Conditions Can Cause My Horse To Be Prone To A ShoeBoil?

What is a shoe boil in a horse?

A shoe boil is a soft, fluid-filled swelling at the point of the elbow, known to veterinarians as olecranon bursitis or a capped elbow. It develops when the elbow is repeatedly bruised — most often by the horse's own hoof or shoe heel as the leg folds underneath the body while lying down. The trauma irritates the olecranon bursa, a natural cushioning sac over the elbow, causing fluid to accumulate.

How does the Shoe Boil Boot prevent shoe boils?

The boot is a thick, padded donut that fastens around the lower leg and sits between the elbow and the hoof. When the horse lies down in its folded-leg position, the elbow rests on the soft ring instead of pressing onto the shoe's heel or the hard floor. By stopping the repeated bruising, it both prevents a boil from forming and lets an existing one rest and shrink.

Who makes the Shoe Boil Boot?

It is made and distributed by Intrepid International, an equestrian wholesale company based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Intrepid International has supplied tack shops and horse owners with affordable, quality horse products for more than 25 years and distributes to over 1,000 tack shops worldwide.

How much does the Intrepid International Shoe Boil Boot cost?

The boot is listed at $25.00 on Intrepid International's online store and is sold as a single boot, not a pair. The item number is 203158. Pricing at third-party tack shops and online retailers may vary.

Is the Shoe Boil Boot sold as a single boot or a pair?

It is sold as one single boot under SKU 203158. Most horses develop a shoe boil on one elbow at a time, so a single boot is usually all that is needed. If a horse is prone to boils on both sides, you would order two.

What is the Shoe Boil Boot made of?

The boot is built around a thick, spongy molded-rubber ring that acts as a cushion and spacer between the elbow and the hoof. It is designed to be soft and padded while durable enough for nightly stall use. Many owners note it is softer and better padded in person than it looks in photos.

How does the boot attach to the horse?

The donut-shaped pad rides around the pastern area of the lower leg and is held in place with an adjustable strap and buckle closure. This keeps the cushion positioned so that, when the horse folds the leg and lies down, the elbow rests on the pad rather than on the hoof or floor.

Can the Shoe Boil Boot treat a boil that's already there, or only prevent them?

It does both. For an existing capped elbow, worn nightly in the stall it removes the daily re-bruising that keeps the swelling inflamed, giving the bursa a chance to settle. Owners commonly report that consistent nightly use noticeably reduces an established boil over the course of a couple of months.

Why are horses with Laminitis or Founder more prone to shoe boils?

Horses laid up by Laminitis, Founder or injury lie down far more than a sound horse because standing is painful, and that extra time off their feet means many more hours of pressure on the elbow. Intrepid International specifically recommends the Shoe Boil Boot for these horses, since the boot keeps the elbow protected during all that extra resting time.

How long should my horse wear the Shoe Boil Boot?

Most owners use it overnight in the stall, when the horse is most likely to lie down for long stretches. For an active boil, consistent nightly use over several weeks to a couple of months is the typical pattern owners describe before they see clear improvement. Your veterinarian can advise on duration for a specific case.

What else can I do to prevent shoe boils besides using the boot?

Provide deep, well-banked bedding to cushion the elbow during rest, and keep the hoof heels trimmed so there is no long, sharp heel to dig into the elbow. Pulling or avoiding shoes with extended or trailer heels also helps. The Shoe Boil Boot works best as one part of this complete stall-management routine.

Does the horseshoe itself cause shoe boils?

It can contribute. Long heel growth or horseshoes with extended heels create a hard edge that presses into the elbow when the horse rests its leg folded beneath the body. Trimming long heels or removing extended-heel shoes reduces that friction, and the boot covers the gap by keeping the elbow off the shoe entirely.

How do I know if my horse has a shoe boil?

Look for a soft, often fluid-filled lump or swelling at the very point of the elbow, where the leg meets the body. It may feel squishy and is usually not initially painful, though it can become inflamed. If you notice a new lump, your veterinarian can confirm whether it is olecranon bursitis and rule out other problems.

When should a veterinarian be involved?

If the swelling is hot, painful, rapidly growing, or not improving with protection and good bedding, consult your veterinarian. Vets may drain the fluid, inject corticosteroids, or in severe chronic cases recommend surgery. Cold therapy in the first 48 hours of a fresh boil can also help reduce inflammation alongside using the boot.

Where can I buy the Intrepid International Shoe Boil Boot?

You can order it directly from Intrepid International's online store at intrepidintl.com under item 203158 for $25.00. It is also carried by many of the 1,000-plus tack shops Intrepid International supplies, as well as major equestrian and pet retailers online. To confirm stock you can call 717-354-4822 or email [email protected].

What if the Shoe Boil Boot is out of stock?

When a batch is temporarily sold out, Intrepid International's website accepts pre-orders and will email you as soon as the item is back in stock. You can also reach the company directly at 717-354-4822 or [email protected] to ask about availability and restock timing.

How do I contact Intrepid International?

Intrepid International can be reached by phone at 717-354-4822 or by email at [email protected], and its full catalog is online at intrepidintl.com. The company is based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and has served the equestrian market for more than 25 years.