Scoot Boot’s Showjumping Brand Ambassador meets with leading European barefoot advocate

Scoot Boot’s Showjumping Brand Ambassador James Arkins had the chance to meet with one of Europe’s leading barefoot advocates Barbara Hoekstra while competing overseas.

Arkins, who is an elite Australian show jumper and one of just a few who have adopted barefoot, has been competing across Europe since late January.

When the Scoot Boot team learned Arkins would be less than 30 minutes’ drive from one of their key Stockists in the Netherlands they arranged for a meet and greet and a personalised check-in on his horses’ hooves.

Ms Hoekstra has been a barefoot trimmer for more than two decades, working alongside Marjanka Lever, one of Scoot Boot’s most successful European Stockists and owner of Equishoen.

Together the two women have helped transition hundreds of horses into Scoot Boots across Europe, with Ms Hoekstra advising on hoof pathology across all breeds and riding disciplines. 

Arkins has been using Scoot Boots for the past 18 months since Scoot Boot Co-Founder Annette Kaitinis visited him at his family farm to demonstrate the benefits of hoof boots for training and performance.

“With James competing overseas, and with new horses in his team, we thought it would be great to give his horses some personalised service and a fresh set of Scoot Boots over there,” Ms Kaitinis said.

“It’s a great opportunity to have an expert of Ms Hoekstra’s standing to assess and trim and give her personal advice first-hand.

“James and his team found the meeting really useful and informative and he has the perfect fit for his horses for the remainder of his campaign.”