Are Scoot Boots Great for Trail Riding? Coda Sure Thinks so!

The home to Scoot Boot, Tasmania, displays beautiful scenery and trails that could be endlessly explored. Local Tassie man, Dakota and his mare, Coda spend their time exploring all the great wilderness, roads, towns and trails Tasmania has to offer.

Coda has been barefoot from the start but needed some extra protection for those unexpected terrains. After trying multiple brands of hoof boots, they settled on the natural and simplistic design of Scoot Boots, and have never looked back.

Read on to discover the beauty of Scoot Boot’s local scenery and find out how you can continue to follow along with their amazing journeys.

Can you Please Tell us a Little bit About Yourself and Your Horse, Coda?

Early on a foggy but moonlit morning, on the 6th of November, 2011, this absolutely fabulous ½ Clydesdale, ¼ Quarter Horse and ¼ Thoroughbred mare was born. Because of this moonlit night, Coda was named Miacoda Moon, meaning ‘the power of the moon’. The moment Coda was born, I knew that we were destined to ride the countryside together.

This was my childhood dream, but it was at the late age of 31 years old that life took me in the direction of a horseman. I have now just turned 49 with my passion stronger than ever and looking forward to travelling many more trails with my amazing friend, Coda.

What Type of Riding do you and Coda Like to do Together?

Our discipline is long distance trail riding. This can range anything from a few days to many weeks. There is so much country out there to see, why wouldn’t we see it?

You and Coda Have Ridden on Some Pretty Creative Trail Rides, Where do you Like to Ride?

In all honesty, we will ride anywhere! However, the peace and quiet of isolated trails are the most enjoyable. There are some private land parcels that we have been privileged to ride which go for miles, the visual and peaceful rewards this kind of country has needs to be experienced to be believed…

You Rode From the North of Tasmania to the South (Approximately 480km (300 Miles)) to Protest the Changes Made to the Tasmanian Trail. Can you Tell us About This?

The Tasmanian trail is made up of many types of roads, including reserve roads, private and state-owned land parcels. There are constant negotiations occurring in the background to keep the trail open.

Unfortunately, in this instance, a state-owned reserve road that has been part of the Tasmanian Trail for 20 years was blocked by an adjoining land owner. After a number of attempts to contact the state government to take action with no response, I sent an email to the Minister’s office advising that if I hadn’t had a response by the following week, then I would ride to his office to discuss the issue. I had no reply, so I was obligated to keep my word. Although it is not ideal for a horse to be on the road, it was important as we wanted that visibility to demonstrate how important sections of trail such as this are enabling us a safer journey.

We successfully negotiated a mutually agreeable outcome for all stakeholders which demonstrates the importance of working together and always keeping the lines of communication open. If you are interested, you can read more about the journey on the My Life of Trails website.

Why Have you Chosen for Coda to be Barefoot?

We decided to be barefoot when Miacoda was ready for work to ensure that some of the concerning hoof issues related to the use of horse shoes would never become a problem for us.

The use of hoof boots allows for the hoof to function more naturally and therefore minimises the chance of hoof issues on our longer journeys. Our success is demonstrated in the approximately 8,500kms (5,280 miles) we have travelled without encountering any hoof issues.

You Have Used Other Brands of Hoof Boots Previously. Why Have you now Chosen to use Scoot Boots?

In our experience, we have found that other brands of hoof boots were cumbersome and bulky. We enjoy the feel of Scoot Boots which allows Coda to move more naturally, almost as if she was not wearing any boots at all.

It is an added bonus that Scoot Boots is a home-grown local Tasmanian company. We have also found the customer service to be outstanding and I admire the approach they give to their customers.

How Have Scoot Boots Helped you and Coda Whilst out on Your Amazing Adventures?

We travel many varying terrain, without Scoot Boots, I have no doubt we would not have had the success we have had in completing these adventures. The comfort these boots have provided Coda has enabled us to travel many amazing kilometres. If Coda could talk, I know she would agree with this sentiment.

What are Some of Your Favourite Features About Scoot Boots for Trail Riding?

Their simplicity, easy care and longevity; all critical elements we require to make our journeys more enjoyable.

Most of all, they are reliable, for us, this is non-negotiable!

What are Some Highlights of Your Rides Around Tasmania, Australia?

The amazing and interesting people we meet along the way make our journeys very memorable. We have found people to be both personable and accommodating on a level you do not experience in day-to-day life. This helps remind us that there is still so much good in the world.

Two of our most memorable trails we have ridden are;

• Lees Paddocks, which we were fortunate enough to be invited along to for the Simon Cubit’s Memorial Walk

• Stage 12 of the Tasmanian Trail, which is approximately 14kms (8.5 miles) of private land between Ellendale and Bushy Park. Stunning views and a peacefulness that is hard to find.

How can we Follow Your Future Rides With Coda?

To help inspire others and give those that don’t have the same opportunities the ability to experience this through another person’s eyes, we have recently started the My Life of Trails website. This has information on the trails for those who may be interested in a similar adventure.

Building a Supportive Barefoot Community

The team at Scoot Boot believe passionately in the barefoot horse and strive to build a supportive community of barefoot horse lovers.

Find more information about using Scoot Boots here.

About the Author Blog writer, Macy Wallis has been a member of the Scoot Boot team for 5 years. She has always had a passion for animal welfare and is currently studying to become a Veterinarian at James Cook University based in Northern Queensland. Through her time at Scoot Boot, Macy has gained extensive knowledge about the benefits of being barefoot and loves to share this with other horse owners.