May we present Frida Weidemar – 2025 profile rider!
My name is Frida Weidemar and I compete in jumping with my horse Machiavelli v/d Rostal, “Mackan”.
Photocred: Grondahlfoto
Most of my life I have lived on a horse farm outside Kalmar that my parents own, recently my partner and I got planning permission for our own small horse farm. I have competed both pony and horse up to and including 135 cm in jumping.
My journey with Scootboots began after I got Mackan home, he had bad hooves and the stud shoes replaced each other with progressively worse hooves as a result. A constant worry to pick him up in the paddock, different types of plastic and plaster to mend the broken, crying call to my farrier who always stood up and tried to find new ways, forage analysis into detail level and most hoof supplements on the market, nothing seemed to work . Something which in turn meant that we could neither train nor compete, we missed large parts of the first competition seasons we would have had together.
During the fall of 2023, I chose to take off the shoes in front, when they were worst affected, and test barefoot boots. Made me try another hoof boot on the market which we tested but this one was heavy, clumsy and absolutely not raceable. I needed to find a better solution that worked above all for my horse who needed protection for his hooves to heal and to be able to train and compete long-term. Unfortunately, I am not one of the lucky ones who have their own riding stable and the opportunity to ride barefoot for the most part. We have gravel roads with stones in the forest and gravel on the riding track.
Then I got in touch with Jennie at Scootboots, who helped me try out the boots and gave me tips and advice on our barefoot journey. Mackan’s hooves quickly got good enough to be able to start training and later compete again. In addition, the boots are easy to adjust, put on and take off and clean and are extremely durable.
During the fall of 2024, his hind hooves started to get worse and it was close to getting peg shoes in the back as well and I then decided to take them off as well. I had been holding off on the hind hooves to see the development of his front hooves, which at this point were fantastic.
I have never regretted the decision to remove his shoes, Scootboots have given him the opportunity to heal and feel good. We have also gotten out on the tracks and raced 120 cm with them without problems. Going forward, our goal is to climb the classes and continue to have fun together.
Our trip has also led to mother, who rides western, and sister-in-law, who rides dressage, choosing to shoe their horses and use Scootboots when necessary.
In the near future I plan to buy another horse and then Scootboots will be a more natural decision than shoes for me.
I really hope that with our story we can get even more people to dare to shoe their horses and try Scootboots. Even among those of us who compete at a hobby level and don’t have the opportunity to ride for the most part barefoot, or inspire other horse owners out there with similar problems to Mackan’s.
