Barefoot Horse

Team Lurgy (Fergus + Lucy) made their debut last weekend at the Nevada Derby 50 miler endurance ride.

Fergus is my husband Patrick's 16+ hh Tennessee Walker/Arabian horse and although I am his main caretaker and trimmer, I'd only ridden him twice prior to embarking on our 50 miles together. Given that he's probably twice the weight of pony Small Thing, and travels at twice the speed but half the tempo, I knew we were in for a very steep learning curve when it came to adjusting my riding to suit his way of going. Couple that with having not done a 50 since May last year, this was going to be an interesting ride.

Fergus has never worn shoes (he's about to turn 10 years old) and his arrival in our lives was the main push to convert all the other horses to barefoot. If I was going to have to learn to trim him, I might as well do the other five horses as well.

He was probably in the very first wave of the horses competing in Gloves. We were at the Death Valley Encounter multi-day endurance ride in 2008 - with Patrick planning for Fergus to wear Epics for their first limited distance ride - when we came across Garrett Ford fitting some other horses for the new Glove boot.

I'd heard horror stories about Tennessee Walkers yanking off shoes from their way of going, so was a little worried that we were using an unproven (for Fergus, at least) booting method - especially given that it would be Patrick and his first distance ride together. Fergus went out the next day in a set of size 3 (fronts) and size 2 (rears)  Gloves and they completed two days of LD that week with absolutely no problems whatsoever. So much for worrying - Fergus has some TWH traits, but yanking boots isn't one of them.

In the years that have followed, we've downsized his Glove size to 2.5s in front and 1.5s in back, but recent changes in his left rear foot have necessitated bumping him up to a size 2. When I listen to him walking, he steps down differently on that foot so I'm considering getting a chiropractor to take a look at him to make sure there's nothing going on which could be causing this slight anomaly.

Back to last weekend.

Fergus and I went out on a 45 minute pre-ride on Friday afternoon and I came back feeling a little shell-shocked. Fergus has a humungous trot with loads of suspension - there's seemingly 5 seconds of hang-time between each stride and he's like steering the Lusitania - not exactly the short wheel-base of Small Thing.

As luck would have it, the following morning my riding buddy's horse was having an attack of "I'm so fit I left my brain back at the trailer" so we ended up walking most of the first five miles, giving me a chance to really settle in with Fergus and get used to this new balancing act. Perfect (all those trail miles babysitting Uno and Small Thing were paying off in dividends). The fact that Fergus' TWH genes blessed him with an amazingly big walk didn't hurt any either - I could get used to this travelling at speed without breaking into a trot option.

With cattle guards come cattle. Patrick and I discussed prior to me riding him that Fergus had never done anything bad at a ride before... uh, except for when we met those cows on the trail that time. Because of this, we proceeded with caution.

Fergus at the first vet check - having fallen instantly in love with a grey horse he spotted leaving.

The typical NV wind blew... and blew and blew. By the time we'd made the 1800'/550 m ascent to the top of the Dogskin Mountains it was gusting 60 mph, practically blowing us off the horses at times. It seemed like the harder it blew, the faster Fergus wanted to go - a pleasant surprise - I was expecting him to suffer from the "bleahs" from the climb.

Cresting the top of the Dogskin Mountains, before dropping down the other side to Bedell Flat. The steep descent featured several springs that had been diverted into large cattle troughs.

Once down on the flats on the far side of the mountains, it continued to blow and Fergus continued to be far more enthusiastic than I'd ever expected him to be. Unfortunately the muscles in my legs didn't share his enthusiasm and it began to feel like someone was jamming a hot poker into the side of one leg. However tempting it may have been to just let him go and relieve the pain from having my legs tweaked, it was definitely a case of "just because he thinks he can, doesn't mean he should" - his current fitness level was definitely not conducive to finishing a speedy 50 without something going horribly wrong, despite what he might think. So we worked on trying to keep it to a dull roar and get back to camp in some semblance of control.

Back at camp for our hour hold, I quickly checked under each Glove gaiter to make sure he hadn't collected any debris or piles of sand from having slogged through some deeper sand during the descent off the mountains. I was pleased to see that everything was fitting beautifully - he had a small wear at the front of one pastern, so I loosened that gaiter a little, but otherwise his boots were holding up with no problems at all - pretty typical for Fergus (he's not the most interesting horse to write about when it comes to 'boot adjustment').

Inside the back of my trailer, I was confused to discover everything covered in a fine layer of sand. It turned out that while we were out on the trail lamenting the wind, a sandstorm had blown through camp - sand-blasting everyone and everything. I'm going to be washing grit off my belongings for some time to come.

The sandstorm in camp - that's my trailer on the right. Photo: Andy Gerhard

Keeping it to a dull roar. Photo: Bill Gore

During the hour hold, the skies opened and began to rain - Fergus disappeared under a rain blanket to keep him and my saddle dry while he ate his slurpie refreshments. 

When it was time to leave, even though the sun was now shining again, we went for overkill dressing - waterproof legs, jacket, gloves and fleecy neck wrap. Just as well - within 30 minutes of leaving camp it began to rain again, gradually degenerating into snow. The horses decided they were on a Death March and we trudged rather unenthusiastically along into the head-wind, icy snow biting into our faces.

All bundled up, but good and toasty on the trail. Woolly gloves are perfect for mopping a continuously runny nose. Photo: Tami Rougeau

One thing I was surprised to learn was how sensitive Fergus was to different footing, despite wearing boots all around. I suspect some of this has to do with my neglect of his feet in the last few months and hope that this will improve as the mud dries out and we get back to regular trims. Trotting along the gravel roads, he would veer decisively to the softer (or seemingly softer) outside edges, and once we got back on the soft stuff he would joyfully increase his speed. I may experiment with 6 mm comfort pads in his boots to see if it helps, assuming adding pads will work with his Gloves - results seem to vary with different horses and sometimes they cause the low-profile Glove to come off.

As soon as we rounded the corner at the northern-most point of the loop, both horses brightened considerably from their Death March. They had no interest in eating or drinking from the fare provided by the Ride, but every interest in catching the group of horses about eight minutes ahead of us. That took about ten minutes and then Fergus and I returned to our battle of wills on exactly what speed was appropriate for an unfit horse, given that we still had 8 miles or so still to go.

And it was this portion of the ride where Fergus really shined - a very long straight road for the last six miles - the least interesting part of the entire day. We got up on the soft verge and he showed me his bestest medium trot (the one I didn't realise he possessed) and the miles flew by. I've never ridden a horse that could cover ground quite so effortlessly before and it was a true gift at the end of a long day on the trail. 

We completed the ride dead last in 9.5 hours, but Fergus was still pratting around at trot-out during vetting - displaying his sideways stupid trot and bellowing for his buddies (standing right next to him). Finishing with such a happy horse was the second gift of the day.

Worst part of the day? Having to call Patrick and confess that, yes, his horse *is* the most perfect of all our horses, much as I hate to admit it to him. I'll never hear the end of it now...

--
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California

Submitted by Monique Chaisson-Williams, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

I have a confession. I’m “one of those people”. I loved horses as a teenager but never owned one until I was in my mid-40s. Growing up in Tucson, AZ, I had plenty of access to other people’s horses and I did everything I could to be around and ride them. I learned a lot about riding and handling horses, but very little about horse care. I worked as a wrangler, but I never had horses in my back yard, I didn’t show, I never took lessons, and my parents knew nothing about horses.

When I finally decided – at the age of 45 – that I was old enough to own a horse, the balance and muscle memory of my childhood allowed me to quickly pick up as a rider where I had left off 30 years earlier, in much the same way that one never forgets how to ride a bike. However the day I handed over the check for my new mount, I felt a wave of panic come over me as I realized that I had no idea how to care for this animal on a daily basis. Now that I am a few years into my horse adventure, I have come to realize that my lack of knowledge – which I viewed as a tremendous handicap at the start – has become my greatest asset, especially for my horse.

With a wealth of information at our disposal, today’s horse owners are far more sophisticated and the supportive technology and products for optimal horse care has evolved tremendously. After a 30-year hiatus, I find myself in the midst of an evolution in everything equine. There has been significant development and groundbreaking work in equine care, training, nutrition, sport, and equipment – endurance saddles, gel pads, western dressage, one-rein stops, bitless bridles, competitive trail riding, and of course hoof care products and boots. These things were all new to me. In fact, I had never really looked at a shoeless hoof. To me, that crescent of steel was as much a part of the hoof as the frog.

Before I finally took my horses barefoot last year, I did my research. I read articles on the internet, consulted with veterinarians, ferriers, and experienced horse owners. If I was going to try this barefoot thing, I’d have to do it right. I wanted to avoid all the “I told you so” comments from the people at my barn that asserted that the desert terrain was too harsh for a barefoot horse. I knew that the proper use of the right boots was going to be the key to my success. The boots I was looking for had to be easy to put on and take off; they had to stay on up rocky slopes, through water, and down long sandy washes; they had to be comfortable for my horse; and not break the bank.  Before I pulled the shoes, I searched for the perfect boot for over a year and one day while trail-riding, I saw a horse outfitted with the Easyboot Glove. BINGO – just one look and I knew I had found the missing key!

The other obstacle I encountered was the erroneous belief that replacing the toe weights and heel cocks with boots would cause my walking horse to lose her smooth four-beat gait. Having no prior experience with gaited horses, I feared they might be right but I took my chances and I am so glad I did. In fact, I found that her gait has improved as a barefoot and booted equine. A proper barefoot trim is required for the use of the Gloves, and I am a huge fan of the Gloves to this day. My horses have never been sore and they gait better now than they ever did with shoes. A well-fitted glove will usually stay on through thick and thin. Over hundreds of miles, my Gloves have slipped off only twice and it was due to operator error (too large or failure to clean dirt out of the toe). They don’t fill with sand or water, and when you do get a flat tire it sounds like a flat tire, and the gaitor usually keeps the glove attached to the pastern so you don’t lose it.

The thing I am looking forward to most these days is settling in and maturing together with my horses, riding and exploring with them for many years to come, and establishing a long track record of barefoot soundness. My evolution from steel shoes to Easyboots is a decision I’ve never regretted for a moment and I don’t believe I ever will.

Monique Chaisson-Williams

It was another great weekend for hoof boots. Easyboots were used by several of the horse and rider teams at the USA Endurance Team Time Trial for the 2012 World Endurance Championship.  Although many Easybooted horse and rider teams didn't have the day they had hoped for, the first, fourth and seventh place horse and rider teams finished wearing Easyboots.  The Best Condition prize was also awarded to a horse that completed the course in Easyboots.   

Jeremy Reynolds and Kutt take home first place and best condition in Easyboots.  Photo by Merri Melde.

Heather Reynolds and Riverwatch finish in fourth place.  Photo by Merri Melde.

Amy Atkins and Juniper finish in seventh place.  Photo by Merri Melde.

In addition to the Easybooted horses, several other of the USA competitors were using Renegade Glue-On hoof boots. The second place horse finished in Renegade glue-on hoof boots.  At the end of the day, Easyboot horses and Renegade horses accounted for nearly half of the USA riders looking for a spot on the team heading to England.  The event shows that hoof boots are here to stay and are being used at the top levels of equine sports.

One of my favorite moments of the day was watching Jeremy Reynolds take time away from his horse during one of 30-minute vet stops towards the end of the race.  Jeremy put his race aside and helped a fellow competitor with a lost shoe.  He tacked the shoe on with minutes to spare and then quickly jumped on his horse as he departed on his way to his eventual first place finish.

Jeremy Reynolds applies a shoe to a fellow competitor's horse during a short vet stop.  Jeremy is still in his helmet!

EasyCare is looking forward to the possibility for riders on the USA Endurance team to compete in Easyboots.  We have several new tread patterns for them to choose from that will help them stick to the course.  In addition, EasyCare's new EasyShoe may be the perfect option for the English countryside.

Garrett Ford

President & CEO

I have been President and CEO of EasyCare since 1993. My first area of focus for the company is in product development, and my goal is to design the perfect hoof boot for the barefoot horse.

How much stress is being exerted on your horse’s hooves? Why should you be concerned? Hoof care professional Gail Snyder leads us to a better understanding of peripheral loading. Reprinted with permission from Natural Horse Magazine, Gail gives us an in-depth look at this concept. Even if you didn’t get an “A” in physics this well written article is sure to demystify this common but often misunderstood term.

Natural Horse Magazine graciously gave us permission to make the article available to our readers. Simply click on the links below to download a PDF version of the articles. Note: this function requires Adobe Reader to be installed on your computer. If you don't have it yet, you can download Adobe Reader by clicking on http://get.adobe.com/reader/

Here is the link to download the article: http://www.easycareinc.com/app_system/lib/content/home/education/articles/Hoof-Loading-NHM.pdf

Debbie Schwiebert

Vet Dealer & Hoof Care Practitioner Accounts

I manage the hoof care practitioner and veterinarian dealer accounts at EasyCare. An integral part of my job is to stay current in all areas of barefoot hoof care, which enables me to serve this vital group of EasyCare dealers at the next level.

Submitted by Anke Schreiber, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

The hoof specialist and farrier from Argentina, Daniel Anz, hosted several clinics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He showed his trimming method called F-Balance to hoof care practitioners and farriers.

The F stands for flexibility. His take home message: the hoof is more flexible than the head. He trims the hoof according to three natural factors:

1. Heel length: Anz found that every heel shows where it wants to be cut by showing a little crack or bend caused by the stress of the overgrown material. The distance from the stress point to the hairline happens to be the same medial and lateral and even the same on both limbs of the fronts or hinds.
2. Sole level: the hoof wall should be trimmed to the level of the functional sole.
3. The functional sole may not be cut.
4. Hoof angle: the correct angle the hoof wants to grow can be determined by considering the upper growth of the hoof underneath the coronary band.

According to Daniel Anz, these factors can be applied to any hoof, no matter if it is supposed to be shod or stay barefoot.

He states: "What belongs to the horse, leave it to the horse. Only take away what has grown." Does anything sound familiar to any of you?

When we practiced his method on cadaver hooves I found that I didn't do anything different to what I usually do when trimming hooves after the principles of natural hoof care. Some of the attendant farriers held their breath when Daniel lowered the heels according to the stress point, since among farriers in Germany it is still a rule to leave the heels alone or cut them as little as possible. To most of the natural hoof care practitioners present Daniel's method was a very helpful supplement for their work, but not a revolution.

One aspect of his concept, though, was revolutionary to all of us: trimming the heels to the same length medial and lateral (same length between heel and hairline) can lead to different heel heights, when one heel is compressed and pushed upwards. The amazing thing: shortly after the horse loads the foot, the compressed heel / wall relaxes and slips down to a normal position. This is possible because of the great flexibility of the hoof. I can remember having heard Pete Ramey speaking about adjusting the heel length rather than the heel height, but it never seemed as clear to me as it is now after watching Daniel Anz’s presentation.

My conclusion: anytime people listen to the horses and their very needs instead of holding on to whatever they have learned before, they come to similar results. For the benefit of the horses.

Read more: www.danielanz.com.

Anke Schreiber

"Can I use Comfort Pads in the Easyboot Glove Back Country?"

This is yet another challenging question and the answer is, it depends. Although Comfort Pads are not recommended for the Easyboot Glove because they can affect the precise fit required, we have received feedback from several customers who successfully use the 6 mm thickness. As discussed in my previous blog, the fit on the Easyboot Glove Back Country does not need to be as precise as the Glove. In fact, the Cordura Upper on the Back County works similar to a power strap, yielding a slightly snugger fit than the same size in the Glove. Customers may choose to increase boot size for the Back Country by a half or full size in order to accommodate this feature or for specific needs such as trim cycle or ease of application. I chose to increase my horse Cal's boot size to a 1.5 for the Back Country (up from a 1 Glove). By sizing up I could use 6 mm Comfort Pads in the Back Country.

6 mm Firm Comfort Pad. (The photos in this blog just show the base of the Back Country
because it is easier to see the Comfort Pads without the Cordura Upper and Comfort Cup Gaiter.)

Our Original Comfort Pads are also available in a 12 mm thickness and I had my doubts that these would work in the Back Country. It came as no surprise that I was not able to get the Back Country on with the 12 mm pads in the size 1.5. I thought that going up another half size to a 2 may work (now a full size larger than Cal's Glove size). First I tried the size 2 without pads and they worked well - they were secure and there was no twisting. I personally would not select a full size larger because of the effect it has on break over, but it is an option for customers wanting to accommodate a longer trim cycle. Although I was able to get the size 2 with 12 mm pads on, the boot twisted after only 10 minutes of ground work. Unfortunately the 12 mm pads just take up too much room in the low profile boot shell and this compromises the fit.

12 mm Soft Comfort Pad.

Next I tried the Dome Comfort Pads in the size 1.5. I was able to get the boots on but I had to to lunge Cal (2 circles both ways) to fully seat them on his hooves. After lunging I was able to tighten the Upper and it seemed comparable to the tightness I achieve without pads. I proceeded to do some more ground work and was very pleased with the results. This past weekend I went on a short test ride and Cal moved out nicely. It appears that the Dome pads may be used in the Back Country but this will be on a case by case basis. In order for a horse to be a candidate for Dome pads they must have a concave sole; they are not recommended for flat footed horses. I want to test them on longer rides before I actively endorse them but I am encouraged by these initial results.

Dome Comfort Pad.

In summary, the 6mm Comfort Pads are the best option for the Back Country. The 12 mm Comfort Pads will not work and the Dome Pads may work but only on horses that have adequate concavity.

A note on sizing for Comfort Pads:
Both the Original and Dome Comfort Pads must be cut to fit. The lines that are on the Original Comfort Pad are designed for use with the Easyboot, Epic and Rx which have a different size chart than the Back Country. As a result you must place the Back Country on top of the Comfort Pads and trace around the base to determine how much you should cut. With the Dome Pads I was able to use a medium in the size 1.5 without cutting it.

Alayna Wiley

Customer Service

As one of the customer service representatives, I am happy to help get your horse into the right boots. I have plenty of hands on experience since my horses have been barefoot and booted since 2003.

Submitted by Lalita Creighton, Team Easyboot 2012 Member from Hillsboro, Missouri

As I get older, I value certain characteristics in my life more and more. Two of these are reliability and dependability. Not only in my relationships with my family, friends, and even coworkers, but also with my horse and even the tack and equipment I use. I’m always willing to give new things a try, and if they work well, they become part of the “tried and true” I depend on every day.

My horse, Flirt, falls in this category. My husband’s horse, Jinx, also falls in this category. So do the Easyboot Gloves we use on their front hooves, every single ride. We don’t use any boots on their hinds. They are both barefoot, and have been for several years. Although they can probably handle most trails without any boots in front, we like using them for that little bit of extra protection, and not having to worry if we ride somewhere with a lot more rock than is in their pastures.

We originally started using Boa Hoof Boots on Flirt back around 2005, because we just could not keep metal shoes on him no matter what we tried. After having the shoer out three times in one week, and still missing a shoe on Saturday, I threw my hands up in the air and was willing to try anything. Boa Hoof Boots seemed like a good solution. They were easy to put on, I didn’t ride a ton of miles, and I no longer had to worry about lost shoes.  The Boas performed reasonably well, and I used them until 2010. 

I was fortunate enough to be selected for the original Team Easyboot in 2010 (and chosen again both in 2011 and this year – thank you, Easycare), and was able to perform some testing in the new Easyboot Gloves. They were revolutionary. No moving parts to break or replace, fairly easy to put on, and boy do they stay on.

A few years before, I had a barefoot trimmer that stopped trimming due to a back injury teach me to trim our horses. When I had abdominal surgery, my husband stepped up and learned, and to this day does all the trimming. Keeping the hooves in shape for the Gloves is never an issue for us, and we have never had a Glove fail us.

The closest we’ve come to one “failing” was due to poor fit. We had let Flirt’s toes get a bit too long, and his Gloves were fit to that hoof size and shape. As we corrected that runaway toe, his boots became a bit too big and started to occasionally come off.  We found a few wraps of athletic tape around the hoof allowed us to keep using those boots until I could get a Fit Kit and confirm his smaller size.

We’ve also been able to depend on these Gloves to perform duties outside what they are recommended for, and perform well. Flirt had stepped on one heel bulb with his other hoof when he got tangled up on the trail in a badly eroded hill. He walked off without any indication something was wrong, and since he had his boots on, I never thought to get off and check. We rode about ten miles that day, and back at the trailer we discovered he had actually split his heel bulb open about ¼” wide and deep, and about  1” long.

I rinsed it with saline, put a clean bandage on it (no ointments), secured the bandage with tape, and put the boot back on. I hauled him home and called my veterinarian. After explaining the wound and my treatment of it, my veterinarian said he couldn’t do anything more than I had done, and to keep it clean, change the bandage twice a day, use antibiotic ointment, and keep using the Gloves for turnout to help protect the area. For approximately one month we followed this protocol, sometimes leaving the boots off during the night so his hooves would have a break. He never had an infection, never took a lame step, and the boots showed no wear and tear from this usage. This obviously falls outside the normal recommendation for these boots, but I was absolutely delighted with how well they worked.

Just today, after giving the horses the winter off, we hooked up and hauled to a local trail for the first trail ride of the season. I took all of my reliables and dependables with me:  my husband, our horses, and of course our Easyboot Gloves.

Lalita Creighton

Traditions, they say, die hard in the West. Contrary to popular belief, back in the 1800's men weren't the only ones shooting whiskey and packing a Peacemaker. Women were often going toe to toe with the best of cowboys. These women broke tradition and blazed their own trail. They knew no boundaries.

In that same spirit, Kimberly Knight of Date Creek Ranch, Wickenburg, AZ is not afraid to buck tradition. Date Creek is the continuation of over 130 years of family ranching and is now in the capable hands of Kimberly and her husband Stephen. 

This past December Kimberly was interviewed by EasyCare dealer of the month and natural hoof care practitioner Amanda Beno Marsh for Western Horsemen Magazine's monthly feature Women of the West.

As Kimberly reveals in the  interview, Date Creek Ranch embraces innovation and recognizes what it takes to survive in the ranching business today. Proactive and environmentally conscious, the ranch embodies a true spirit of a new West. 

This same forward thinking carries over to the ranch's horse keeping practices. Kimberly, with the help of Amanda Marsh of Mountain Top Hoof Trimming Services have had success keeping the ranch horses barefoot, happy and sound in some very tough country.                                                                                                                                                 

Kimberly, has tried several styles of hoof boots but found the Old Mac's G2  with 12 mm Comfort Pads to be the hoof protection that suits her horses best and can handle the extremely rocky terrain on the ranch. Now with the new Easyboot Glove Back Country she is excited about giving this new boot the ultimate rock test. 

Rocks and more rocks.

The spirit of the West is one of individuals who never settled for the status quo. I challenge you to get a little western and to not be more comfortable with your old problems than with a new solution. Folks from all over the country and around the world just like Kimberly Knight are bucking the tradition of shoeing and choosing a barefoot lifestyle for their horses. Perhaps there's a little bit Western in all of us.

Debbie Schwiebert

Vet Dealer & Hoof Care Practitioner Accounts

I manage the hoof care practitioner and veterinarian dealer accounts at EasyCare. An integral part of my job is to stay current in all areas of barefoot hoof care, which enables me to serve this vital group of EasyCare dealers at the next level.

Another year, same result. NV endurance rides are the best - except for one minor flaw - they are on the wrong side of the Sierra Nevada.

Last year I was due to make my debut-borrowing-Fergus to do the 50-mile ride at the "Rides at March" endurance ride. That weekend marked a spectacular storm, closing I-80 over the summit from multiple spin-outs and wrecks. So much for that plan.

This year Small Thing was due to make his Limited Distance debut - a 30-miler - at the same ride. Two weeks beforehand for our last "big" training ride it had been in the mid 70s F/low-20s C and I was trying to figure out if it would be an insult to Jackit's Welsh heritage to clip him for the NV ride. But by the time the prior Monday rolled around, the weather was starting to look less impressive and by Wednesday I knew our weekend trip wasn't going to happen. Somehow hauling over Donner Summit (7,200'/2,200 m) in a snow storm didn't appeal.

The route we would have been on - Kingvale on I-80 ...not even at the summit yet.

My friend Lester and I had done this last April, insistent that we had to go to a NV ride. She bought the chains for truck and trailer and I put them on - all was well until we got to the very top and I was white-knuckling the passenger door. The drive down from Donner Summit involves a drop of 1000'/300 m in about 3 miles with plenty of curves for added excitement.

Nope, don't fancy that again, so no debut ride for us.

The good thing about the 70 degree weather two weeks before was that I was able to pressure-wash Small Thing (a mere shedding blade wasn't going to make much headway on that coating of dried slurry) and actually get his legs clean enough to apply boots.

Our plan for their last "big" training ride was a 15+ mile jaunt along the South Fork of the American River. This new trail was put in a few years back and makes for good continuous trotting but can be quite hard footing. I've ridden it barefoot with little problem in the past, but in this case we wanted to make sure that both pones had practised with their boots (I think I only got around to putting front boots on Jackit twice so far this year) and that we had a good fit.

Fergus was a little overdue for trimming (OK, a lot overdue) so I worked on him the day before, as well as touching up Jackit's feetses by performing a quick once-over with the rasp. It always seems that the horse I'm riding regularly never needs a trim per se - mostly because I poke at the hooves much more often so all they ever need is a quick touch up - while the non-workers and Fergus tend to get overlooked for "next time".

Getting ready for the ride, Small Thing's boots went on with no problem at all - even the brand new back Gloves that usually require a few rides before they'll go on without encouragement had no need of help from the mallet.

Fergus' size 2.5s went on his front feet OK, but when it came to cramming 1.5s on the backs, only one went on nicely while the other looked a little dubious. It was on, but neither of us were convinced that his foot was seated all the way into the bottom of it in the back. Fergus used to be a size 2 in the rears and apparently my lack of trimming has caused his feet to flare a little again. You reap what you sow.

So we fetched a size 2 with powerstrap out of the trailer (conveniently, the size Uno wears on his fronts) and popped that on instead, with me making a note to self to take off a little more toe on that foot next time I worked on him.

The ride went very well - the main object was to cover the distance as fast as we could (which on Jackit, isn't really very fast), trying to trot as much as we could and with me hopping off and running the downhills with him.

It's really not fair to expect Jackit to keep up with Fergus, given the disparity of size (Small Thing = barely 13 hh; Fergus = 16+ hh), but he's managing quite well and instead of having to dig in to increase the speed of his trot, he's finally figured out to switch up to the canter. We first started working on this over Christmas at which time he had a hard time moving into that gait without inserting a couple of exuberant mini-bucks first. His canter still isn't terribly ground-covering... infact he generally canters like a banana - curled to one side or the other, lots of leg movement and frantic activity, but not a great deal of speed-increase, but he'll figure it out.

Most of all, I'd like to point out that he's quite capable of cantering without his boots falling off (keeping in mind that on paper his boots don't remote appear to fit the shape of any of his feet). Even when he canters à la Banana.

--
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California

"Will my horses wear the same size boot in the Easyboot Glove Back Country as they wear in the Easyboot Glove?" 

Of all the questions I receive regarding the Easyboot Glove Back Country, this one seems to be the most frequently asked and the most challenging to answer. The Easyboot Glove Back Country and the Easyboot Glove utilize the same size chart, however customers may want to consider sizing up for the Back Country. It is a difficult concept to grasp but even though the boot shell size is the same, there are some reasons why you may want to select a larger size for the Back Country. 

Easyboot Glove size 1 and Easyboot Glove Back Country size 1.5.

The Easyboot Glove requires a very precise fit and needs to be snug enough that the front V expands. Success with the Glove often requires using a rubber mallet or an alternative method to ensure the boot is fully seated on the hoof before riding out. It also entails frequent maintenance trimming. The Glove has proved to be a very successful boot and was even awarded Horse Journal's product of the year in 2011. Despite this success, there were customers who were unable to use the Glove due to length of trim cycle, lack of hand strength or hoof conformation that would not yield a snug fit. The Easyboot Glove Back Country looked to the Easyboot Trail for inspiration to tackle these challenges.

Size 1 - the V expands and the result is a nice snug fit.
Cal wears this size for the Easyboot Glove.

Unlike the precise fit required for the Easyboot Glove, the Easyboot Glove Back Country will still work on horses where the fit is not “perfect”. The Back Country's Cordura upper stabilizes the boot on the hoof and allows for flexibility in sizing. This unique upper features a front plate that is essentially an integrated power strap - which means unless you are currently using power straps on your Gloves, the Back Country will have a slightly snugger fit than the same size in the Glove. One reason you may choose to increase boot size is to accommodate this feature. Since my horse Cal has a very snug fit in the size 1 Glove, I chose to use the size 1.5 for the Back Country. Some other reasons you may choose to size up are for ease of application or to accommodate a 6-8 week trim cycle.

Alayna Wiley

Customer Service

As one of the customer service representatives, I am happy to help get your horse into the right boots. I have plenty of hands on experience since my horses have been barefoot and booted since 2003.

Using hoofboots is a big committment for the average rider with one or two horses. For a horse trainer with several horses in and out the door on a regular basis, it can be hell. Last time, I posted about my young gelding, Chant, who is currently in Endurance Horse Boot Camp with a good friend and long-time endurance rider, Darlene Anderson. Darlene and her family have had some pretty high-mileage horses, and Darlene has always been congnizant of her horses feet, their trimming and shoeing. Having a horse with high/low syndrome, she understands proper trimming is paramount to keeping him going, and going he does well. While they do shoe their horses during the competition season, they are used to pulling shoes and continuing to ride regularly throughout the off-season. And although she doesn't ride her own horses barefoot/booted at rides (yet), she did do her first booted ride with me a few years ago after an impromptu trimming/fitting/booting session the day before her mom's horse's first ride (say that ten times fast) and had a successful finish with no boot issues. Thank goodness because that would have been all on me! 

Darlene's first ride in Easyboot Gloves. 2010 Owyhee Tough Sucker.

Last weekend I hopped in the car and took a quick four-hour drive west to Bend, Oregon, where little Chantly has been living. I brought an arsenol of footcare items- all my trimming tools (afterall, he was last trimmed by a FARRIER), boots, boots and more boots. I had sent a box of boots for Darlene to try on Chant a couple weeks earlier, based on what I *thought* would fit him. Although I sent him to training with boots that fit at that time, he has since grown out the remainder of the foot that he had when he came to me, and as result, has gone down a size in boots. While it's obviously a challenge to fit boots from 250 miles away, the distance isn't the only challenge. 

Another challenge we face is the six week trimming schedule, which is not necessarily a death-sentence in boot fitting, but may require a few more tricks in the bag. We also have someone who is newer to using Gloves but definitely not new to using Easyboots. Although we're facing a few road bumps, this is NOT the end of the world.

Like I said previously, Darlene and her crew are used to continuing to ride throughout the off-season despite pulling shoes in October or November. She has a pretty good stash of Original Easyboots, which they use throughout the winter. Here I admit my predjudices, as I have never used Original Easyboots nor did I believe they were a great option. Shame on me. Those things are awesome! The morning of our big ride Darlene slapped a set of four Original Easyboots on her man's horse and they never looked back. I love learning new things! While I was there, Darlene decided to use my experience fitting boots to get a fantastic little mare, Soul Sister, owned by Team Easyboot members Dennis and Sue Summers, to a set of Gloves. We popped a pair of size 1 Gloves on Sister's front feet and pounded on a size 0.5 on her back feet. Again, we never looked back (or should I say, down?). 

Lumpy and his snazzy red and black Original Easyboots, to go with his snazzy red and black color theme. I was so impressed by these boots.

Darlene, Lumpy and Sister slipping under a cool tree limb that keeps the BIG horses off this trail. So glad I wasn't riding either of my moose. Sister moved beautifully in the Gloves and will do well with them throughout her career. 

Chant was next. Although I had planned on trimming him while I was there, the previous trim by the farrier was so great, I opted to leave him alone and let the farrier trim him on his next visit, which happens to be this Thursday. I can't hardly believe I, the control freak of the century, just said that. But seriously peeps, the trim was good, Chant's feet grow and wear evenly and balanced and my back hurts. It's so worth the money. However, because we were four and a half weeks into the trim, we were pretty tight on fit and had to pound a bit with the rubber mallet to really set the boots. Because I had doubts they would have fit the next weekend at five weeks, I decided to leave another pair of Gloves the next size up for his front feet to be used depending on his trim cycle. The backs can go bear at that point if necessary and hopefully we're covered.

First of all, I have to say I have the Best.Friends.Ever. However my girlfriend found this shirt, I have no idea. But I love it and it was so perfect. Luckily Chant stayed true to his given name, Enchanter, and didn't need the nickname during this ride. You know you have good friends when :).

Chant strides out in his Gloves. Not pulling TOO hard here- he is a GOER!

Well how was the ride you ask? Wonderful!! Not only did my young gelding NOT try to kill me, all of our boots stayed put and the day was as gorgeous as you could ask for. Because of all the flack I got using hoofboots in the beginning when it was "taboo," I always hope my rides in boots with those who aren't devout booters go seamlessly and was thrilled when we never glanced at our boots all day and found them securely set when we went to take them off upon arriving home. EasyCare, I love you. 

Chant continues to improve and we'll see what the future holds for us. For now, he's set up with a great trainer, a great trimmer and boots that should fit him throughout a six-week period. Would it be easier to put shoes on him and forget about it? Probably. But with a little effort and a few willing participants it isn't necessary. Aren't we lucky to have the option? 

I love the Gloves. 

~ Amanda

Submitted by Stacey Maloney, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

I'm getting geared up for this year's Competitive Trail and Endurance season in Alberta. In the next week or so, my horses will be going to see the vet for their annual check-ups and barring any surprises there, we will begin conditioning very shortly.

After a few months off due to the harsh conditions of our winter my horses feet are usually a lot more sensitive; both from disuse and standing around in the moisture, so I always have to boot until things dry up.

In the past I have only used my 2001 APHA mare for CTR. I purchased her from Alberta's only (at the time) AANHCP's trimmer and had a steep learning curve to follow when it comes to natural hoof care and boots. Her hooves were amazing and now it was my job not to mess them up. At the time I brought her home Easyboot Epics were the best technology for her hooves and intended sport.

Since then these Epics have seen hundreds of miles. We go completely barefoot when the terrain allows but these boots are absolutely my "go-to" hoof protection of choice.

This year I will be conditioning one, maybe two other horses and will need to fit them for boots. I love my Epic's as they have never given me any trouble on the trail through the toughest of conditions and their adjustable fit make them ideal for hooves mid-late trim as well. I'm not sure if I want new Epics for my other horses this year or should I try something new?

One horse measures out to have a round hoof and should fit into Easyboot Gloves which I've heard nothing but good things about. The third horse will most likely be ridden by novice riders and therefore might benefit most from the Easyboot Glove Back Country due to their ease of application. On the other hand, both should also do fine in Epics and I trust this boot completely.

What to do? What to do? I'm having a hard time telling myself to branch out because of the great success I've had with the one style, but technology is forever changing and I might just have to take the leap.

Watch for us on the trail and you might be surprised to find what is on my horse's feet.

Stacey Maloney

This video was shot in the Hansen Dam Reservoir on Big Tujunga Creek, about twenty miles northeast of Los Angeles. The terrain is very challenging: the fire trails are mostly decomposed granite, the creek beds are dry, sandy and rocky in the summer but there is plenty of water in the winter when the rains come. Throughout the year there is always some water to cross so protective hoof boots are always subject to the wet.

In 2010, I rode over a thousand miles in the reservoir and the surrounding fire trails of the Angeles National Forest. I did it using a single pair of Easyboot Gloves on the fronts. Those Gloves lasted the entire year. This video was shot in May of 2011. In the video, my mare, Kitty, is wearing Easyboot Gloves on all fours.

My horse is a 14 year old Thoroughbred mare, who has been barefoot for six years. She is a classic example of a Thoroughbred who had flat, shelly, flaky feet, thin soles and poor walls. As the ill-informed like to say, "typical Thoroughbred feet." She also had a tendency to stumble. Well, not any more. She has thick soles, thick walls, great concavity and terrific laminar connection. And no more stumbling!

I have used EasyCare products since going barefoot. Many thanks to EasyCare for producing this great equipment. 

I am perpetually amazed at what these animals give us day in and day out. This video speaks for itself.

Thank you, Randy Oglesby

Dee Reiter

Customer Service

When you call EasyCare, I’m one of the folks that will answer. I’m also one of the cowgirls in the group. (Heck no, I don’t show, I Rodeo!) When it comes to life’s adventures – never pull back on the reins, and remember: the world is best-viewed through the ears of a horse!

The Easyboot Glove Back Country is added to the Easyboot product line as of today; Monday, March 5, 2012.  We have had some fun with the 30 day countdown and now all the ripples will be taken for you to see the boot in detail. 

The Easyboot Glove Back Country in a clear mountain stream.

I'm really excited about this hoof boot design and expect it to be a favorite with trail and back country riders.  The boot combines many of the features of the Easyboot Glove and a quick wrap outer cover similar to the Easyboot Trail.  I believe the Back Country will be one of our most versatile boots and will quickly become our best seller.

Easyboot Glove Back Country (BC) boots drying after a long afternoon in the Colorado mountains.

Some of my reasons I believe the BC will be on of our best hoof boots. 

• The boot is very easy to apply and remove.
• The upper is form fitting and reduces unnecessary bulk. 
• The Easyboot Glove Back Country will come in 18 sizes.  11 standard and 7 wide sizes.
• The Back Country will use the same lower shell as the Easyboot Glove.  This will allow riders to use the EasyCare fit kit system to insure a proper fit.
• All parts of the Back Country and replaceable.  Shell, Comfort Cup Gaiter and outer cover.
• The parts can be mixed and matched for various and unusual hoof shapes and sizes.  If you have a horse with very large heel bulbs it's easy to custom build a Back Country with a larger outer cover.
• It will be a favorite for retail dealers.  The wide size selection and one color combination reduce inventory and will allow one boot to work for many customer segments. 

Gene Limlaw and Grace put the Back Country to the test with a fast gallop!

The Back Country is launched at a great time.  The weather is getting warmer and its time to get the horses on the trail.  Over the past weekend on the endurance trail hoof boots shined once again.  The Old Pueblo Endurance Ride confirmed to me that hoof boots are the best type of hoof protection in hard, rocky conditions.  On the first day of the event there were roughly 1/3 of the participants in the 50 and 25 mile events using Easyboots.  After the awards presentation the first evening we held and impromptu drawing for the riders using Easyboots.  Doug Swingley won the drawing and EasyCare paid his ride entry for the day. 

Roughly 1/3 of the riders at the Old Pueblo Endurance Ride used Easyboots.  Many of the first day Easyboot riders are pictured above. 

We hope you enjoy the Easyboot Glove Back Country.  Keep an eye open for a couple more hoof protection products to hit the EasyCare line in 2012.  Two of them will be sure to shake things up.

Garrett Ford

President & CEO

I have been President and CEO of EasyCare since 1993. My first area of focus for the company is in product development, and my goal is to design the perfect hoof boot for the barefoot horse.

Spring has sprung in southern Arizona and love is in the air. My three year love affair with the Easyboot Glove is over – there’s a new boot in my life, the Easyboot Glove Back Country. Some may criticize me for leaving my old boot for a younger model, but I couldn't help but fall head over heels for the Glove Back Country. Last weekend I had my first ride with these boots in picturesque Catalina State Park...it was magical.

Poppies blooming in front of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The moment I saw the Glove Back Country I was impressed with the superior quality of the components: the proven tread design of the Glove, the soft comfort cup gaiter, and the breathable upper (made of the most durable materials available). The Back Country is the result of combining two of our best boots, the Easyboot Glove and the Easyboot Trail. In 2011, the Glove was awarded Horse Journal's Product of the Year, and the Trail was a Horse Journal Best Buy - with inspiration like that how can you go wrong?

The Easyboot Glove Back County (center) combines successful
features of the Easyboot Glove (left) and the Easyboot Trail (right).

The Glove Back Country is a medium to high mileage riding boot (25-50 miles per week) which makes it ideal for the majority of riders. Although the sizing chart is the same as the Easyboot Glove, the fit does not need to be as snug. Customers who were unable to use the Glove due to length of trim cycle or lack of hand strength will be able to use the Back Country by selecting a half size larger. If you do not have previous experience with the Glove, we recommend getting a Fit Kit to ensure you select the proper size. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns regarding fit; call 1-800-447-8836 and one of our customer service representatives will be happy to help you.

Glove Back Country ready for application.

The Glove Back Country is easy to apply with virtually no hand strength required. To prepare the boot for application, first open the upper and fold it forward, temporarily securing the upper in this position with the Velcro (see photo above). Next, fold down the gaiter so that it is flush with the shell of the boot. Facing the rear of your horse, pick up the hoof and put it into the boot toe first. Pull the gaiter over the heel bulbs and put the hoof down. To secure the upper, unfold from the front and pull the flap with the Back Country logo snug across the back. Pull the second flap over the first and finish by securing the Velcro piece with the Back Country logo.

Glove Back Country after putting the hoof down (left) and securing (right).

My first ride in the Glove Back Country was a huge success! Since the size 1 Glove is very snug on Cal, I decided to size up to a 1.5 for the Back Country. I took Cal out on a six mile route with varied terrain. The trails in Catalina State Park are the perfect boot testing grounds taking us through some deep sand and in and out of steep rocky washes. I didn't go through water on my first ride but plan to soon. The ride was comprised of equal parts walking and trotting with some cantering thrown in on the nice stretches. The boots performed flawlessly: they were secure and there were no rubs. I can't wait to ride in these boots again and have no doubt that they will be our most popular boots in 2012.

For more information on the individual components of the the Glove Back Country, visit easybooglovebackcountry.com. To see the boot page and find out how and where to purchase the boot, go to our website.

Alayna Wiley

Customer Service

As one of the customer service representatives, I am happy to help get your horse into the right boots. I have plenty of hands on experience since my horses have been barefoot and booted since 2003.

Once and for all let's make a concerted effort to debunk a popular myth that thoroughbreds have shelly walls, thin soles, pencil thin frogs and for these reasons they need shoes. "The hell!" I say. Even with wrong hoof care from birth to rescue/career change, the vast majority of OTTBs can be rehabbed to soundness. And gorgeous feet!

Cayuga

When I met him he was 12 years old, shod most of his life. He trained on the track but did not race. Cayuga was living at Tory Hill, a gorgeous farm with a herd of about 10 barefoot geldings, mostly OTTBs, with full turnout on huge and hilly pastures.

Too much hoof capsule. Crappy Walls or Horn.

'Beer Can' feet. The heels are almost as long as the toe. This tells me that the coffin bone is  pointing down at a steep angle. The tip of the coffin bone is no doubt disintegrating from mechanical stress. Unfortunately, the farrier can only trim so much and then puts the shoe back on a long, misshapen foot to maintain it.  Rehab demands pulling the shoes.

The foot is sweeping forward, in front of the horse.

In a general sense, the green line indicates where the hoof will end after rehab. The Red points out (1) upward pressure of the shoe and (2) a long under run heel

Cayuga's Straight Forward Rehabilitation:

1. As I applied the mustang roll, mechanical pressure on the lamina was removed and the steep, well connected wall at the top half inch of the capsule grew right in.
2. As this happens the hoof will get back under the horse. The entire foot will transform as the capsule becomes smaller and the heels shorten.
3. Transformation is organic. A lot of things are happening at once.
4. I never force any angle or any particular length because above the hoof is a unique body with unique movement.

Below, in 7 months, the hoof capsule looked more compact.  Soles and walls thicken. Heels open up as the frog and internal structures improve. The more movement and the healthier the diet, the better the foot.

7 months later a nicer foot, still on the mend.

Still a long capsule and long heels (as they appear from the outside) but over time it all corrects. Most importantly Cayuga was sound, ridden in padded Epic boots throughout.

Smartie

This fancy OTTB had been in shoes a long term. Sadly we didn't make it to a full rehab before the owner put him back in shoes. He has some things to show us.

This unraveling hoof wall with cracks around the nail holes is not being held together by the shoe.

Force comes down the leg, hits the shoe and runs back up the hoof and leg maintaining the cracks. To treat the unraveling wall, I would definitely use White Lightening to insure there is no bacteria maintaining the problem. Otherwise, it will grow out in about 3 months.

Solar View: Under run heels and long toe

From the hairline in the back of the foot to the heel where Smartie lands, you see about 2" of heel length running under the horse. Many people misinterpret this saying their horses won't grow heels. Smartie, and many horses, grow heels that run forward.

If the frog is healthy and can take a pounding from the current ground conditions, I'll bring the heels back, and down, half inch at a trim. By the end of rehab the heels will in the back of the foot, next to the back of the frog. Above the frog, internally, the digital cushion and lateral cartilages begin to re-develop and give Smartie the structure he needs.

Above, the toe wall appears to be about 3" in front of the end or apex of the frog. Much too long. If you wait about a week after pulling shoes, the horse will develop a toe callus and you can rasp the toe, 10:00 - 2:00, back to but not through, the toe callus. The callus looks like a long bump.

Personally I like to pull the shoes, round things up and leave the horse alone for a month. Pulling shoes is traumatic enough for one day.

Smartie feels 100% in Padded Epics.

My Thoughts on Boots: Because Smartie has a long toe, he would not fit into The Trail or Generation 2. The top portion of the boots would rub his pastern. Boots that fit above the hairline are a good choice for the rounder foot that allows the leg to center in the boot.

Bugsy

If it looks like a Duck Foot, is it?

Just because long toes, complete disconnection of hoof wall to coffin bone and under run heels are seen on almost every Racehorse does not mean it's normal! Can you imagine racing in these 'duck feet'? Poor Bugsy was right off the track, shoes a dangling!

Above, if you ran your fingers from the hairline down the wall, you will find where the wall is well connected to the coffin bone. In Bugsy's case there was a hint of connection!

Under run heels and a long toe, confirm what we saw from the top. Nice frog though.

Here comes the foot he wants, growing in from the top.

Don't let the steep angle scare you. It will level off as the foot grows.

Voila! The foot is now under the horse.

Over time, with lots of movement in a herd, the heel as it appears from the outside will shorter to about half this length. Bugsy still has a lot of rehabbing to do.

Love "Sunny" Days

5 years old. Just arrived from the rescue via New Holland Auction.

Typical racehorse feet: Paper thin shelly walls. Laminitic rings from top to bottom.

Another straight forward rehab.

The black line indicates where ideal wall to coffin bone connection ends. It will take a few capsule growths (7 months per capsule for Sunny) to get things in order. During the spring he will lose a little connection on the bottom. And as viewed from the sole, he will loose a half inch of concavity. However, he does not go lame. Hacking out, he is happiest, in the spring, in his Gloves.

Dinner Time at Tory Hill Farm, home to 7 barefoot Off the Track Thoroughbreds.

A Word on Long Term Rehab of Racehorses

As long as the horse has most of his coffin bone and the lamina aren't necrotic, hoof rehabilitation of former racehorses is usually straight forward.

I gave Sunny off one year from ridden work. This allows all the micro tears and chips to heal or sort themselves out and drugs to clear. I re-started him as a colt in training. From learning ground manners, haltering, leading, ponying off another horse, desensitizing and plenty of in-hand work, former racehorses need a complete reboot if you want an exceptional friend.

I tweaked Sunny's diet according to the teachings of Dr. Eleanor Kellon.

As for his body, I made an incorrect assumption that Sunny could fix himself in an active herd on 35 acres. Now I would have jumped on modalities available to me like chiropractic adjustments, accupuncture, Equine Touch, Ortho Bionomy, sports massage, myofacia release. Learn from the professionals if you can.

Currently, unless I am stuck, I do all my own body work. Much more cost effective! There is a wealth of information on the Internet, in books and on DVDs. A horse can't walk around on bad feet for years, ridden incorrectly at the track and not need serious attention to mind and body!

The wonderful thing about thoroughbreds is that they are sensitive, smart and athletic. Most I have met really crave a relationship with good, kind people.

Happy Trails and Give your ponies a big hug for me!

Dawn of 4 Sweet Feet

An Introduction to Trimming for the Owner:  The 'Maintenance Trim' on Sunny, my OTTB  

(1 of 3 ten minute free videos)

Amanda Beno Marsh has a master’s degree in wildlife biology and wildlife and range resource management. She has had horses and worked with horses since she was very young. She has lived in California, Arizona and Utah and has spent much of her time surfing and rock climbing as well as riding horses. She loves thrills and adventure.

Amanda is now based in the Prescott, Arizona area, but works throughout the state of Arizona and in southern California. She attributes her success to always wanting more information and to further her education. She has a science background, which helps, but lists her foremost experience as the help she has received from Dr. Tomas Teskey, DVM.

Amanda has been trimming for approximately three years. She first started out as a farrier’s apprentice.  "After following him around for several months I decided that the natural approach to hoof care was more my style. I am a science minded person, and I researched the science. I saw results early on and the more I practiced and the more I learned the more I decided that natural hoof care was my “calling”.

Mountain Top stocks the Easyboot Epic, Glove, Edge, Trail, Old Mac's G2 and Comfort Pads. The Old Mac's G2 is her best seller and she generally pairs pads with the boots. 

Amanda trimming at a clinic in Wickenburg, AZ.

Without boots, Amanda says her job would be much harder and horse owners wouldn’t be able to see and feel their horses succeed as quickly as they do. "I always listen to my clients and pay attention to what they want," says Amanda. "I explain everything I do to horse owners and I keep them in the loop. I call to check in about horses on my rounds because I truly want to know how they are doing. I care a lot and that really shows."

Amanda hosted several free clinics and workshops in order to get her name out into the local community, but she says word of mouth has been the most important way for her business to grow.

She and her husband use EasyCare hoof boots on all of their riding horses. They ride barefoot as much as possible, but when the conditions call for hoof protection, they like to use the Easyboot Trail.

When asked about her most rewarding experience as a hoof care practitioner, Amanda tells the story of removing the shoes from the working ranch horses on the Date Creek Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona.  "Kimberley Knight and her husband Stephan worked hard during the transition process," says Amanda. "And because they have done everything right, their horses are well on their way to a successful transition."  A major key to their success has been using the Old Mac's G2s and Comfort Pads when they are working cattle in the rocks. The horses are turned out on several hundred acre pastures. "Kimberley is so fond of her horses, she loves them and wants what’s best for them. She seeks knowledge and doesn’t just rely on me for information. Working with her has raised the bar for me. I feel like anything is possible with natural hoof care."

Amanda's favorite event is the annual Equifest in Prescott each year. Last year she was invited to speak and present a demonstration on natural hoof care. Several thousand people attend the free event every year, and Amanda will be presenting at the event again in September, 2012.

To learn more about Mountain Top, go to barefootnaturalhooftrimming.com.

MileMakers in Larkspur, Colorado would like to announce some great Education Clinics in 2012.

Please contact us at www.MileMakers.com for further details, or visit us on Facebook

On April 14, 2012 we kick off the year with:

Natural Hoof Care and Hoof Booting Workshop with Rusty Toth

Education on Natural Hoof Care and Trimming!

Bring a horse for a trim, and boot fitting!

Everyone Is Welcome, with or without a horse!

Rusty Toth is a graduate of the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care.  He has also understudied with Duncan McLaughlin from the Australian Natural Hoof Care School.  Rusty is a professional trimmer whose clientele is comprised mostly of endurance, barrel racing, and cutting horses.  Rusty’s personal equine passion is Endurance.  He has completed numerous 100 mile events barefoot/booted and believes in the success from this protocol as the most beneficial for both the soundness and health of our equine's performance and pleasure alike.

Please RSVP    With number of horses and people attending. We will send you the address and directions at that time.  10 AM until  3 PM   Light lunch provided.

Boot Fitting and Education is Free

Trims are $45.00

Large Inventory of Easycare Hoof Boot Products Available for Sale!

Our next Spring event is May 12-13, 2012 with:

Paul Williamson (41) started riding at age 10 and quickly rose up through the ranks as one of the best thoroughbred riders today. He lives and works in Japan with the Japanese Racing Association.

Paul’s non-aggressive approach and ability to “get the job done “makes him one of the YouTube’s most popular trainers with more than 3,200 subscribers. www.youtube.com/endospink click the link to visit his channel and see him working with horses.

Paul picked up on a natural occurrence that happens in all horses, and turned it into one of the most valuable tools a horseperson can have in their toolbox.  He calls it The TAP and has incorporated this tool into his colt starting system. This training tool can be matched by no-one in regards to starting time (under 20mins).

Participants may bring young horses to be started or horses with dangerous behavior problems.

Topics to Be Covered

• Paul’s signature TAP demonstrated live. Not to be missed!

• Learn tips and tricks of ground driving.

• See at least 5 horses started in one day, using different techniques.

• Learn the dos & don’ts of side-reins.

• All colt starting & training questions answered.

• Learn easier, safer & kinder ways to handle your horse.

• Stop wondering if you have what it takes to start your own horse, find out!

TICKETS

1-Day Audit           $45

2-Day Audit          $60

Bring your horse   $100 per horse 1- day session, stalls available!

Rounding out the Summer in July, MileMakers presents:

Now booking private lessons with Stacy Westfall.  This is an opportunity to ride one-on-one with Stacy.  You do not have to have a reining horse or western style horse to take a private lesson!  Stacy instructs all disciplines. There will not be a formal clinic format, no auditors/audience.  

This is by appointment only!  July 21-26, 2012

Please inquire for details on days, times and fees.

This spring I'm concentrating on getting my two greenies going - Small Thing and Hopi. Despite the normal soggy spring feet, Small Thing has become fairly comfortable without boots and I am now able to ride him barefoot most places without too much short-striding. Hopi, on the other hand, can be ouchy and his normal long-walk can become very mincy.

Of course this weekend when I rode, Small Thing was mincy in places, while Hopi never took a false step. Go figure.

Hopi enjoying the sunshine in February. You need good feet to propel the plump body uphill. ...Uh, his plump body, that is, not mine.

In the perfect world, I would boot them. In the perfect world, I would also have a groom to clean the mud off their plump bodies and chisel the concrete mud off their hooves, then spend several hours removing the dingleballs off the back of their pasterns.

Unfortunately I don't live in the perfect world, so lacking time I'm reduced to not booting and avoiding trails that are too rocky, and getting off and walking when we do encounter them. Not an ideal situation, but this too shall pass.

A selection of feet from Paddock A.

I carry the boots with me in the pommel bag, in the hope that we will go through enough creeks that their feet will become miraculously clean and their pasterns will shed the mud, and voila, I will hop off and easily pop the boots on their feet.

To date, the boots have remained in the pommel bag.

Small Thing at the top of the powerlines - our local training hill.

Eventually I'm going to have to give in and do something about this. Small Thing is due to try his first 30-mile ride in March and I want to boot him for that - he needs practice in his boots to develop the necessary callousing around his pasterns to avoid rubs, instead of putting them on the day of the ride and expecting them to be fine.

Hopi demonstrating the ornamental dingleballs firmly attached to his rear fetlocks.

To this end, I need to break out the toilet brush—that fine implement for lower leg cleaning and having nothing whatsoever to do with toilets—and spend some quality time squatting next to the horse, hosing and scrubbing at length. And I might have to bring the scissors along to cut off the dingleballs as they are impossible to remove with finger encouragement.

Once (if?) the lower legs and feet become fluffy and clean, I plan on spritzing liberally with silicon spray in the hope that this will cause the mud to magically shed off their legs with a light flourish of a brush next time I want to boot.

I have yet to do any of these things.

In the meantime, I try to look away.

Anyone got any tips on how to deal with concrete mud?

--
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California

As I look back over the Easyboot Facebook questions to you from the last few months, there are common themes in your responses.

If you could have any wish come true for 2012, what would it be?

*  More time in the saddle
*  To ride my horse on the beach
*  Compete a season of LD's with Easyboot Gloves
*  Hit the dusty trail more often

What is the single most important lesson you learned from your horse in 2012?

*  Not take him for granted, life is short - ride while you can
*  I can't live without them
*  He can go barefoot with the help of his Easyboot Gloves
*  She is a keeper, a once in a lifetime horse


* Think outside the box in training and protective hoof boots
* Be quiet and take the time to listen to your horse





Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

*  Ride More
*  Win another barrel racing buckle (a girl after my own heart)
*  More time in the saddle out on the trails
*  Get a pair of Easyboots
*  Make riding time a priority
*  Try out Easyboots with studs so I can ride in the snow





What are the common themes? More time in the saddle, escape to the trail and have your horse in Easyboots.


Reminds me of some of the words in Kenny Chesney's song, Reality.

"Reality, sometimes life ain't all it's cracked up to be.
So, let's take a chance and live this fantasy
cause everybody needs to break from reality.
Where we feel that sense of freedom
Leave our worries behind, we don't need 'em
All we need is a sunny day and we'll escape realty."
 

Dee Reiter

Customer Service

When you call EasyCare, I’m one of the folks that will answer. I’m also one of the cowgirls in the group. (Heck no, I don’t show, I Rodeo!) When it comes to life’s adventures – never pull back on the reins, and remember: the world is best-viewed through the ears of a horse!