Boots for Horses

1. Ride Managers Who Know Their Stuff
Michael and Julia know how to put on an event. They treat their riders with respect: they listen, they answer questions, they believe truly in what they do and they are both generous. That spreads throughout the whole camp.

2. A Great Camp
Camp is set up at the L Bell ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona. It is easy to get to; the base camp field is full of grass and has more than ample space.

3. Good Trail
Michael and Julia build trail courses that are diverse, challenging and memorable. The high chaparral desert in the Prescott area is some of the finest land in the country. It's a trail rider's paradise and the course this year includes a tour of Granite Mountain. The geography is straight from a western movie through grassy fields, along sand washes and down sweeping single-track trails.

4. Food Matters
On the days when vet checks are out of camp, a variety of sandwiches, drinks and chips will be available for the riders. And the horses will score, too. There will be bales of hay, bran mashes and beet pulp buckets put out for the horses.

5. A Perfect Ten
Michael and Julia scored a perfect 10 with the event last year. You can bet your bottom dollar this year will be an 11.

For more information on the event, which takes place on April 21, 22 & 23, 2012, go to prescottchaparral.com. EasyCare is an award sponsor, so expect great completion awards, too.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

Submitted by Tami Rougeau, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

With all the talk about colored boots lately I thought I would share a story as well as my own thoughts on the topic.  I was a solid red boot fan back in the day.  In fact I was so bummed when they quit making them I went in search of any I could find and stocked up, convinced that there would be nothing better if it were not in color.  A few years and hundreds of miles later I would not trade a Red Easyboot for a Glove for any amount of money.  My red boot collection has slowly but surely made its way into my trail buddies tackroom.  She still swears by these tried and true boots but I know I will get her into Gloves as soon as the collection runs out.

One of the things folks seem to like best about the red boots is that "they are so easy to find when they come off".  I beg to differ.  In fact just this year, while out checking trail my friend lost a boot.  Drat!  We looked for it a bit then decided to just go on.  Over the course of the next three months I traveled this same trail no less than a dozen times with various trail partners, all of us on the look out for the lost red boot.  I had finally resolved that said boot had been toted off by animals or something as it was no where to be found.  Then one day, riding along the same trail, there was the boot - smack in the middle of the trail no less!  Over the years many a red boot has been lost to the trail.  So, easy to find?  I think not, perhaps easier but not necessarily easy.

My other counter to this discussion would have to be a statement of the obvious - Gloves are much less apt to come off if they are fitted properly.  The same can also be said for the Epic and now the new Back Country (which I think will be my recommendation to my trail riding buddies).  So if you are not having to constantly look for boots it just does not matter.

Another frequent comment about having colored boots is that you can easily see them while the horse is moving so you know if you lost one. I have experimented with various ways to identify my boots. Spray paint works OK but some colors just don't really show up after you paint over black. The Power Straps come in loads of great colors and are a great way to make your boots mroe visible. My friend Lucy uses yellow (color coordinated with the rest of her tack) and that really shows up well. Very easy to glance down and "boot check". I don't use power straps (or rather didn't but that is another blog) so not realy an option for me.

But this year for Christmas a good friend gave me a few rolls of colored Mueller tape, purple of course as Miss Fancy is very fashion conscious. I used the purple tape a couple weeks ago at the Nevada Derby ride and was amazed at how well it showed up. It really made the V in the boot stand out.

At the Nevada Derby ride this year the winds were fierce.  So I duck taped the vents in my helmet.

Duck tape will also work and it comes in all sorts of cool colors and patterns, even tie dye! I suppose if you are really creative you could even sew colored ribbon onto the velcro strap of the gaitor. Talk about lots of choices with that option.

So do I wish that boots came in colors?  Not really.  In the end it would probably end up costing more money to produce them and that cost would have to be passed on to me (which would mean less to spend on fun inexpensive things like tape).  Plus, what colors would they come in to be sure to satisfy everyone?  Furthermore, for those with a bit of fashion sense, who like to color coordinate their tack, they would have to have different colors for every horse.  No ability to mix and match - a definite Glamor Don't!  Oh yes, colored boots would result in far too much cost all the way around.

Photo by Bill Gore.

In the end, I still love the Glove and lets face it, black is always in and very classy!  So black Gloves for me and I will dress them up as I see fit all on my own. 

The first endurance ride of Idaho, Owyhee Tough Sucker, has come and gone in what seems to be the blink of an eye. It's hard to believe the second ride is only now two and a half weeks away. This season is sure to fly by and I hope to remember to thoroughly enjoy every second of it! 

Vetting in at Owyhee Tough Sucker. Merri Melde photograph

Because I had done my "dress rehearsal" with all of our things and a full set of boots two weeks prior to the ride, my last ride on Nero before the endurance ride was done barefoot, as we had a bunch of rain and the ground was soft. He felt strong and fit and I knew I'd have my hands full the morning of the ride. Because we had the luxury of starting at 8 (!!) I didn't put his boots on the night before as I knew I'd have time to do it in the morning. We went to be that night and I looked forward to a good night's sleep. Nero had other ideas- sometime before 2AM he pulled off his Hi-Tie and proceeded to terrorize camp. When I woke the next morning to feed him, well, he wasn't there. I started walking around camp to find him tied tightly to the ride manager's trailer. Apparently he was causing a ruckus in someone else's camp and landed himself in jail. He was none the worse for wear and thankfully nothing was broken on the High-Tie. I guess it serves him right to have missed out on hours of food back at our trailer, fortunately he could use to miss a few meals!

Leaving the vetcheck for the second loop

I put Nero's Easyboot Gloves easily and got on to begin warming up. While I hadn't had any problems thus far with the boots, I also hadn't ridden him further than 13 miles in them so while I was pretty sure he wouldn't have any problems, one can really never know. Consistent with Nero's transition from steel shoes to barefoot and booted, we had no issues. If there ever was a horse designed for the Easyboot Glove, it is this Arabian gelding, Nero's Asad. 

We started the day near the front, and kept our spot throughout the 50 miles. Nero was an absolute monster for the majority of the first 25 miles and we came into the vet check in 2 hours and 20 minutes. My hands were cramped from my death grip on the reins and my legs were shaking from Nero's big trot with no less than 4 feet of suspension in every stride. Nero came in already pulsed down and off to see the vet, who made some sort of reference to "big" and "strong." I couldn't hear for the shaking in my legs and the fact Nero was running me over. 

About twenty miles into the first 25-mile loop

Off to the trailer to chow and soon enough our hour hold was over. Off we went on the next 25 miles, hoping for a quieter, less pully pony. At this point Nero had let down some and I noticed, for the first time ever, he was paying more attention to where his big old size 2 feet were landing. We stopped fighting and I started letting him make more of the decisions although he still appears to have no pain sensors in his feet while he's actually in motion. While a tough horse is nice to have, one that takes care of themselves can be even nicer! I think we'll start working as a team, eventually, after he gets over the fact *I* am the primary leader. This pains him to hear. 

We finished the ride in a little over five hours and in 4th place. I believe 4 of the top 8 were in Easyboot Gloves all the way around. I know 3 of the top 4 in the limited distance were barefoot or booted in Easyboots as well. I don't know about the rest of the LD's because my mind went blank after I finished due to pain. Did I mention this horse is somewhat jarring? 

Back at the trailer, I peeled back Nero's gaiters expecting to see some sign of rubbing due to the lack of miles we had previously done booted. Nothing. He had more marks on his hind fetlocks from his brushing boots than he did on any one of his heels/pasterns/fetlocks from the Glove gaiters. I couldn't be happier with my boots and want to offer those just starting down the booted path some encouragement. 

Nero, the morning after the ride. He spent the night in jail so we could all get some rest. 

At the beginning, you will probably have some boot losses, you will probably have to re-evaluate your management and you will probably have to make adjustments to your trimming, whether it be the trimming schedule or actual trim. However, it gets easier! While some horses are easier than others, they are all worth it. The growing number of successful booted riders is huge now- seek one out in your area for help, most all of us are willing. Also be encouraged that the longer you stick with it, the more you learn and the easier it becomes. For now, my barefoot horse lounges in his pasture on rest. Love those Gloves. 

Cheers to you for a successful booted year! 

~ Amanda

Another blog about the Backcountry Glove? Yes! I, myself, am very excited about this new protective horse boot and I will shout from the roof tops if I have to.

I received my new boots and couldn't wait to try them.The next decision was to where would we take them on their first journey. Knowing I would eventually take them to the limits, I wanted our first endeavor to be a whopper.

I used the new Glove Back Country boots on my big TWH mare with large hooves. We went to South Mountain Regional Park, and although we only rode about 7 miles that day, it was the ever so famous Arizona terrain we all know and love. We did climbing and very little gaiting, and I tried my best to find a fault in this new boot. I couldn't. Believe me, I tried.

Why yes, this is the trail.

Taking a short rest. This is about the best footing we found up on the mountain.

I watched my Glove Back Country boots from horseback. I wanted to see if I had any twisting, damage to the boot or any sign that the boot was not on securely. Is it wrong that I had a little disappointment that these hoof boots performed perfectly? I even checked for rubs with a fine toothed comb and there weren't any. None, zilch, zip, nada. When all was said and done that day, I did do a little happy dance behind the trailer so no one could see me. 

I love the Easyboot Trails and I love the Easyboot Glove, and I am so in love with this idea of the combining the two. I guess it would be called Love Squared. 

Try them and do your own happy dance behind the trailer.

Sabrina Liska

Submitted by Nonee High, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

Hi. I’m Nonee High. I’m 11 years old, and “time management” is already part of my vocabulary.

I have many different activities I love, but my main interest is Nanny, my Welsh Pony. For the last two years, she has been my best friend and ride. Before that, she was a sweet pony in the field, but very stubborn under saddle which made me very frustrated. Finally one day, with the help of my riding teacher, I decided I just was going to make it work and we have been doing great ever since.

Nanny is my girl.

She loves to jump and do trail rides. Those are our two special things. We are going to show in hunters this year and do our first endurance ride. I can’t wait! Sometimes, other kids ask to ride her. I always let them, but she usually reverts back to stubborn pony.  I kind of like it that she acts especially great with me.

I also have a 7 month old Arabian colt named Phoenix that we rescued with his mom last January. The vet said his mom was about as thin as a horse could get and still be alive. Phoenix was in better shape, but is still recovering from early malnutrition.

Finding Phoenix’ sweet spot has really helped in earning his trust.

And then I also have a 5 year old mare, Bella, a blue roan, probably a quarter horse cross. She came to us as a Premarin rescue at age 2. She loves to trail ride and jump, like Nanny, and is also very stubborn like Nanny, but I am determined this year to bring her along, like I did with Nanny. I hope she and I will become a good team, too. I will sadly grow too big for Nanny, probably after this year. Bella will be my next main horse I think, though Nanny will always be with me.

Besides my horses, I also dance (Highland Dance) play basketball and soccer, and participate in 4H. That is where the “time management” comes in.  

With the WV Highland Dancers.

I made this goal.

Each week, we have at least 3 after school activities. When we get home, there is homework, supper, and chores (we have 7 horses total, 4 goats with babies on the way, dogs, cats). Once a month we have 4H and sometimes we have extra 4H activities. Sometimes it is hard to fit it all in, and do my best in each.  

But I do try. And Mom and Dad say that is the main thing. Each morning, I am up at 6:30. I am the main morning feeder because Mom and my sister have to leave early most days. I like this better now that I am allowed to drive the tractor, though wet days are still just... wet. After school or activities, we all help out. That is when we all pile into the tractor “box” and take buckets and hay around to everyone. It is really fun.

Some of my 4H friends and my sister are helping me feed. That’s my sister’s horse Maggie and then my Nanny in the background.

I also have to do well in school, or else Mom and Dad will cancel my outside activities. Thankfully, I am a pretty good student so it is not too hard. I did my Social Studies Fair project this year on the History of Natural Hoof Care. My Mom is a trimmer and I want to be one, too, so this was an interesting topic for me to work with. I won 1st place at my school and county level! I did not win 1st at regionals, but I am still proud of my yellow ribbon. At least I placed! These photos are of my display, with paddock paradise model, and what I looked like presenting in trimmer clothing!

Back to 4H. This photo is one of an extra activity. Our club, the High Riders 4H Club, was selling tickets for our annual Spring Grand Prize Drawing at our local Tractor Supply. EasyCare has been an appreciated donor to the Drawing the last two years. In this picture, I am discussing the Easyboot Glove with a girl who has just switched boots from the Epic to the Edge. She was hoping to win another pair of boots in the Drawing! Unfortunately, she did not win the boots, though she did win a cool prize.  

Here is a photo of some of us at the Drawing. We raised over $2,000. Some of that money will be donated to On Eagle’s Wings Therapeutic Riding Center in Opekiska, WV. One of their lead instructors will be helping our 4H Club in April with ground work and communication. We hope to also volunteer some of our time with them. (They also have all their horses barefoot and using Easyboot Gloves.) In addition, we will have an “All About Balance” weekend in June with equine dentistry, massage therapy, balanced hooves and Centered Riding as our four pillars. We also hope to go on a horse retreat during summer and one of us will ride in a Buck Brannaman clinic in October. The rest of us can audit. So much to do!

Thanks for reading. Are you as busy as I am? How do you manage your activities and time?

Nonee High

Submitted by Roger Rittenhouse

For the past two years plus I have used other boots with good results on my horse, Omni. While very satisfied with the other brand, I wanted to try another boot that might be easier to install and have less mass going down the trail. Omni has oblong, non-round hoofs, but the other boot is round. So while it fits the length, it is wide for his hoof. The first pair of the new Easyboot Glove Back Country boots arrived today.  With good spring weather, I had to ride and test the boots.

I had measured his freshly-trimmed hooves at least four times. I could not find the mm scale so I used the 32-inch scale and converted against EasyCare’s advice. The sizing is the same as the Easyboot Glove, and from what I can gather, the boot should be long enough for base support but narrow to grip the hoof.

Based on the measurements, I settled on #2.5. It took some effort to get them installed so I used a rubber mallet to seat them. The right front was tight; the left front was better, but still tight. I felt the boots were perhaps a half size too small. I should have ordered a #3. Oh well: once installed there is no return and I had to test ride. Once I got them seated and worked the rear heel capture in place they were easy to lock in place. The mallet sure helped to get them seated. The wide Velcro back flaps worked great. That part was easy.

A little trot in hand went well and the boots stayed on. He moved out nicely. I re-checked the heel and was able to get a finger in the boot to check heel/hoof contact. Everything appeared OK.

We hand walked down the hard road, some trot. No slipping. I mounted at the dirt road, and off we went into the forest. We walked a mile, and then I asked for an easy trot: all felt fine. Due to size and shape, the other boots would clip inside on each other, but not hit the cannon bone. The Glove Back Country did not hit. He also did not forge from behind.

It’s impossible to determine if the boots are working as desired with just a few miles, so we did 7.5 miles, mostly at a walk some at a trot and some jerking around being an idiot Arab. I let him ramp up to about 8-9 mph to see how he traveled. Apart from the idiot Arab kick-outs and hops, he moved very nicely: almost the way he moves when barefoot. Very nice!

When I returned home, the left front was tight to remove. His heels looked good and the captive lip at the lower heel (what EasyCare calls the Comfort Cup gaiter) showed tight contact, as did the back of the heel bar. He had wear marks on the heels showing full base contact. The heel bulbs looked good and had no rubs. The right front showed more pressure contact on the hoof heel bar below the bulbs and more indentation in the heel captive lip. Both hoof walls showed the wear or marks from the grip of the Glove on the sides and the quarters. This shows good width size. The boots were gripping the walls the way they are designed to.

My second ride was not a long ride - only three miles.  I set the boots out in the sun while I cleaned up my boy, figuring it couldn’t hurt them and may make them a bit softer. They were much easier to put on. Since he was ten days into the trim cycle, I filed the left front just to clean it up some and get a better mustang roll. I worked the toe back just a little: a few swipes of the file were all I needed. This hoof grows sort of normal compared to the right front.

Off to the trails: I rode a mile or so on the dead-end hard top, then asked for a little trot. It was nice easy going with no slip. Then into the trails with leaves, mud and downhill terrain. Went quite well with almost no slipping. The tread gripped fine. We did a few loops around the woods trail and into an open field. The boots went through ankle-deep mud. Back at the barn, the boots came off with a slight effort, easier than first ride but they did not just fall off. The grip marks on the hoof wall at the quarters indicated a tight fit.

I think the # 2.5 is a good fit as long as I keep the toes and front walls close and tight. If he would go a week or two, the boots would be too tight. If I were planning on going more than two weeks without trimming, I’d go up a half size to account for the hoof growth. Since I am the primary trimmer, I can work the hoofs as needed. I have a professional barefoot trimmer on a 7 to 8 week schedule to re-do my trims and make corrections as needed.

I noted how well he seemed to move, as in break-over and getting the forehand moving faster. The boots have a natural balance design, that is to say there is a nice beveled toe with the break-over point back behind the white line. I think he moves better in the boots than barefoot. He has tendency to toe clip or toe drag, which causes him to trip at times. The boot design gets that toe over and up into the fight faster. At least I noted he tripped less.

As has been stated many, many times, no boot is perfect for all horses in all conditions. The advantages we have today to find a design of boot that works well for your horse and riding style is significant compared to the limitations that we had to deal with when they are shod. My Initial impressions remain positive. I will find out more as we hit the trails this spring. For me and my old horse the Easyboot Glove Back Country is working and meets my requirements.

Over the course of the next five rides with the four Glove Back Country boots, I used # 3 on the front, and #2.5 on rear. I was concerned the large size would result in pulled boots, but the boots stayed on though hoof-deep mud and rocky washed-out trails.

I am very pleased with the performance of these boots. I have used other EasyCare boot styles with mixed results. The new Glove Back Country really works for me and my horse. They are easy to put on the hoof and take off, and there is no messing around with adjustments. I fold back the Comfort Cup gaiter, slide the boot over the hoof and tap it in place with the palm of my hand to seat the boot. I close the Velcro flaps, and I’m done. I can install four boots in about five minutes. The larger size has allowed me to let the trim and re-shape go a little longer than with a smaller sized boot. He trots just fine over rock stone roads and blacktop. The boot tread and the grip helps to keep him from slipping on the blacktop.

For the riders who are thinking about this new boot design, it really works. I have used almost all the boots ever made over the last 30 years. The new Glove Back Country has performed the best for my current horse and how we ride.


Name: Roger Rittenhouse
City: Pikeville, Tennessee, USA
Equine Discipline: Trail, Endurance
Favorite Boot: Easyboot Glove Back Country

Quo vadis natural hoof trimmers, bare hoof trimmers, booters, farriers, blacksmiths, hoof care merchants?

I have been fortunate enough to have had great mentors when I started farrier work over 20 years ago. My mentors were farriers who were open minded, letting the horses in their care go bare for long stretches of the year to "allow the hoof to relax" for a while, as they always said. Bare hoof trims were nothing fancy or new, whenever a horse had some time off, the shoes were pulled and that was it. Bare hoof riding was a way of life for many horses already many years ago.

Now Barefoot Trimming and Natural Hoof Care have gone mainstream. Natural Hoof Trims and Hoof Boots are in the lime light now, we all talking about it and more and more horse owners are taking it upon themselves to learn and study and doing it themselves.

I have been conducting hoof care clinics all over the Northamerican Continent and Europe. I attend farriers clinics, am a member of the American Farriers Association (AFA) and have ample opportunity to speak and interact with farriers from many countries all the time. Interesting to hear their take on Natural Hoof Trimming and the usage of protective horse boots. Here are some of the comments:

• "It's a fad".
• "It doesn't work"
• "Horses cannot go bare"
• "Steel shoes have always worked"
• "Don't change anything if it is not broken"
• "I'm a professional, I work hard"

None of these statements have any substance, they are hollow, mean absolutely nothing and are only excuses. But for what? Just a few days ago, I heard a new one, which I liked the best so far:

"It is a conspiracy!"

Is this horse a conspirator?

Now I was interested, who are the conspirators? He explained to me that the objective of "them" is to push the farriers out of business.

Conspirators at work.

The Kodak Company came to my mind.  When they filed Chapter 11, did they think it was a conspiracy of the digital camera manufacturers and the various software companies to push Kodak into the abyss? Were typewriter manufacturers victims of a conspiracy?

Life is ever evolving. So are our jobs and professions. If we think we know it all, are lazy, resting and stagnant, we are getting steam rolled. More now so than ever before.

I had to thank this farrier for giving me the opportunity to show him that he will only be out of business if he refuses to educate himself and adapt. The new hoof care findings and new hoof protection product lines offer an amazing opportunity for farriers to participate in the future by providing a complete Hoof Care Service for their customers.  Adding new skills to the art of blacksmithing, like barefoot trimming, Easyboot Glue-On applications, Vettec hoof protection; selling and providing Polyurethane horse shoes like Equiflex and the new upcoming Easyshoe, Easyboot Backcountry, Glove, Epic, Trail, etc, etc; any farrier can participate in this conspiracy and benefit immensely economically through it.

From the past, we move to the future through learning and by being open-minded.

A polyurethane horse shoe made by the Bootmeister with Vettec Superfast.

A protoype of the new EasyShoe.

Jump on board, Farriers, let the journey begin!

Brought to you by Christoph Schork,  The Bootmeister.

Global Endurance Training Center

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.

The Easyboot Glove Back Country is now available through the entire EasyCare distribution network. That means you can buy your set of Glove Back Country boots via http://www.easycareinc.com or through any of the tens of thousands of EasyCare dealers who have decided to carry the boot model in their inventory.

The Glove Back Country in action.

We posted a number of blogs and two videos about the Glove Back Country to help you decide if it is the right boot for your horse. I've summarized the tools available to you below:

1. Alayna Wiley gives her first written review of the boot in Love at First Sight. In this first review, Alayna describes fit and application as well as her thoughts on the first ride with them.
2. In Fitting the Glove Back Country, Alayna drills down into the differences between fitting a Glove and fitting a Glove Back Country.
3. We made a Glove Back Country application video, which is available on the EasyCare YouTube channel. In it, I describe in detail how to measure, fit and apply the Glove Back Country.
4. And last, but not least, Team Easyboot 2012 member, Carol Crisp, has made a video review with her thoughts on the Glove Back Country whilst riding in the rocky mountains northwest of Denver, Colorado.

The family tree: the Glove and the Trail inspired the evolution of the Back Country.

Don't hesitate to call us for advice on whether or not the Glove Back Country is the right boot choice for your horse.

Keep up the bootlegging!

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

Garrett Ford celebrates Easyboot's win and Best Condition award at the USA Endurance 100-mile Team Time Trial in Texas last weekend.

Kevin Myers points you to four areas of information about the Glove Back Country, including a video review by Carol Crisp.

Dawn Willoughby discusses tips and tricks to combat the effects of diet on the health of horses.

Debbie Schwiebert introduces a must-read article on hoof loading by Gail Snyder in Natural Horse Magazine.

We welcome three new dealers to the EasyCare distribution network.

And Team Easyboot 2012 member Anke Schreiber reports on a hoof trimming clinic she recently attended in Germany.

Do you need support in making boot choices or troubleshooting? You can contact us at the EasyCare offices for free advice, no matter where you purchase your Easyboots.

Please keep in touch: our goal is to help you succeed with EasyCare products and your booting needs.

Read more...

"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 Karen Bumgarner, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

A recent question about getting a horse used to gaiters on our Team Easyboot list made me realize that perhaps some people need to train their horse to be used to stuff around his legs. These actions are an important part of my training with foals and older horses to get them used to touch and different sensations on their legs. 

All you need for this is one 10 - 12' long cotton rope and some time. Nothing more. Again the idea is to get the horse accustomed to items around his legs and feet. 

Take the horse into a corral or stall for this and do not tie him. Just have the lead rope attached to the halter dangling there so you can grab it if you have to. Take the second rope in your hands for the leg work. I do not tie the rope I hold it loosely in one hand and pass it around the leg, always holding an end in each hand. This way if at nay time if the horse gets upset you can just turn it all loose and no one gets hurt. I wiggle the rope back and forth over and around the leg, beginning high and allowing it to work it's way down the leg to the pastern.

I always begin high and lower it as they are more likely to kick or fuss as it works down. If they are calm about it you can gently seesaw and wiggle it back up and down the leg. Don't be afraid to flip it around a little after all the idea is to get the horse used to touch and pressure. If at anytime he gets upset just slow down, or stop, and let him think about it. It is a good exercise in trust also. 

Once the horse is fine with the up and down touch and sliding of the soft rope over his legs you can try another trick. Gently pull or tug on the rope while it is low on the pastern. When he picks his foot up, release pressure and let him place the foot down. Do this a few times and then pick the foot up with a gentle pull on the rope and hold it up for a few seconds. 

This not only gets your horse used to touch but if he ever gets his leg hung up in a fence or wire he will know enough not to fight it. And once he is accustomed to this the wearing of splint boots, bell boots, leg wraps or easyboots with gaitors will be no big deal to him at all. 

One more thing. With your horse again in a stall or corral, after you have done the rope work apply the boots and let him wear them. Then slip one off and attach it loosely around the pastern. Your horse may jump around a bit but if you did your homework with the rope he won't even notice. I think its important that horses know what a loose boot feels like so if they pull one off while you are trotting down the trail they don't freak out about this thing flopping on their leg. Just a bit of time and patience can help insure a safe ride for you and your booted horse. 

Karen Bumgarner

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

Remember the days of dance class and dress rehearsals? The day you got to dress up in satin leotards, make-up, your hair tied in buns,  and dance with none of the pressure of an audience or judges? Those days I waited for, counting down the nights 'till dress rehearsal night and, shortly after, competition day! Inevitably, someone's sequin strap broke, other costumes didn't fit right and false eyelashes came unglued and gouged someone in the eye. Luckily, there was time to fix and perfect, and by the time the actual competition came around the kinks were ironed and everyone was ready to dance. 

Well some things haven't changed for me, although these days there are no more satin leos or sparkly tiaras (most days). I insist on running through a "dress rehearsal" before the first ride of the season, just to make sure all systems go. This year, with a new (to me) endurance horse and two new (to endurance) goofs in the wings, it will be imperative to test my stuff, most specifically my boots, to set myself and my horses up for as much success as I can. 

Nero's dreamy mane... I could look at this view forever!

I have been riding Nero in his Easyboot Gloves for the past month now. He took to the Gloves like a Labrador to a swimming pool. I have ridden Nero now at speed, at a more probable endurance pace, in and out of water, up and down hills and so on. I feel comfortable with the fit of his size 2 Gloves on the fronts and size 1 Gloves, with Powerstraps, on the hinds. I ordered my back-up boots tonight (always make sure you have back-ups before an important event to prevent the inevitable broken sequin strap phenomena) and will be as prepared as I can for the first ride of the season in a couple weeks time. 

Recently I began riding with a new friend who is also new to endurance. Not new to horses being involved in dressage and jumping, she found endurance through some friends, rode two LD rides last year, and has been hooked since. She will be starting her season with the first Idaho ride of the year, and will also be riding her lovely gelding in Easyboot Gloves for the first time.

Tara and Elvis, after their first ride on a sweltering Indian summer day at Owyhee Canyonlands. They obviously fit right in! 

Last week my friend was lamenting whether or not her horse would be ready to complete the LD at the Owyhee Tough Sucker, so I suggested she come out and we go through a trial run to make sure boots fit, new saddle pad worked and Stowaway Pommel Pack was attached firmly where it belonged, as well as assessing her horse's fitness. She happens to work with a very good trimmer and Easyboot dealer who trimmed and fitted her gelding for his Gloves a while back, and as luck would have it, his front boots seemed a bit too large. His back size 1 Gloves with Powerstraps fit beautifully, and with a few wraps of athletic tape around the fronts we headed out to see how things would work. About halfway through the ride, her gelding's front boots, specifically the right front, began twisting. We ended up taking off his front boots and completing our ride, and she will be calling her trimmer for a re-fit this week. To accommodate for the whole trim cycle, she plans to keep her larger 1.5 Gloves for use as needed. 

Twisted right front. A smaller size should prevent any future twistage. 

I learn something from almost everyone I ride with and I appreciate my new friend's easy-going attitude and willingness to understand the importance of a close fit with her Gloves. Her horse is trimmed beautifully and I am confident he will take to his boots like a fat kid loves cake. 

Set yourself up to succeed, folks, and please be sure to give yourself plenty of time before an important event to make adjustments as necessary. Run through your dress rehearsal to make sure your eyelashes stay put and your boots fit right. It's the best thing to do. 

~ Amanda

Carol Crisp has been involved with Team Easyboot for many years. She has a passion for the high elevation mountain trails of the rockies and has become known for putting boots to the test by riding on some of the steepest trails she can find.

Carol recently took delivery of a set of Easyboot Glove Back Country hoof boots and was kind enough to make this video review for us with her horse, Smoke.

Carol makes some interesting points worth underlining:

1. Check the hardware on your boots when you get them out of the box. If you bought from the first batch of Back Country boots, make sure all the screws in the boot are tightened up before you use them for the first time. Carol even puts a dab of nail polish around the screw to keep it in place - and shares a tip on how to remove it if and when you want to change out components.

2. Fit on the Easyboot Glove Back Country is more forgiving that the fit of the Easyboot Glove. You should feel comfortable that going up a half size will still assure you a successful booted experience.

3. Certain boots work better for certain horses. Depending on the conformation of your horse, one boot may perform better than the other. We believe this boot is a good complement to the Easyboot Glove, and allows for more variations in hoof shape and angle than the Glove. It also allows for boot fit throughout a longer trimming schedule.

4. Test the boots before you go out on the trail or go to an event. Carol longes Smoke in the boots before she rides him - just to make sure there is no twisting or signs of rubbing.

Carol's first test of the boots was for over 2.5 hours. I see a future for the Easyboot Glove Back Country. If you subscribe to this blog via RSS, you can see Carol's video review at http://youtu.be/gUXhrqLZYJg.

Thanks Carol. Keep up the bootlegging!

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

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.

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but I was a huge Clash of the Titans fan when I was younger. Since then, the early 80's, I never gave much more thought to Pegasus until I had to come up with an idea for this blog. Then it hit me, Pegasus would have been an awful endurance horse. I discuss the reasons below.

Endurance has always been a great testing arena for hoof boots and EasyCare. The distance, weather conditions, terrain and partnership between horse and ride provide the ultimate test of our boots. EasyCare hoof boots are designed to handle all these conditions and more. Although many of our customers may never test their horses or hoof boots to this extent, we feel it is necessary to our mission of making the best boots in the business. 

Now, back to Pegasus. Sure, he looks fit and ready to go but lets take a look at why he would fail in endurance:

1. Wing placement is not ergonomic and possibly dangerous for the rider.
2. Pegasus needed a golden bridle, not cost effective in any economy.
3. Bellerophon was the only person who could ride Pegasus and I couldn't find any ride results on the AERC website for him.
4. Trailering Pegasus would be a nightmare.
5. Pegasus never wore EasyCare boots.

Brian Mueller

Director of Sales

As the director of sales, I am responsible for identifying new dealer opportunities and building on existing relationships to foster ideas and create additional growth.

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.

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Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California