Easy Boot Horse

Team Easyboot 2012: Have You Submitted Your Application?

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 by Kevin Myers

Would you like to be an industry insider? Would you like access to discounted product in exchange for helping EasyCare promote the brand? Who wouldn't?

Applications for Team Easyboot 2012 close tomorrow, Wednesday, February 8 at midnight MST. If you have not already submitted your application, you can do so now by going to the Team Easyboot page on our website.

Do you like to participate in various events in your community? Photo by Kevin Lange.

The team members in 2011 enjoyed sharing information among themselves, and then using it as a basis to disseminate information across their broader communities nationally and internationally.

I've listed below some of the things Team Easyboot 2011 members had to say about their experience.

"I have learned a lot this year, and have been able to help several horses and their riders as a result."

"I have really enjoyed being in the team and I'm hoping I will be picked for 2012 also, I really want to stay on this train of knowledge!"

"Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to be involved with the team this year. I have been able to keep up to date with all the latest developments with Easyboot and try some of the hints and tips out with customers."

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being part of Team Easy Boot 2011! I have to say the thing I loved the most is that I was able to help out many new booters at home and at rides."

"I have been very impressed by how active the team was this year and enjoyed reading about all the tips and solutions."

Do you enjoy social interaction with others? Team Easyboot 2012 may be for you. Photo by Kevin Lange.

"I thought the conversation & blogs of TE11 were extremely helpful in teaching me how to overcome the complexities of boots. It is so important that customers have positive first time experiences booting their horses and I felt so much better equipped to make that happen."

"The knowledge exchange is just the best. Having a variety of experience levels and disciplines has really broadened my understanding of how the boots can be used. The best part is of course the team itself and the information exchanged but a very close second is being able to be a resource to others."

"Thank you for the opportunity to help others with their booting. I love the exchange of information among the group. We all learn from each other and together think up some great ideas and solutions."

We're looking for a broad range of representatives from various disciplines from across the globe, so please send in your application.

Want to read more? You get all the juicy details by reading last week's announcement.

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.

Barefoot Movements

Monday, February 6, 2012 by Alayna Wiley

There are some people who believe shoes have ruined the human foot. They say that shoes have made our feet weak and that the majority of foot problems and lower joint injuries occur as a result of wearing modern footwear. These views are a bit extreme since not all shoes are created equal and the length of time spent wearing a given shoe must also be considered. A person who frequently walks around in high heels is going to have much unhealthier feet than someone who wears tennis shoes. An equine equivalent would be the difference between “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horses and those that are flat shod. There are times when foot protection is necessary for humans and horses alike - selecting the appropriate type of protection is what is important. With the upcoming release of the Easyboot Glove Back Country and the development of the EasyShoe, horse owners will have more choices in hoof protection than ever before.

Extreme examples of harmful footwear - high heels and stacks.

A few months ago I started running. This encouraged me to research the human barefoot movement and Vibram FiveFingers, a minimalist shoe (which is more or less a human equivalent to EasyCare hoof boots). Being well versed in the arguments surrounding the equine barefoot movement, I was fascinated that the arguments in the human barefoot movement are strikingly similar. In a nutshell, supporters of both barefoot movements argue traditional shoes weaken the internal structures of the foot and lower leg which increases the likelihood of injury. Detractors of both movements argue traditional shoes are necessary to protect the foot and that the likelihood of injury is higher without this protection. Whether you are a human or a horse, going barefoot is not as simple as removing traditional shoes – both require a transition period and conditioning. The length of this transition varies in both humans and horses; for some it may take weeks or months to be comfortable barefoot while for others it can take more than a year.

2-Star Parelli Professional Fran Latané wearing Vibram FiveFingers
while working with barefoot horses. Fran runs in the FiveFingers and
says they have improved her posture and eliminated her back pain.

There are many runners embracing the human barefoot movement and this has encouraged shoe manufacturers to develop running shoes that blur the line between minimalist shoes and traditional ones. Similarly, the EasyShoe will blur the line between alternative and traditional hoof protection, creating a unique option that combines advantages of both. For the time being I have put the Vibram FiveFingers on hold and am using a light weight trail runner that has some minimalist properties. Being young and healthy I am sure I could go barefoot and that over time my feet would strengthen a considerable amount. In the same manner, most horses that have been raised with proper stimulation, nutrition, and environment do not need steel shoes. The majority of horses lacking such an upbringing are able to make a successful transition with the aid of a qualified trimmer/farrier and the appropriate hoof protection. As with most things in life, there is no absolute right or wrong; you must do the research, weigh the pros and cons, and in the end, make the decision you are comfortable with.

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.

A New Normal

Friday, February 3, 2012 by EasyCare Customer Service Team

I got a new hip a few weeks ago and am so excited. Getting a new hip is easy - you just buy it, they pop it in and boom you are good to go. What isn't so easy is the follow-up. For the last few years I was gimpy and lame. Now my physical therapists have told me I have to find a "new normal" way of walking, a new gait you might say. Right about now, you are probably asking yourself, "What does this have to do with me and my horse?" Well, I think my experience is similar to finding a new normal when you pull the shoes off a horse. If your horse is shod, has he ever been gimpy? Does he lose shoes frequently because there is no hoof wall left to hold the nails? If so, your horse is probably wanting a "new normal" too.

I'll admit having the farrier come out and shoe every 6-8 weeks is easy with hardly any work involved. My surgeon told me no-one dies from having a bad hip and this was an elective surgery. That said, I was in a lot of pain and wanted a better quality of life so I decided to go for it. Horse's don't die from being shod either but I think some horses are more comfortable in boots than they currently are in metal shoes.

Deciding to take your horse barefoot and buying EasyCare boots is the easy part. Maintaing a barefoot horse takes commitment and work, just like the physical therapy required after a hip replacement. Even though it takes some effort, in the end it will be totally worth it.

PS - I am doing great on my fight against procrastination (see previous blog) this post is a day early!

Shari Murray

Customer Service

If you call the customer service help desk, you’ll probably get me on the phone! I process repairs, returns, credits and exchanges that come into EasyCare.

Crossing the 2011 Tevis Winning Hoof Boot With The 2011 Preakness Winning Shoe

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Garrett Ford

What do you get when you cross the hoof boot that was used to win the 2011 100 mile Tevis Cup with the polyurethane horse shoe that was used to win the 2011 136th running of the Preakness?

A new tool for farriers and hoofcare professionals. The new glue-on urethane shoe is a collaboration between EasyCare and No-Anvil. The combined efforts have produced a new urethane hoof protection device that blur the lines between boots and shoes. The urethane hybrid device absorbs concussion, is held securely in place for a shoeing cycle without nails, is lighter weight than most all nail on shoes and allows the hoof to expand and contract as nature intended.

Shackleford wins the 2011 Preakness in Burns Polyflex shoes

Shackleford at the 2011 Kentucky Derby in Burns Polyflex Polyurethane Horseshoes.

Jeremy Reynolds wins the 2011 Tevis Cup in Easyboots

Jeremy Reynolds wins the 2011 Tevis and Haggin Cups in Easyboots.

Below you will find a couple photos showing the collaboration between No-Anvil and EasyCare. The freshly filed patent includes some of the following features.

1. Glue-on urethane hoof protection.
2. The urethane shoe has an internal moldable skeleton for structure and shaping.
3. The integrally molded cuff increases the gluing surface area.
4. The urethane shoe and cuff allow the hoof to expand and contract.

EasyShoe. Half Easyboot, half Burns Polyflex

The EasyShoe. Half Burns Polyflex and half Easyboot Glue-On.

Initial EasyShoe prototypes getting some hard core testing.

Stay tuned for more updates and news on the collaboration.

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.

Thoroughbred Feet are Just Fine: Meet Garwin

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Dawn Willoughby

When you peruse 'Practical Horseman', 'Equus' or 'Horse Illustrated', you may find a professional saying, "Well barefeet might work for some horses, but never Thoroughbreds. They just don't have good feet." Or, "We've bred the feet off those Thoroughbreds." If your friend described her new horse's hooves as flat soled, long toed, with thin, shelly walls, don't you immediately think, "Thoroughbred!" I know I do.

With the natural trim, EasyCare boots, good turnout, some body work and a saddle that fits, my friend and former client, Lyndsay, an owner-trimmer brought Garwin back from the brink. This handsome and talented thoroughbred was a few strides short of becoming a lawn ornament.

If Garwin can make a come back, I think you will agree, almost any Thoroughbred can!

Garwin, 2008.

When he developed debilitating subsolar abscesses in both front hooves, the vet excised the soles. His owner followed the vet's directions for Garwin's daily bandaging. When I met him, Garwin had been on stall rest for 3+ months and remained lame.

"I think the abscesses are the least of your troubles," I said, walking into the barn.

Still shod in back, Garwin had about an inch of good connection between the coffin bone and the hoof wall on the front hooves. You can easily see that steep growth right under the hairline. As the wall grows out, the angle will lessen.

The remaining, severely flared wall is disconnected hoof wall. It is the wall that "rotates" (to use traditional parlance) away from the coffin bone; not the other way around. Without knowing anything more, you could assume his feet are flat. Not congenitally flat as so many folks say but flat because the feet are a mess. The hoof capsule is disconnected and too high; the boney column of the leg too low. Nothing is where it should be. Nothing's working; there is no correct function. You could also assume that the bottom periphery of the coffin bone has become 'moth-eaten'. Coffin bones are not suppose to be on the ground!

If this is all Greek to you, check out Learning to Evaluate Your Horse's Feet (page down to the July 2011 post) for more information.

Why remove of the soles? The vet's concern was that the coffin bone could become infected. Wouldn't removing his soles also opens him to infection? And it appears that the primary cause of the problem, severely flared feet, aka chronic founder, was not being addressed. When I met Garwin in October, he was sore on any surface. And his owner was understandably frustrated.

Right Front Hoof and Leg. Left Front Sole Growing Back, Slowly.

With flare like this, Easyboot Epics are hands-down my top pick. They are very forgiving to get on when dealing with deformed hoof capsules. And the Epics will take the half inch pad that Garwin needed. He walked and trotted off sound so we turned him out in the pasture. First time out in months, Garwin was delerious.

Lesson: Remove shoes before checking for lameness. (YouTube forces the other "related" videos. Not my choice.)

He was a happy guy for sure.

On a weekly basis his owner maintained the mustang roll. The well connected wall grew in, as expected. In my view, having the owner do weekly trims on a horse like this speeds rehabilitation and avoid the set backs of waiting too long between trims.

December, 2008: Looking a bit better.

Garwin progressed nicely. By rolling the bottom of the wall, the mechanical forces ripping apart the wall from the coffin bone have been eliminated. This then allows the well connected hoof wall to grow down the foot. In one full growth cycle of about 9 months, a decent foot is grown. It will take another year or two to get adequate sole and wall thickness. The owner routinely soaked his front hooves in White Lightning as a way to deal with what must have been a large amount of necrotic tissue in these rehabbing feet.

Because Garwin was an extreme case, the owner consulted with a more experienced barefoot trimmer, my good friend Laura Florence. Laura gave her additional insights on rehabilitation: how long to use boots for turnout, when to begin riding, tweaking the trim. She also introduced Garwin and Lyndsay to Zarna Carter and her bodywork, Equine Positional Release.

Lyndsay began to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There was still concern about Garwin ever competing in combined training events - dressage, stadium jumping and cross country jumping. Garwin's feet remained "freakishly flat". Laura invited her back to the Center to have radiographs. The vet was not hopeful. She pronounced Garwin laminitic and recommended shoes. Laura's concerns were allayed as there was nothing on x-ray that she didn't expect to see. It just took an incredibly long time for the bottom of his feet to recover. But he did recover, without shoes of course.

Over time, Garwin transitioned from padded Epics - a different size for each foot! - to Gloves. His sizing has since normalized although I must say they are pretty small feet for such a big guy. This is due to early shoeing of racehorses. The coffin bone on most horses develops until they are 4.

October 2011 at Burgundy Hollow Event

Cross Country Jumping Course in Gloves.

Garwin Attacks the Stadium Jumping Course in his Gloves.

Back Home, during a dressage lesson. Check out the spiffy transmitter!

All he needed was barefoot care from his thoughtful, patient owner. And boots from EasyCare of course.

January, 2012
Lyndsay reports that Garwin has developed concavity all around. Like most Thoroughbreds his wall thickness is about 1/4". The outer horn is strong. Frogs are stellar. He has grown a nice wall to coffin bone connection. What more could you ask for?

One On-Going Challenge
Rules in eventing do not permit the use of EasyCare boots in the dressage competition. If you are not familiar with this combined training, you might think Garwin should be able to go barefoot in a ring.

But unless you are competing at the highest levels, the surface of the rings are far from stellar. Some are made of stone dust which over time is like riding on cement. Alternatively the organizers might put up a fence somewhere in a field. Unfortunately Garwin does suck back on these surfaces. He needs his Gloves.

I hope an eventing competitor will step up to the challenge of having the rules changed. In the meantime, I am hopeful that Lyndsay can compete in the Glue On Glove. I have learned that in Australia, they are trimming down the outer portion of the Glue On Glove and just calling it a Glue On! (Better to ask forgiveness than permission?)

Better to change the rules!

If you would like to see more photos of this great team, go to Lyndsay Poole's Facebook.

In March, I will feature another story of the Thoroughbred racehorse, Chance and his friend, 2 year old Zola. Check them out at The Racehorse Experiement.

Happy Trails,
Dawn Willoughby
Proud Owner of a rehabbed OTTB

Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally by Gail Snyder

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Kevin Myers

Gail Snyder recently wrote an interesting two-part article for Natural Horse Magazine on the best practices for managing and preventing thrush.

"Thrush is as controversial a topic as any in the equine world. Everyone has a tried-and-true remedy with free advice for you. If you doubt that statement, type "horse thrush" into an online search engine. In this two part series, I'll cover the topic of thrush in detail."

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 are the downloads to the articles:

Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally - Part 1
Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally - Part 2

Let me know what you think of them.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

Easyboot Trail- Horse Journal's Best Buy of 2012

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 by EasyCare Customer Service Team

Did you hear that the Easyboot Trail was awarded Horse Journal's Best Buy in 2012?

The Easyboot Trail has been designed specifically for the pleasure and trail rider. In other words, the Trail is for light and medium mileage riders who ride up to twenty five miles per week.

The 25-mile designation is not a scientific one and has nothing to do with the Trail's durability. Depending on the horse and riding conditions, the Trail should last between 300-500 miles. But, just as you would not run a marathon race in hiking boots, it doesn't mean you couldn't run a marathon in hiking boots - you just wouldn't be real comfortable. The size, shape and weight of a hiking boot is designed for a different purpose. This is also true of the Easyboot Trail, which is designed specifically for the pleasure and trail rider.

The Easyboot Trail is built on the G2 chassis, so it offers that same superb traction; however, the Trail is easier to put on and take off because there is no internal webbing strap and no back buckle strap. It is also lighter weight, sleeker and is sold in singles.

Which brings me to the fact that the Trail is sold individually, the boots are not left or right specific, it's available in eleven sizes so the Trail should fit most breeds, it is comfortable and lightweight, it is the easiest boot in the whole world to put on and take off and requires no hand strength.

The Easyboot Trail also doubles as a therapy boot. It will help your horse recover from abscesses, hoof injuries, founder, navicular disease, puncture and sole bruises. The Trail cannot be used as a soaking boot (it has three drainage holes), but your horse can be turned out in the Trail.

You need to give your horse time to adjust to wearing the Trail. The first time out, start out by just walking out for about a half hour. Check to make sure there are no rubs or chafing and then gradually increase the duration and distance. Too much too soon can lead to chafing. If you need them, EasyCare gaiters are sold separately as an accessory.

In case you couldn't tell, the Trail is my favorite boot. I have arthritis in my hands and these boots don't require any hand strength, so it's easy for me to do fittings. I used to chase barrels and such; however, I decided to slow it down a tad. I ride a retired rodeo horse, Big Red, and we like to go out for a couple hours, enjoy the sunshine and take in the scenery. If you are like me, the Trail is a perfect boot for you.

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!

Come In From the Cold

Monday, January 30, 2012 by Christoph Schork

Where did you spend last night? On or in the truck, trailer, the tack room where the heater went out?

Will the boots stay on in snow and mud if you use cold or frozen glue?

As the competition season for many riders gets slowly going, some riders are considering gluing Easyboots on their horse's hooves. With frigid temperatures still prevailing in many parts of the country, successful gluing will depend on thorough preparation of Glue-On Horse Shoes and hoof glue.

After many mistakes made by myself and after trying many different gluing methods, what proved to be the most successful method is a combination of VETTEC ADHERE or SOLE-GUARD for the sidewall of the boots and Goober Glue (or similar glue) for the bottom or sole area.

All these glues work best when used at room temperature. Goober Glue will get stiffer at cold temperatures and might not come out of the tube. Same with all the VETTEC glues.

When Vettec glues are exposed to sub freezing temperatures, it will not destroy them, but one should refrain from heating them up too quickly. Best to slowly warm them up to room temperature. ADHERE will thicken a lot below 60 F. Best temperature for Adhere is between F 65 and 85 degrees. Sole-Guard is generally thinner. At cooler temperatures it might be better to use Sole-Guard. Its gluing characteristics are similar to the Adhere but it runs thinner. The cooler the glue, the slower the setting times.

During the winter months we need to take special care to thoroughly dry the hooves before gluing.

If the boots are cold, warming them up will make them more pliable and easier to slide onto the hooves. The glue will also stick a lot better to them.

After applying the Goober Glue to the bottom of the boot, we evenly spread the Vettec Glue to the side of the boot, but only to the top half. When sliding the boot then onto the hoof, the glue will then spread evenly over the whole side wall. Applying too much glue to the walls or too low towards the bottom and you run the risk of pushing some Vettec Glue to the sole area, which in turn could cause pressure on thin soled and tender hooves.

Apply the Vettec glue just to the top half of the boots side wall. In the sole (frog) area the Goober Glue is already added. Like we stated many times, success in gluing comes from proper preparation of hooves, boots and glue.

Cleanliness and dryness are the secret to success. Then the boots will stay on for weeks without doing any harm to your horses hooves and without falling off in the middle of a ride or race. During the winter months, we add the third ingredient, which is warmth.

At the Global Endurance Training Center we are gluing on EasyCare Glue ons and Glue-On horse shoes all year long. And we are using hoof glues in all kinds of weather and temperatures. It is taking a some effort to pry them off after wards. That is how it is supposed to be. Clean, dry and warm are the magic words.

This boot will stay on no matter what the elements are.

Good luck with gluing.

Your Bootmeister

Minerals Are Good for the Hoof

Saturday, January 28, 2012 by EasyCare Customer Service Team

Various minerals are important for a healthy horse, and healthy hooves. I read a really great article in the Horse's Hoof, Winter 2012-Issue 45, written by Marijke van de Water. Marijke is an Equine Health & Nutrition Specialist, Homeopathic Practitioner and Medical Intuitive. She is also the founder and owner of Riva's Remedies.

Horse hooves are very much a reflection of the whole horse, and the treatment of the hoof should always consider the whole health of the horse. Healthy hoof horn produced by a healthy, well-nourished horse is smooth, strong, and free of horizontal or vertical cracks. Taking care of the whole horse will always benefit the hooves.

You need to take in to consideration the diet, proper horse hoof trimming and regular exercise to insure good, healthy blood circulation. Blood circulation is how the hoof receives oxygen and nutrients to keep them at their best. We all know that old saying "No Hoof, No Horse".

The Trim

Movement

A few of the important minerals talked about in this article, were sulphur, selenium and silica. How they contribute to really healthy hooves. There are organic varieties that are absorbed and utilized much more effectively than the inorganic form. Natural horse products can be easier to assimilate in the body as in nature, horses eat weeds and vegetation out there that is good for them. It just comes natural to them.

Silica promotes bone health, strengthens collagen and hardens the hoof wall, while selenium and sulphur contribute to collagen production and strengthen the cross link bonds in the keratin.

For a good read and more knowledge, check out this article and then check your horse's hooves. What are you seeing?

Nancy Fredrick

EasyCare Office Manager

As the office manager, I make sure the general operations of the organization run smoothly and seamlessly from A to Z. I have been on the EasyCare team since 2001 and have first hand product knowledge as my horses are barefoot and booted.

2012 Customer Survey Now Online

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Kevin Myers

We're listening. Please tell us what you think.

If you are a current EasyCare customer and you've purchased Easyboot hoof boots within the last 12 months, we'd like to hear from you.

Help us shape the evolution of our boot design based on what is important to you as a boot user. It won't take you longer than five minutes to complete and your answers are completely anonymous.

Click on the survey link now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/utltimateeasyboot2012 and follow the simple directions on screen. The survey closes at midnight PST on Friday, February 3, 2012.

We're listening. And we hear you.

P.S. Enter the sweepstakes at the end of the survey and you could win $100 in Boot Bucks, (redeemable only through purchases made directly through EasyCare). Due to gaming restictions imposed through the Survey Monkey platform, the online sweepstakes is only open to US residents. We will therefore hold a separate drawing of all non-US residents who identify themselves as such in the demographic section at the end of the survey.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

A Reply to New Tracks - What Will They Think

Saturday, January 21, 2012 by Team Easyboot

Submitted by Joanne Pavlis, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

Back in the December 2011 Newsletter, Garrett Ford wrote to us about the concept of “New Tracks”, and asked us the question “Have you ever thought about what tracks you leave”?

As a licensed race track trainer, riding instructor, endurance competitor, and equine wellness foundation founder, I think about this all the time. Whenever I contemplate the vision of “New Tracks”, I recall the remarkable journey I embarked upon with this new EasyCare concept and product. MileMakers has played, and continues to play, a small part in the overall EasyCare evolution of change, as we all move ahead with our new found knowledge and product development. When I think of what Milemakers does on a daily basis, it seems relevant as an answer to the proposed question.

MileMakers began seriously promoting EasyCare products and educating our local horse community about the benefits of equine hoof boot protection in 2011. It has been the best transformation we could have made for our horses health, while giving us the added benefit of exposure to the latest science and technology to better educate those owners who had been sitting on the fence between old school & new school thinking. EasyCare is constantly improving their product to better the wellness of horses, and they do it by using sound research while listening to the horse’s response.

Time and again, I lay witness to the fact that people will not change unless they fully understand the reasons behind the need for change. That is why, at MileMakers, we believe in promoting the education behind the EasyCare concept as we develop one knowledgeable customer at a time. Each newly educated owner/equestrian represents a “new track”. And each “new track” represents a seed of knowledge that has been planted and will continue to grow.

When the new EasyBoot Racing Shoe concept came onto the horizon, there was a lot of head scratching, questions, and a whole lot of “what if” scenarios. Some race track officials and commissioners didn’t know how to react to this new product because it was a divergence from their zone of comfortable knowledge. Other racing officials embraced the new concept, and were able to easily see the benefits for the future of horse racing, and overall equine foot health. No evolutionary journey is without its setbacks. The key is to remain confident with your concept despite those who want to drag you back down to “what has always been” and “we’ve been doing it this way for the last 200 years”.

In 2012, MileMakers will walk our talk. We plan to take our 3 year old colt, Defying Magic, (a.k.a. Indy) to the race track.

He has been barefoot his entire life, and will only wear the new EasyBoot Race Glue-Ons, while running races, due to a Colorado Racing Commission ruling which calls for all race horses to wear hoof protection. He is the first foal we ever bred, and we will not trust his feet to any other type of hoof care product or ideology.

The journey one must take when laying down “new tracks” will never be an easy one. But by using education and proven results we can progress one step at a time. That’s why at MileMakers our motto is “Not just a destination, but a journey taken one hoofbeat at a time.” With “New Tracks” I am excited about what I do as a Team Easyboot member, and we plan to leave a lot of “New Tracks” in 2012.

“Sometimes you’ve got to run away and see if they follow” - Manfield Park.

EasyCare will accept applications for Team Easyboot 2012 until midnight on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Visit the Team Easyboot section of the EasyCare website for more details and to complete the application form.

Starting From Scratch - Part 1

Friday, January 20, 2012 by Lucy Chaplin-Trumbull

A couple of weeks ago, a friend visited from England. She has just decided to take her endurance horse barefoot and compete him in boots. It sounds like she has found a sympathetic trimmer who is interested in what she's doing, so her plan is to schedule him regularly to do the main trim, while she makes touch-ups in between. As far as I can tell hoof boots are still far from the norm in Britain, with most "professionals" convinced that having horses barefoot just won't work and advising their clients accordingly <wry face>.

Initially she picked my brain over the internet...

What Equipment Would She Need?

My List

A pair of gloves (v. v. important to avoid knuckle rasping)
A hoof pick (I like the ones with the bristle brush on the back)
A good rasp (blunt, rusty rasps are no fun and result in much puffing and frustration)
A sharp narrow-bladed hoof knife (wide-bladed ones are designed for draft horses as far as I can work out)
A hoof stand (this is a lot of money to invest in, but believe me, your life will be so much pleasanter with one than trying to do this without. Without you’ll be sad and tired and struggle)
A rubber mallet

What Boots Would She Need?

She was a little confused by the difference between Glue-Ons and Gloves. I explained that although they were essentially the same base-model, Gloves were what she would be using for conditioning and events because of how easy they were to use and quick to put on and take off. You'd only really use Glue-Ons if you were doing a 100 miler, a multi-day, or practising the gluing technique. Once those puppies are on, they aren't going anywhere without the application of some brute force and a wide-bladed screwdriver.

What Size Boots Would She Need?

I explained about measuring the foot accurately to figure out what size boot her horse would need and then I explained that Murphy's Law dictates that your horse's feet will never fall within the confines of the "correct" measurements for a specific boot size, so EasyCare came up with the "Fit Kit".

Say your horse's foot measures something close to a 0.5, but not quite according to the sizing chart. You order the Fit Kit for 0.5 and EasyCare will send you shells in sizes 1 - 0.5 - 0. You can spend a happy session with your horse pushing shells on, walking him around, taking them off and repeating the performance with the other sizes until you are satisfied with what size boot you think is the best fit.*

* this is often not the size you think it's going to be. Case in point, none of the Glove sizes were close to fitting my pony, Jackit's, feet on paper, but in reality once I figured out the right size, his boots don't seem to go anywhere.

To give you an idea of what I was working with - I have small hands. I was fairly convinced that no Glove size would work for him, but it turns out 00.5 and 00s fit him fine.

You get to keep the Fit Kit for 30 days because everyone knows the second a horse item arrives on the premises, it guarantees instant horrendous weather/sickness in human operator/sudden unexpected business travel.

Unfortunately, not living in the US, my friend doesn't have access to fit kits, so she had (hopefully) the correct size Gloves shipped to my house, and I also sent her home with a couple of old boots the next size up 'just in case'.

She was ready to move on to the next stages - basic trimming and boot fit.

(Continued next week)

--
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California

Procrastination

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by EasyCare Customer Service Team

Pro - cras - ti - na - tion (proh-kras-tuh-ney-shuhn) - the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention.

I'm sure nobody really needs the definition of the word procrastination spelled out, I know I don't - this blog was due two weeks ago! Everyone procrastinates sometimes, over 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. Did you know that procratination and perfectionism go hand in hand? Here are some reasons for procrastination:

Fear of Failure
Because we are too busy
Over-or under-estimating the degree of difficulty the task involves

Does any of this sound familiar on reasons why you have not tried to take your horse barefoot? There is so much information available today regarding natural horse care, using hoof boots and barefoot trimming, it can get overwhelming. EasyCare has a whole section of our website devoted to articles to help educate you and get you on your way.

Ways to overcome procrastition:

Get a buddy to do the barefoot transition with you.
Challenge your myths regarding shoeing and do some research.
Get a new attitude.

So, take a deep breath and dive in. Remember the worst form of procrastition is reading an article about it, feeling the guilt and not doing anything about it. (I will have to remember this when my next blog is due.)

Shari Murray

Customer Service

If you call the customer service help desk, you’ll probably get me on the phone! I process repairs, returns, credits and exchanges that come into EasyCare.

Transition Tuesday: Wait That's the Wrong Guy!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Amanda Washington

Everybody know that transitioning a horse from shoes to barefoot is supposed to be hard, and taking one that's already barefoot should make for a seamless transition. NOT. If you've been around horses for any length of time, you will know that there are never any "givens" when it comes to horses!

Back in November, I brought two new horses into our herd. The first was Breve, a big old moose of a 7yr. old Shagya, who had been barefoot for years. A few weeks later, we introduced Nero, a 10yr. old Arab who has been in shoes for the "on" season since he was a youngster. Naturally, he was going to be the difficult to transition where Breve would seamlessly continue in his work with no issue.

Can you really call taking a barefoot pasture horse to a barefoot performance horse a transition? I think you can. There are major differences in a "pasture trim" and a good barefoot trim, and unfortunately many people don't understand these differences. Does your trimmer understand it? Breve had been recently trimmed prior to coming to Idaho, but came with too long of wall, too long of toe and some serious imbalances in all four feet, it was obvious some major adjustments were necessary. Because I knew his feet would be making some serious changes, I waited a while to order boots for him, planning on trimming conservatively and letting him do some natural wear during our frequent rides through November and December. I backed his toe up some and balanced him, but was not aggressive in his trim. Even so, after about a month of riding twice a week, he started to hesitate over the rougher, harder and rocky ground. I wrote a few weeks ago about fitting him for boots. Since we've gotten his boots, I've alternated riding barefoot and booted in the last month. About a week ago, I attacked his feet and am very pleased with how they look at this time. Look at these changes!

From this...

... and this

To this...

... and THIS!

We're well on our way!

Now for Nero. Nero, Nero, Nero. Wouldn't you know it he hasn't taken a bobble? I don't even have anything to write! After pulling his shoes, I rounded the walls and left him for a week. Truthfully, I was afraid to do too much and have the ground freeze, leaving me with a sore footed pony. He just has his shoes pulled for gosh sakes! Of course until now, we've had perpetual fall, so no frozen ground to battle with. That is all changing tonight. But I digress. Nero looked great, and when I started to ride him the first part of December I was shocked! This guy doesn't miss a step! After almost a 600 mile endurance season in shoes, he hasn't skipped a beat. I really appreciate this guys toughness and inherently beautiful feet. While I am not foolish enough to expect a completely seamless transition to competing in boots, I am pleased with how things are going. I have also come to fully respect a good farrier, because I am certain our transition wouldn't be where it is today had Nero been shod poorly. Barefoot or shod, a good trim is imperative, and we should appreciate it when we see it.

Poor Nero's transition has been so unremarkable the only pictures I have are of his ridiculously perfect little face. I guess that's the difference in getting a horse from someone who cares for them as you yourself do! No crazy physique changes, no dramatic before and afters, just an easy pony to love. I have been enjoying our weekly gallops to keep me sane and Nero legged up without pounding out too many miles.

He is spoiled with us! Never a dirty bed, dinner on a silver platter, and a mint on his pillow at bed time. Oh wait. He really hates mints.

Here shortly, I will be fitting Nero for his own Easyboot Gloves. I anticipate needing a very good fit in the front as I have watched him carefully and he appears to twist a bit in both fronts as he places his foot down. Luckily, he has beautiful wall quality, absolutely no flaring and appropriate heel height. If we have problems (and stating this as public record guarantees we will), they will be my fault. I plan to be prepared!

That face!

How are your transitions going?

~ Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

Applying the Easyboot Glove with a Rubber Mallet

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 by Kevin Myers

How much does it take for you to break a sweat?

We've had a number of people contact us recently asking about the use of a rubber mallet when applying the Easyboot Glove. Some people are concerned about the resulting concussion on the horse's feet. Others are concerned that using a mallet will make the task of applying boots even more complicated.

I always keep a mallet in the trailer tack room door where I keep my hoof boots. I grab the mallet when I reach for the bag of boots for the horse I'm tacking up. I originally bought the mallet for gluing on hoof boots at events, but I find it also helps confirm the toe is all the way into the boot without any additional struggling while you're under the horse.

If you did not read my blog last week about identifying proper fit, you can read it at Fit On The Fly: The Top 4 Most Common Mistakes When Using Easyboot Gloves. I don't subscribe to the concerns that tapping with a mallet will cause any harm to the horse: the amount of force exerted with a few taps is only a fraction of the force exerted on a horse when you're trotting or cantering down a semi-hardpacked trail.

Take a look at the video I made last weekend and let me know if you think I'm putting undue strain on the horse's hoof. I think it probably takes more energy to climb up into the saddle than it does to bang the Gloves on. Click in the lower right corner of the YouTube screen to see a larger screen.

If you subscribe to this blog via RSS and you can't see the video above, click on this YouTube link: http://youtu.be/0fbx9P1_VVs.

What sort of application tricks do you use to make sure your Gloves are properly applied?

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

Barefootin' in the Ozarks

Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Debbie Schwiebert

Horse trainer, barefoot trimmer and EasyCare dealer Mike Daniels isn't shy about how he feels about barefoot. The Raymondville, Missouri resident frequently presents clinics in the surrounding areas and gives his attendees a lot more than horsemanship to think about.

Mike at one of his clinics. Photo from the Houston Herald, Houston, MO

Photos from the Houston Herald, Houston, MO

A man of faith, Mike weaves his clinics with horsemanship and life lessons. Coinciding with all this is stewardship of the horse and talk about natural hoof care and what means for the horse and owner. Mike has found many people don't give a lot of thought to their horse's hooves and he wants to change that.

Mike's story begins as someone who kept his horses bare simply because it was practical. If and when he needed to ride somewhere rocky, he would end up shoeing his horse for the trip. The expense for a one-time shoeing didn't really add up for Mike and he began searching for other options. He picked up a pair of EasyCare hoof boots and became a barefoot and booted fan for life and hasn't looked back.

Mike believes providing your horse with a natural lifestyle encompassing diet, exercise and barefoot hoof care is as close as we can come to giving them the life nature intended.

Mike also contributes to the blog at the Houston Herald in Missouri.

Mike Daniels, displays a barefoot trim. Photo from the Houston Herald, Houston, MO

Will you be hosting a clinic in 2012? We'd love to tell others about it. Please drop me an email at dschwiebert@easycareinc.com with details.

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.

Team Easyboot 2012: Now Accepting Applications

Thursday, January 12, 2012 by Kevin Myers

We're excited to announce applications for Team Easyboot 2012 are now open. Team members will be selected based on their knowledge of the EasyCare product line; their diversity of riding activity, and their influence in their community. Team Easyboot 2012 membership will be limited to a total of 75 people.

Expectations of Team Easyboot Members

If accepted onto Team Easyboot 2012, members are requested to participate in at least 7 of the following 12 items:

Represent EasyCare in a professional and positive manner.
Be fully knowledgeable about all EasyCare products and help others in the field.
Keep information available and on hand to help answer people’s questions.
Be available to assist in boot fitting and advice in person and on line.
Provide feedback on product as needed.
Actively promote the EasyCare brand in person.
Submit bio, photo and monthly schedule of activities and availability to help others.
Blog once a month on the EasyCare corporate blog.
Actively participate with positive interaction and product advice on the Easyboot Facebook page.
Wear Team Easyboot attire at events.
Display Team Easyboot logo on tack, trailers and vehicles.
Consider hosting boot fitting clinics in conjunction with hoof care practitioners.

Summary of Benefits

Access to discounted EasyCare product for personal use.
Access to EasyCare management team for help and guidance.
Access to broader team members for general booting education and problem-solving.
Advance access to product information and new products.

Note: Product purchased through the Team Easyboot discount program cannot be resold.

How To Qualify

In order to submit your name for consideration, all you have to do is answer a few basic questions in an online application form. Applications will be accepted until 12 midnight Mountain Standard Time on Wednesday, February 8, 2012.

The Selection Process

75 Team Easyboot 2012 Members will be selected by a panel of EasyCare staff. The new team members will be announced on Tuesday, February 14, 2012.

Over to You

If you would like to be considered for membership in Team Easyboot 2012, please click here and then click on the Application Form button. Remember to submit the form before Wednesday, February 8, 2012 to be considered.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

Fit On The Fly: The Top 4 Most Common Mistakes When Using Easyboot Gloves

Tuesday, January 10, 2012 by Kevin Myers

I’ve had the good fortune to attend four endurance events since the end of November. It is always fascinating to meet people out in the field and to see what the current practices are – for better or for worse. Listed below are the four most common mistakes I've seen in the last two months.

Mistake # 1
One of the most consistent things I see at events and on the trail is people using the wrong size Easyboot Gloves on their horse. I often see Gloves that are one or even two sizes larger than the foot requires.

A boot too big. A boot just right.

The oversized boots obviously work for people - to a certain extent. But I think the addition of water uphill or speed added to the equation would probably cause a boot loss. When I ask people about the sizing choice, they often say they go up a size to allow for changes throughout the growth cycle. My experience is that you do not need to allow for the growth cycle. It is important for the boots to be snug – very snug – not loose. A simple rasp of the toe area every week or two will keep the boot fitting nice and snugly. Any barefoot trimmer would be delighted for their customers to do a little hoof maintenance between visits because it would also help maintain a healthy hoof.

Mistake #2
People often make the mistake of thinking that adding a Power Strap will offset any size deficiencies. Or perhaps that it will offset any issues around flare, long toes or high heels. Whilst a Power Strap helps keep the top of the boot snug, it will not solve all fit issues. And if you are new to boots, the Power Strap will often mask what is going on inside the boot.

This boot fits well. Even with the Power Strap, you can see that the V is still spread.

Mistake #3
People are going up a size because they can’t easily apply the boot to the hoof, or they are not putting completely putting the boot on the hoof. When I ask if they use a mallet, some people cringe at the thought of banging a boot on. As a point of fact, the forces exerted when a horse trots or canters on hard ground are going to be significantly greater than the amount of force you can exert by a few bangs of a rubber mallet.

This Glove is not quite on yet. Note the gapping at the base of the V suggesting the toe is not fully inserted into the boot. Note also the gaiter appears to be too short.

A good few taps of the mallet at the toe cannot hurt your horse.

Mistake #4
People often tell me they have trouble getting tight-fitting boots off. The trick is to pull from the side/rear of the boot, rather than from the heel bulb area. Pulling from the rear of the boot actually causes the top of the boot shell to contract, hugging the hoof capsule even tighter, and making boot removal more challenging. Pull instead from one side or the other, and you will find it much easier to remove the boot.

Not like this. More like this.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

Test Ride: Easyboot Trail

Monday, January 9, 2012 by Alayna Wiley

I have used Easyboot Gloves since they were released and absolutely love their lightweight and sleek design. I’ll admit when I saw the Easyboot Trail, I was skeptical and couldn’t help but compare them to my beloved Glove. Even though they are light, they aren’t as light as a Glove. Although they are sleek for a boot, to me they looked downright clunky next to the Glove. After becoming a customer service representative at EasyCare, I knew I needed to ride in the Trails since they were our most popular boot in 2011. So for the past three months I have been using the Trails on Cal, my Tennessee Walking Horse cross. Cal has always been a sensitive horse, the type that would gimp over rocks even when he had shoes on. The Trails were a breeze to put on and I was absolutely amazed at how comfortable he was in them, even more so than when I rode him with Gloves on the front. Now I see what all the fuss is about; the Easyboot Trail really is amazing!

Cal wearing Easyboot Trails on fronts and Easyboot Gloves on hinds.

The top concern I hear from prospective customers is if the Trail will cause rubs. The Trail needs to be broken in, just as you would break in a new pair of hiking boots. Your first few rides should be thirty minutes to an hour of walking and light trotting/gaiting; this is to ensure the fit is correct and there is no chafing. I decided to go against recommendations to see how they would perform if they weren’t broken in. My first two rides were 5 and 7 miles over the course of a weekend. On the first day, I checked for rubs every 30 minutes and found none. The second day, I checked at 4 miles and saw a rub the size of a pencil eraser. When I checked again at 6 miles the area had not changed. After the ride, Cal was not at all sensitive at the site of the rub and the area was so small that it would not show up when I tried to take a picture of it. Since that first weekend I have ridden over 50 miles in the Trail averaging 5-10 miles per ride. The only time I observed a rub was on that second ride and it was because I had not properly broken the boots in. If you are concerned about rubs, you can purchase Gaiters to protect the pastern area. But if the boots are a good fit and properly broken in, Gaiters generally aren’t necessary.

Catalina State Park, the perfect testing grounds.

One of the things that really amazed me about the Trails was how well Cal gaited in them. Being a gaited cross, he is capable of doing a running walk and a trot but he usually prefers to trot. With the Trails however, he gets into a real nice rhythm and I can honestly say it is some of the most consistent gaiting I have felt from him. The aggressive tread pattern performed wonderfully when riding in and out of the technical rocky washes. For anyone who thinks the Trail is “too good to be true”, it isn’t. The Trail is THE boot for casual riders because it is easy to put on and performs well.

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.

EasyCare Announces the 2011 $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest Results

Friday, January 6, 2012 by Kevin Myers

We’re pleased to announce the results of the 2011 edition of the $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest. Riders enrolled in the sixth annual EasyCare Hoof Boot Contest accumulated more than 25,000 miles across two disciplines.

20 competitors earned $10,000 in cash and product based on their total annual mileage accumulations. "Now that the results have been tabulated," said Garrett Ford, President and CEO of EasyCare, "we can give back to the community who puts the most miles on Easyboots."

Endurance Division
Winner of the 2011 EasyCare Endurance Hoof Boot Contest is Carla Richardson, who rode a staggering 2,525 miles with SS Kharady Khid. She and Khid will also win the coveted AERC 2011 National Mileage Award. Carla and Khid completed 50 endurance rides in the 2011 ride season. Khid now boasts 6,635 career miles, and he just keeps on trucking.

Carla Richardson and SS Karahdy Khid. Photo by Steve Bradley.

In hot pursuit, Debbie Boscoe rode SRT Sizzling Sage and Scarlet Wind Song to second place with an accumulated 1,915 miles. New to hoof boots, Debbie was one of the highest mileage competitors at the 2011 2,000-mile XP ride from Missouri to California. In third place is 2010 Hoof Boot Contest winner, Terri Tinkham, who rode Oliver Twist for a total of 1,435 miles.

CTR Division
Winner of the 2011 EasyCare CTR Hoof Boot Contest is Mary Lambert. Mary rode High Tail Hanna and IM Bronze to a combined total of 375 miles. Bill Wingle rode Mariah for to second place with a total of 372 miles. Sheryl O'Brian rode Psyches Amore and Truimage of Gold into third place with a total of 350 miles.

Detailed Results

For a full listing of the 2011 Hoof Boot Contest results, go the 2011 EasyCare Hoof Boot Contest page.

Easyboot is the official hoof boot of NATRC, AERC and Tevis 2012.

Keep up the Bootlegging!

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

Team Easyboot 2012: Have You Submitted Your Application?

Barefoot Movements

A New Normal

Crossing the 2011 Tevis Winning Hoof Boot With The 2011 Preakness Winning Shoe

Thoroughbred Feet are Just Fine: Meet Garwin

Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally by Gail Snyder

Easyboot Trail- Horse Journal's Best Buy of 2012

Come In From the Cold

Minerals Are Good for the Hoof

2012 Customer Survey Now Online

A Reply to New Tracks - What Will They Think

Starting From Scratch - Part 1

Procrastination

Transition Tuesday: Wait That's the Wrong Guy!

Applying the Easyboot Glove with a Rubber Mallet

Barefootin' in the Ozarks

Team Easyboot 2012: Now Accepting Applications

Fit On The Fly: The Top 4 Most Common Mistakes When Using Easyboot Gloves

Test Ride: Easyboot Trail

EasyCare Announces the 2011 $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest Results

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