Easycare Boots

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.

I attended the International Hoof Care Summit in February and the AERC convention in March. There is nothing better than getting to spend time with boot users. One of my favorite things to do during trade shows is to start a collection of things people say to show the diversity of user experiences. Below are my six favorites.

1. "You can't canter in Easyboots."

2. "Those boots don't work."

3. "Can you ride in those boots?"

4. "I only finished Tevis because of my Easyboots."

5. "I've never lost a boot."

6. "You don't ride in the kind of country I ride in."

So, about #1: we've been picking up the speed a little in our horse training program. We've been taking advantage of the warmer climate at the New Mexico/Colorado border and getting some training rides in sand washes and along the dirt roads that service the oil fields. The footing is slick in the wet, but it dries out quickly to form a hard-packed surface that we've been getting some speed training on.

Three of the four horses in the video above are wearing Easyboot Gloves (read on for data on the fourth horse). If you subscribe to this blog via RSS, you can see the video at http://youtu.be/68wMnLp_T8A. Two of them are wearing well-used Gloves without any athletic tape. Here are the stats:

Distance: 17.7 Miles (28.5 KM)

Time: 2.2 Hours

Maximum Speed: 15.6 MPH (25.1 KPH)

Elevation Gain: 1,734'

Highest Elevation: 7,400'

Number of Easyboot Gloves Lost: 0

If you found the above video dull, maybe you should check out Garrett's ingenious girth cam footage below, taken at the same time as the first video in this post. You'll find it mesmerizing. If you're an RSS subscriber, see the video at http://youtu.be/dxOSHRooD_Q.

It does a good job of showing the Easyboot Glove at faster speeds and gives you an up-close sense of how much concussion the boots absorb on hard-packed road. How do you like the thud as each hoof boot hits the ground?

Question for the post: one of the horses in the video is testing a prototype of the new EasyShoe. Can you tell which horse it is?

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.

You all probably recognize the above as a little project you did in kindergarten around Thanksgiving. The teacher had all the little boys and girls trace around their hands so they could create the image below:

Can you see how much bigger this turkey turned out than the hand above. This is the reason that we here at EasyCare recommend that you pick up the hoof and measure with a ruler instead of tracing. For our boot styles such as the Easyboot Glove and the Easyboot Glue-Ons that are measured in millimeters, the difference between each half size is four millimeters,or the thickness of three dimes. So there is little room for error in measuring and determining the correct boot size. 

A Fit Kit is always recommended to ensure a good fit. I like to tell customers that the size chart is just a guideline since we are fitting a three dimensional hoof to a two dimensional measurement system. 

Don't be a turkey.

Thank you, and you will thank me later when your boots fit.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I love the Gloves. 

~ Amanda

I just got back from three days in Reno, Nevada, where the annual American Endurance Ride Conference's convention took place. There were Easyboot users blended throughout every award category imaginable. And although the endurance segment represents only a small percentage of the Easyboot customers, their achievements showcase what can be done with our products in the most extreme challenges known to the human/equine partnership.

If you ever had the misguided opinion that Easyboots don't work, please take note of the following notable accomplishments by Easybooted riders.

Carla and Kid's banner used at the EasyCare booth during the 2012 AERC Convention.

1. National High Mileage Champion: Carla Richardson

Carla Richardson rode her horse SS Kharady Kid +/ through 2,525 miles during the 2011 ride season, Carla and Kid started and completed 50 events across the nation. Every one of those rides was in Easyboot Gloves or Glue-Ons. As a point of interest, 7 of the top 10 horses in the National Mileage Championship were campaigned in hoof boots.

Leah accepts her award from Bruce Weary at the AERC Awards Banquet on March 10, 2012.

2. Jim Jones Stallion Award: Leah Cain

Leah Cain and TAR Pistol Pete +/ rode 1,235 miles during the 2011 ride season. Every mile was in Easyboot Gloves or Easyboot Glue-Ons.

Dennis & Sue Summers near Tom's Thumb in Scottsdale, Arizona.

3. Julie & Bob Suhr Husband & Wife Team Award: Dennis & Sue Summers

Dennis and Sue Summers pick and choose the events at which they use with Easyboots Gloves and Glue-Ons. They accumulated an impressive 2,265 miles between them during the 2011 ride season, and most of those miles were in Easyboot products.

Jeremy & Riverwatch's banner used at the EasyCare booth during the 2012 AERC Convention.

4. 2011 Tevis Winner & Haggin Cup Winner: Jeremy Reynolds

The 2011 Tevis and Haggin Cup winner was Jeremy Reynolds from Reynolds Racing. Jeremy and Heather compete exclusively in Easyboot Glue-Ons.

A recent full-page print ad featuring Christoph Schork.

5. 2011 AERC 100-Mile National Championship: Christoph Schork

Christoph Schork rode Stars Aflame to the first place position at the National Championship and received the Best Condition award. Christoph also has the enviable title of being the rider with the most first place finishes in AERC history, with more than 230 wins to his name. He and his partner, Dian Woodward, compete exclusively in Easyboot Glue-Ons and train in Easyboot Gloves.

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.

While I was making dinner last night I started thinking of the greatest food combinations of all time. Here is my list.

10.  Popcorn and butter

9.   Chips and Salsa

8.   Peanut butter and Jelly

7.   Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

6.   Burger and Fries

5.   Soy sauce and Wasabi

4.   Cookies and Milk

3.   Bacon and Eggs

2.   Pizza and Beer

1.  Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Trail

Ok, so my mind slipped a bit off task, but the new Easyboot Glove Back Country was borne out of combining EasyCare's two top selling hoof boots. This new combination takes the very best from two great products and morphs them into a new boot that will offer additional solutions for horses that may have had trouble using the Glove or Trail. Some of the features that make the Back Country one-of-a-kind:

• The Comfort Cup Gaiter is incorporated into the rear of the boot for the latest technology in support and protection of the soft tissue areas
• The lightweight upper stabilizes the boot on the hoof
• Quick and easy to put on and take off: no strength or force required
• Available in 18 regular and wide sizes to fit most breeds
• Completely convertible: built on the Easyboot Glove chassis, this boot can be converted into an Easyboot Glove or Easyboot Glue-On (additional accessories required)
• Sold in singles

On top all of this, it looks amazing too!

Get yours today.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, Randy Oglesby

Dee Reiter

Customer Service

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

Have you been wanting to get a better look at the Easyboot Glove Back Country and how to put it on? We've just published the official EasyCare application video for this new boot.

A still shot of the Easyboot Glove Back Country in action - photo courtesy of Bernd Jung.

In the video below, you can hear a description of the boot components, and the best practices for putting the boot on.

If you subscribe to this blog via an RSS feed, you can see the video by clicking on the Easyboot Glove Back Country Video link.

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.

There is always talk of the importance of boot fit, but what about gaiter fit? Is it too loose? Too tight? Well, I am going to give a few tips, so sit back and take a deep breath. 

Let's use the Easyboot Glove as an example, even though any EasyCare boot with a gaiter could be used.

Typically, the gaiter should be very snug once the boot itself is on the hoof correctly. I have seen other riders with snug gaiters, finger loose gaiters, and just plain ol' four fingers between the pastern and gaiter loose gaiters. I think each horse/rider team has a preference, as it should be. But what else can be done for a happy fit?

If your horse is anything like mine, there are those feathers that get in the way. What am I talking about? Check out the photo below.

Hair much?

Ahhh, much better.

So the question is, should I trim or even clip those hairy feathers away? The answer is: it depends. If the hair under the gaiters are getting matted, full of sweat and mud or you think the gaiter doesn't have the best fit in your opinion, then yes. Also, if you are concerned about underlying possible rubs it would be a good idea to nix the hair. Starting with a 'clean' slate will give you an idea about boot and gaiter fit. As a distance rider and a rider with very long hair, I personally feel for the horse and like to get all that hair out of the way. I know I would appreciate it.

Tight gaiters, loose gaiters, hairy pasterns or not, the importance is a comfy horse in well fitting EasyCare boots and a happy ride.

It's March and it's all about the luxurious new Easyboot Glove Back Country. Much of this month's newsletter is dedicated to the details of the latest addition to the EasyCare hoof boot lineup.

Garrett Ford tells all about his opinion of the new boot.

Kevin Myers summarizes four things you absolutely need to know about the new boot.

Alayna Wiley writes the first public review of the new boot.

Dawn Willoughby's popular blog returns this month with an aritcle on rehabbing OTTB feet successfully.

And our Dealer of the Month is Amanda Beno Marsh from Mountain Top Natural Hoof Trimming Service.

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...

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

The Easyboot Glove Back Country in a clear mountain stream.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Garrett Ford

President & CEO

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

The launch date of the new Easyboot Glove Back Country has finally arrived. Here are four things you need to know:

1. The boot is available for the month of March exclusively through seven partner dealers across the globe. That means you can only buy it from them until Monday, April 2, 2012. The list of Glove Back Country dealers is as follows:

Valley Vet Supply
Marysville, KS 66508
Phone: (785) 562-5106
Website: www.valleyvet.com

Trelawne Equine Ltd
Devon, EX21 5XE
Phone: 441409221824
Website: www.trelawneequine.co.uk
 
HufCheck Bernd Jung
Oberrot, D-74418
Phone: 49-0-681-41099684
Website: www.hufcheck.de
 
Hauptner Instrumente GmbH
Zurich, 8305
Phone: 01141448059911
Website: www.hauptner.c
 
Hoofgroove GmbH
Stadel, 8174
Phone: 41-43-311-99-88
Website: www.hoofgroove.ch
 
Ets Weal
Le Passage, 38490
Phone: 0033474887903
Website: www.sosabots.com
 
Mike Ware
Burrill Lake, NSW, 2539
Phone: (42) 864-9369
Website: www.easycaredownunder.com.au

Go to the Easyboot Glove Back Country boot page to link directly to their websites.

Testing the Glove Back Country.

2. The boot is available in 18 sizes. Just like the Easyboot Glove, it will come in 11 regular sizes and 7 wide sizes. You can see the sizing chart on our website. Because of the way the boot attaches around the hoof, the Glove Back Country will be more forgiving with fit throughout the entire growth cycle between trims. If you have a long trim cycle, you can even go a little larger in sizing to accommodate the growth.

3. We're calling this a medium to high mileage boot. We've given it a mileage rating of 25 - 50 miles per week. We're interested in user's experiences with it: there is a chance this could serve as a higher mileage boot.

4. The Easyboot Glove Back Country is built with the finest and most luxurious materials available today. Think of it as the finest off-road vehicle you've ever driven.

See the Easyboot Glove Back Country page now, or for more information on the boot components, visit easybootglovebackcountry.com.

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.

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

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

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

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

Amanda trimming at a clinic in Wickenburg, AZ.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Natural Hoof Care and Hoof Booting Workshop with Rusty Toth

Education on Natural Hoof Care and Trimming!

Bring a horse for a trim, and boot fitting!

Everyone Is Welcome, with or without a horse!

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

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

Boot Fitting and Education is Free

Trims are $45.00

Large Inventory of Easycare Hoof Boot Products Available for Sale!

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

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

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

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

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

Topics to Be Covered

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

• Learn tips and tricks of ground driving.

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

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

• All colt starting & training questions answered.

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

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

TICKETS

1-Day Audit           $45

2-Day Audit          $60

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

Rounding out the Summer in July, MileMakers presents:

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

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

Please inquire for details on days, times and fees.

We've been sneaking various peaks at the Easyboot Glove Back Country over the last few weeks. The big launch is scheduled for March 5 - this coming Monday - but more about them next week. It will be available via a few dealers from across the globe who have partnered with us on the launch of what might be the most exciting boot in the company's history.

Our Best Boots Combined

The Glove Back Country pairs the form fitting Glove chassis and incorporates an easy to secure upper modeled after the Trail. Built to provide ultimate durability using the latest in design and material technology, the Glove Back Country has an infinitely flexible closure system that wraps around the hoof wall. The result: a hoof boot that stays secure in the toughest of trail conditions on the most challenging of hoof shapes.

A Soft, Durable Internal Upper

Lightweight, ergonomic and breathable, The Easyboot Glove Back Country has a soft internal upper that caresses the soft tissue areas of the hoof and lower leg.

We’ve used the latest in technology to build an upper that combines softness and flexibility with the most durable materials on the market today. The result is a boot that secures and stabilizes the foot, reducing fatigue and keeping debris out.

The Comfort Cup Gaiter

The Comfort Cup System: a new form of gaiter built into the back of the boot to caress and protect the soft tissue areas at the rear of the horse’s hoof. Supple and resilient, the Comfort Cup is designed to flex with each step and hug the back of the pastern. And because the gaiter is independent of the flexible Cordura® upper, we’ve virtually eliminated the risk of rubbing.

A Convertible Boot

Built on a shared platform, the Easyboot Glove Back Country can easily be transformed into an Easyboot Glue-On or Easyboot Glove. Turn the Glove Back Country into a Glue-On by removing the flexible upper and Comfort Cup gaiter. Turn it into an Easyboot Glove by attaching a Glove Gaiter.

An Anatomically Designed Sole

The Easyboot Glove Back Country uses the award-winning tread design from the Easyboot Glove. The anatomically designed sole provides maximum flexibility and resists wear.

The sole shape is available in 18 regular and wide sizes, just like the Easyboot Glove, accommodating a broad variety of hoof shapes for definitive comfort and security. This is a medium to high mileage riding boot (25 – 50 miles per week).

Go to easybootglovebackcountry.com on Monday for the unveiling.

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.

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

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

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

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

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


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





Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

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





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


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

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

Dee Reiter

Customer Service

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

What a great action shot of Old Mac's G2s in action at the beach in the UK. First-hand proof that OM G2s can be used to canter through water, sand and whatever is in your path.

Photo by Charles Francis.

Mary Jane Sirett had this to say about her travels with the Old Mac G-2's: "My beautiful horse is called Luna and we have great fun riding on the stunning Cornish beaches and mysterious hill snd moorlands. I like to keep things as simple as possible - so tend to ride bareback and Luna is not shod. So when we wnat to trek down the winding country lanes to a distant beach, the horse boots are ideal."

Thank you Mary Jane, and many happy trails to you and Luna.

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.

Yes, we do boot repairs here at EasyCare. Believe it or not we have had some sent in that look just like the picture above. I know the results of a really long wet winter with a lot of snow and slush when it starts to melt makes for a lot of mud.

Right now you may be preparing for spring and looking over your hoof boots to get ready for that first really nice day to ride. You may decide that maybe you could use a new gaiter or some new cables. If you would like to send them to EasyCare for repair, please call us for a Return Authorization Number and make sure to clean the boots and let them dry throughly before packing them up. Our repair guys are great and they don't want to have to charge you a $10.00 cleaning fee.

So remember, don't be mean, make sure they are clean!

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.

Last week I received the following question: “Do you have a boot that is one size fits all?”

After suppressing my urge to giggle, I answered that unfortunately we do not. Horses come in so many shapes and sizes that I can’t think of a single piece of tack that is one size fits all - that would be too easy. Whether it is your saddle, your bit, or your boots, fit is crucial to keeping you and your horse happy. When I receive interest from potential boot users, the first question I ask is if they have the horse’s hoof measurements available. Although I love hearing about a horse’s age, breed, color, height, and weight, those attributes do not help me determine the ideal boot style or size.

EasyCare offers a wide variety of boot styles and sizes. From left to right:
Easyboot Glove #00, Easyboot Trail #4, Easyboot Epic #6.

“Will these boots stay on?”
Yes, but only if the fit is correct. Fit is the number one criterion for determining the best boot for your horse. The different boot styles will have different sole shapes - this is why hoof measurements are the starting point. Since horses often have variations in hoof size, each hoof that will be booted needs to be measured. Measurements should be taken after a fresh trim. If they are taken later in the trim cycle, it is likely the boots ordered will be too large which increases the chances of boot loss and boot rubs. Regardless of the boot you are interested in, metric measurements are preferable because they are more precise. If you are considering the Easyboot Glove, you have to use metric since the size charts are in millimeters only.  Measuring in inches and converting to millimeters will render the measurement process inaccurate. For the Glove we also recommend getting a Fit Kit to save you the hassle and wasted time of buying and returning multiple boots.

Identifying the heel buttresses (green) is necessary to get an accurate length measurement.

“How do I measure?”
The EasyCare website has a wonderful Education tab and this question is one of the topics discussed. Many people have no problem measuring the widest part of the hoof but the length measurement (toe to heel buttress line) is a bit trickier. Quite often, people measure past the heel buttress line and include the heel bulbs. To determine where the heel buttress line is you must first determine where the heel buttresses are (in the photo above they are outlined in green). When you pick up your horse’s foot, follow the collateral grooves along the sides of the frog which make a “V” (outlined in orange). At the top of the “V” look on either side and notice that the hoof wall curves inward towards the bar. These points are the heel buttresses, the last weight bearing part of the hoof. When you have located them, draw an imaginary line across the back of the foot (dashed red line) and measure from that line to the toe. Once you have your measurements, the EasyCare customer service team will be happy to help you select the ideal boot style and size.

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.