Hitie

Happy New Year from EasyCare. I am always amazed at how quickly time passes. I joined the EasyCare team just over five years ago and it seems like a single blink. As each new year begins, I write my professional and personal goals and reflect on years past. In December I was thinking about all the changes I've seen in alternative hoof care in the past five years. Our market is on fire! I see it not only on a day-to-day basis, but also when I travel (both within North America and abroad). Alternative hoof care has teeth! 

One of the greatest things about working for EasyCare is the pace we move as a company. Take a second and think about some the product launches that have taken place at EasyCare since 2007:

Easyboot Grip
Easyboot RX
Easyboot Glove
Easyboot Glove Wide
Easyboot Glue On
Easyboot Glue On Wide
Easyboot Edge
Easyboot Trail
Fit Kits
New Gaiter design
EasyUp Buckle
New Buckle design
HiTie
Over 120 product Videos
Over 23,823 Facebook Fans
Over 1,500 segment relevant blogs
Hoof Boot Contest

OK, I think you get the point. Our foot is on the gas, so hold on! 2012 will be more of the same because EasyCare is going to continue to develop, improve and grow. Thank you for all you do to help us continue be the world leader in hoof boots and natural hoof care.

Just getting to the ride took huge support from family and friends and for that I am so thankful. This was our first ride back after yet another deployment and five months off for the mares. I was traveling again for the two weeks prior to the ride and would not be back to Reno until 10 pm Friday night. Going to this ride was quickly going into the too hard pile. 

Even though the trailer was already packed and ready to go, the thought of getting home late, loading up and getting to camp just hours before the start was a little daunting. When my husband said he would drive the trailer and horses to camp for me I knew I could not turn down the offer. I told my riding partner Lucy and she said she would be on the look out for him. 

When Thom picked me up at the airport he was still in amazement at the support he recieved upon arriving in camp. He likened it to having a Nascar pit crew, people were everywhere taking care of everything.  Before he was even out of the pick up the horses were unloaded, hi-ties up, hay bags hung, water buckets filled and horses groomed. He was really touched by the display of friendship and support. Huge thanks to Lucy, Renee, Russell, Carolyn and Dave and everyone else who made this possible. Endurance riders really are the best! Thank you all so much. The icing on the cake, though, was that Dave Rabe got May's boots on for me so I did not have to do it in the dark when I got in. 


Last year, Lucy and I finished the Triple Crown with Uno and Fancy. Of course we have to try again and this year will be May's turn. She is the younger of the sisters and has had quite the life already. I got her at 18 months old and nursed her through nasty photosensitivity burns from an allergic reaction to alfalfa pellets she was being fed. Every white part of her was blistered and had to be treated for several months. This included all four legs. She healed up fairly well with only a little scarring but it left her terribly prone to scratches. Although she is smart and brave, she is also sensitive and a little emotional. So working her through the initial training years was a challenge at times.

One of our biggest challenges was figuring out how to make boots work for her, especially where gaiters were concerned, as any small rub resulted in huge nasty sores. After much trial and treatment we found that white vinegar and water was the trick to preventing the scratches and getting them to heal quickly if they did get started. Then we added in neoprene cuffs under the gaiters (thanks again Lucy and Leslie for the hot tip) to prevent any rubbing. We had a really great season last year without one episode of scratches and no rubs, YEAH!

This year we have Gloves with the more contoured gaiters that were introduced last year. In all the rush of the morning I had forgotten to put the neoprene cuffs on her. But with the softer gaiters it turned out she did not need them. Dave had the boots on beautifully - which is a challenge with her foot shape. Checking the gaiters regularly throughout the day, we never saw any issues. At the end of the ride I took a chance and washed her legs with just water since they looked so good.  She had no scratches at all, it was amazing. So we are really loving the softer gaiters.

The three of us who were "gloved up" had a wonderful day with no issues.  What a great day all around!


Day two was Fancy's turn. Renee and I decided to ride out together. Her boy, Little Bit, was on day two and it was Fancy's first ride back with minimal conditioning since I got home so we had a long, slow day planned. If only the horses had agreed to the plan! To say they were full of themselves would be an understatement. That first 20 miles was like holding back a rocket ship. Solid vet scores and a much-needed rest for the riders and we set out again only this time on much calmer horses. They paced together very nicely for the rest of the ride and once again we had a perfect boot day.


Unlike May, Fancy has feet shaped perfectly for boots. The Gloves fit her so nicely it is easy to forget about them. Since the pair that Fancy used were from earlly last year, they had the original gaiter so I used the neoprene cuffs to prevent any rubbing. She has never really had any issues but it is such an easy preventive tool I just do it. I am really pleased with the way the Gloves are wearing. They don't wear out fast so we get a lot of miles of them which is nice. We are lucky to have lovely sandy footing in our training areas so I tend to be a bit lazy and ride barefoot more times than not.

And so it came to an end. A really amazing weekend made possible by my wonderful friends and family. NASTR really puts on great rides, first class all the way! Even though we did not get to use the "good" trail this year due to snow in the hills, it was still a nice ride. The back-up trail incorporates mostly roads which can get long and boring but having really wonderful company to share the day with makes up for all of that. Thank you to everyone who made this ride possible for me. It is really good to be home!

Tami Rougeau

Well we all know that I have been blogging (blabbing??) on and on for the past couple months about my plans to be a slave-no-more to gluing on boots. I love Easyboot Glue On's with Goober Glue and Adhere. I think the performance of the Glue-Ons is absolutely the best form of hoof protection for us. If applied correctly, there is very little failure and the peace of mind during the long miles or several days in a row is completely worth it. However, having done several one-day 50's in Gloves before, I knew there was another way! Like I have written, my mare has shown a propensity to be sensitive to EVERYTHING, and as such, had a difficult time with the gaiters on boots causing irritation. That said, I did my homework starting in January. I decided to to all of our longer training rides in a full set of Gloves, and went barefoot during our shorter mid-week rides. The longest ride we did was only 17 or so miles, but after several weeks of riding consistently in all four Gloves with no irritation, they were ready for the test!


Saturday was the annual Owyhee Tough Sucker Endurance Ride. It's the first ride of the season for Idaho, and only the second for the Northwest. The weather usually SUCKS and I was looking forward to not having to deal with gluing on boots mid-week during a raging blizzard/rain/thunder/lightning storm like I have in years past. Nope, this time I sat twiddling my thumbs Thursday night when I normally would have been covered in glue. I got a lot of stuff done and we had a stress-free departure early Friday afternoon. We got to ridecamp and set up in about five minutes with the use of Replika's HiTie. Going off-topic for a moment, I have to say we just love our HiTie. There is no easier camp set-up than just swinging out the arm, plopping in the pin and attaching the bungee. Done. Clean-up is just as fast and we will be soon putting two additional HiTies on the trailer and doing away with the portable pen. Nice! 


We vetted in leisurely after I slapped on a brand-new pair of Gloves in the front because I know the trot-out area has some rocks. After I was done vetting, one the local riders needed some help with her horse who would be competing the next day in his first booted ride. He and his rider had been having some trouble with their Gloves staying on, so we set them up in proper sizes which were reinforced when I needed a screwdriver to pry them off! Unfortunately he was a bit sore so his owner opted not to start, which is always a difficult call to make, emotionally, even though most people know what the right decision should be. There will be more rides and now his rider has even more time to work out their booting issues and be well-prepared for the next ride! 

During the ride meeting, Steph Teeter and I decided to start the day off together and see how things went. Replika and Steph's gelding, Rhett, had gone out together a few weeks ago and seemed to tolerate each other, as much as such independent horses can, and it ended up working very well! Steph and I had an absolute blast, flying along the trails on two great horses, chatting up a storm and marveling at the scenery and amazingly perfect weather. No hardships at this ride, we were oh-so-lucky, and equally appreciative! 




Steph began the barefoot transition for her herd last year while wintering in Scottsdale. She and her horse, Rhett, are a new decade team, and at 20 years old, Rhett has over 5000 miles including nine 100's and Tevis just last year! This guy is amazing. While he didn't have much trouble with his transition, Steph noticed a substantial improvement in his metabolic recoveries after switching to boots. Staying consistent, he was awesome on Saturday and both horses completed our fast ride (exactly five hours) with heart rates in the 50's. The kicker of this is that Rhett was completely barefoot behind!! Funny thing is, despite just being trimmed on Wednesday, Steph couldn't fit him into his boots (size 2.5 hind boots!!) the morning of the ride so she decided to do it barefoot and see how he did. That horse never missed a step. Awesome. 


We rode pretty fast all day, staying at a consistent 10mph. My boots didn't budge the entire first loop, which was 25 miles. At the vetcheck, I pulled back the gaiters but didn't even have any debris to brush out. I had applied Replika's boots first thing in the morning, using a few wraps of athletic tape and Powerstraps on her front feet. Her hind boots fit beautifully so we just put them on as is. About halfway through the second loop I noticed Rep's right front boot was a bit twisted. She is technically an 0 on that foot but seems to move better on 0.5 as she doesn't like any heel pressure. Now keep in mind that I take the risk of putting her in a larger boot on that foot based on trial and error. These are the things that you learn after really putting in the time with that particular horse. It pays to put some time into this stuff! At the next water stop, I popped off the twisted boot, shook out some sand that had gotten into the toe and slapped it back on. We cantered the most of the next eight or so miles into camp and had no more twisting. I won't change anything for the next ride besides adding another wrap of tape and spending more time making sure the foot is really set in the boot. 



Replika felt strong and even all day. It was one of our best rides and I am beyond happy to have the option of using Gloves instead of Glue-Ons for single day rides. If I can stress anything at this time, it is to know what a good barefoot trim looks like and how proper hoof form will not only prevent most, if not all, boot-retention problems, but is also best for the horse in regards to mechanics, structure and soft-tissue. A horse with long toes, misshapen hoof walls, high/low heels or flares will not usually hold boots. A competition is not the time or place to experiment or try something new. And honestly, there is no shame in keeping shoes applied until you have enough time to give to a proper transition and the learning curve of using hoof boots. We definitely want everyone to share the same success with natural hoof care and boots that we have, but at the same time, it isn't usually instant gratification. That said, it's completely worth it!

'Till Next Time,
Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

Submited by Gene Limlaw

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, some boots from the company that makes it Easy.On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.


On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, $10,000 to AERC, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, nine Stowaway Packs, $10,000 to AERC, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, ten videos on trimming, nine Stowaway packs, $10,000 to AERC, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, eleven great blog updates, ten videos on trimming, nine Stowaway packs, $10,000 to AERC, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy.
 
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 12 reasons to go barefoot, eleven great blog updates, ten videos on trimming, nine Stowaway packs, $10,000 to AERC, seven tubes of Goober Glue, six sets of Glue-Ons, five ride entries free, four sets of Quickstuds, three HiTie systems, two Power Straps, and some boots from the company that makes it Easy!
 
Thanks so much EasyCare, for a wonderful 2010 ride season.

Gene Limlaw

Wow, what a couple of weeks I have come off of! You know those times where it really rains? Not like a downpour, but a series of small storms- one thing after another, not necessarily tragic events, but enough bad luck ducks in a row to start to really frazzle ones self? Well that seems to have been my August. I won't bog down this blog with details, but I will say that everything is either resolved or well on it's way, and I am proud to say that I have been successfully able to make a good out of each bad. Here's another- there IS something good to aging- maturity and clarity seem to come much easier as the years pass! 


Considering the three weeks I had prior to our local endurance club's annual 2-day endurance ride, Old Selam, I didn't have much time to fret. You see, I had planned to take Khopy and complete his first endurance ride at this event two months prior, after I had gotten a sense of the natural talent this guy had on a training ride in early June. I figured with three months of serious conditioning, on top of the four months of dressage and trail riding I had been doing with him, would be sufficient to prepare him for a 50 at Old Selam, which is one of my most favorite rides! We faced a few challenges, were able to overcome. 


Sally and I hauled Khopy, alternating Sally's two geldings, every weekend. Along with our GPS and a bit of good fortune, we put together an amazing 17-mile loop in the mountains that we repeated weekly, each time going a bit faster, and recovering quicker. We rode 100% of the time in my Easyboot Gloves, most of the time with no tape and no powerstaps. I never lost a boot despite the steep mountain climbs, creek crossings, and lake wading. Khopy was comfortable in his Gloves and traveled easily over the rocks in the trails. Mid-August, I knew he was as ready as he was going to be, and committed to riding the 50 with a pal who owed me for babysitting HER earlier this year. It's great to have friends you can count on, and I really appreciated it on ride day!


I had been planning on riding Khopy in his Gloves at the ride, but considering Sally was going to be gluing Easyboot Glue-Ons for the ride, I decided to glue with her and share my gluing technique using primarily Goober Glue with our own version of the Adhere Lock. She thought it was much easier than our previously used method of mixing the Goober Glue and waiting for hours for it to set. Sweet!! Both big grey ponies had boots stuck on good and there was no turning back now!


As I had previously camped with Khopy at two different rides, I knew I wasn't dealing with a wild card camping situation. He absolutely LOVES *his* Hi-Tie, which we found out on Sunday morning after I put him in Replika's pen for the night thinking I was being nice lol! He was pouty and crabby until I put him back on his Hi-Tie and he could look around the corner of the trailer. Um, ok, dude. It's all yours! I took Replika along also, as she was still needing daily bandage changes (told you things had been bad!!!). We vetted in leisurely, had a nice dinner and caught up with good friends. I kept thinking I should feel nervous, but every time I looked at this big, strong, grey horse, I felt confidence instead. I knew we were as prepared as we were and it was up to what would happen, to happen!

I got up Saturday morning and tacked up my horse, while the majority of the 50's were warming up their horses. Khopy watched calmly as the trail was opened, and I walked him over to our buddies. As I mounted up, I felt him tense up, but he lined out quickly and  we were off in good time. THANKFULLY the trail started with a great uphill that forced the ponies to think about what they were supposed to be thinking about. He lead like a champ and we had absolutely no silly shenanigans the entire ride. 


I won't bore with minute details, but I will say he drank at *every* water opportunity, ate like a cow at the vetchecks and on the trail, pulsed down upon coming into camp and never.once. asked to stop. This was a hard ride, which I never really realized before! There are certain horses in your life that set the bar, and as I had only ever ridden my old gelding, Fast Eddy, at this ride, I realized he made it easy! Not only is the milage100%, but there is a lot of climb, lots of super-cool technical cross country and single track and minimal road. My kinda ride! Apparently it was Khopy's kind of ride as well, because he never even broke a sweat! Seriously, if I can do right by this horse and not screw up, I think he is going to be amazing. 


This ride is by far one of my favorites, mostly due to the unique area in which we have the opportunity to ride. This is gold country! Mine tailings sweep the areas surrounding the creeks, which are necessary for gold panning! There are a lot of creeks and tailings, which if anyone doesn't know, are just huge piles of rock. With Khopy's Glue-Ons, I never once had to worry about anything other than taking the best possible care of my horse.  He never had to worry about anything other than taking care of me. Despite the long transition, he moved effortlessly over all footings. What a ride! 


During the ride I guess there was quite a debate that happened. As I was fortunate enough not to have been present, I heard the nitty-gritty later on. Apparently a very passionate newbie decided to bully a few very experienced, um, oldies (??) about natural hoof care and different training methods. While I obviously agree with natural horse care and a barefoot lifestyle, I never agree with bullying and feel bad that there are people out there who chose to try and convert others using these techniques. I completely understand being passionate about something, but please, people, don't cram it down other people's throats! Don't bully and threaten people! There are so many more effective means of communication than that, and hurting other's feelings is never the right way to go, nor is it a smart way to fit in with a group. I'd like to think this particular person was just tired from their first 50 mile ride, and maybe suffering from low blood sugar (??) but I just felt like it was bad press for our beliefs. Not all of us are like that, but it is usually the negative people remember. 

Regardless, all I can say is it is wonderful feeling to meet the goals you have set some time ago, and exceed your expectations while doing so. After old goals are met, new goals are set! What a great way to live life! 

Happy Riding All- it's about that time of year that makes for some amazing rides. Hope everyone gets out there!

~ Amanda Washington
SW Idaho 

What could be better than buying that someone special the best trailer tie system on the market?

The HiTie™ was developed to provide a comfortable and safe alternative to trailer tying and portable corrals. The HiTie™ gives horses free movement and access to an area equivalent of a 13 foot diameter round pen. This safe, controlled movement gives horses the ability to graze, eat, drink, roll and lie down while tied.



Quality and Durability
The HiTie™ is manufactured by a leading hitch and receiver manufacturing company. All components are made from stainless steel and will not rust. The fiberglass rod used in the HiTie™ system is also used in mooring whips designed to dock and protect boats weighing up to 72,000 pounds. The adjustable bungee tether can be adjusted to accommodate differences in trailer and horse height

Accessories: The HiTie™ Clip System
The Clip System for the HiTie™ is a two-part system allows you to use a standard lead rope (not included) instead of the Bungee Tether to secure your horse to the HiTie™ Arm.

The Clip features heavy-duty-all metal construction, with a spring clip on one end and an eye, guide and adjustable tensioner for fastening a lead rope on the other end.  

The Clip Strap connects the Clip to the HiTie Arm, and is constructed of heavy duty webbing with a hook and loop fastening system. The strap serves two functions:

1. It eliminates metal-on-metal contact reducing wear and eliminating rattling noises, and

2. It provides the same break way system as the Bungee to help keep your horse safe while tied.

The HiTie™ Replacement D-Ring Pin
The HiTie™ Ships complete with the heavy-duty D-Ring Pin and Safety Clip, which keeps the HiTie™ Arm securely in place when in use or stowed fro travel or storage. If you lose your D-Ring Pin, you can order a replacement.

The HiTie™ Bungee 
This all-in-one system includes everything you need to tether your horse to the HiTie™ Arm. It consists of an adjustable length strap attached to a heavy duty elastic cord. There is a bridle clip on one end, and a hook and loop system on the other end that attaches securely to HiTie™ arm which is designed to break free under heavy stress for horse safety.


Next week: stocking stuffers.

My mind and body are still reeling from the weekend, which couldn't have been any more perfect. It all started a few weeks ago, when I heard rumor that the ride manager of the Owyhee Hallowed Weenies would put on a 75 if there were five or more starters. The wheels started turning, and my plan set into play. I immediately went to work recruiting riders, and before we knew it at least seven people had entered. I then went to work on my second plan... convincing my riding buddy that this 75 would be the perfect ending to her season. I had it all planned out; plant the seed, water it for a few days and then hit it with a major dose of peer pressure. Unfortunately she ruined my plan when I brought it up and she said "Sure!" Simple as that! Well I wouldn't complain, the weekend was on!


After the initial excitement of realizing that I would be getting 75 more miles on my favorite pony, I quickly realized that Khopy was coming out of his skin in fitness, and decided that he needed another ride before the long winter. At that time I thought it sounded like a great idea to ride Replika on the 75 on Saturday, and Khopy on the 50 the next day. I knew it would be tiring but was happy to give it a shot!!


I had planned on gluing boots on Replika, and riding Khopy in his Gloves. Although I was a bit concerned about all the rain, I didn't have much time to really worry, and figured there wasn't much I could do anyway.

The week rolled on like a freight train, and I began to get discouraged! So much to do, no time to do it! Thankfully I had started using the Adhere/Goober Glue combo for gluing boots, so when I realized I wouldn't be able to glue Replika's boots on until Friday, I didn't panic. For all of you gluing on boots, I very much recommend adding a little Adhere to the process. I was able to glue on the boots, load up feed and a few extras, put the horses in the trailer and off I went without worrying about twisting or holding her still for an hour while the Goober Glue set. As always, the boots performed flawlessly throughout the day. 


Elly, who also uses Easyboot Glue-Ons, and I set out at the beginning of our 75 miles bright and early the next morning. We have ridden many miles together and were excited to embark on her and Jasper's first long distance ride. Jasper is a big-moving, goliath of a cross-bred gelding, and sports his size 2.5 Glue-Ons like a champ. Coupled with Replika's dainty self, they make quite the pair. We traveled over miles and miles of sand, rock, gravel and moondust, the horses never faltering. We kept ourselves busy making up ghost stories and trying to scare each other creepy tales. The day lent itself to creepiness, the erie desert landscape muted by late fall. The miles clicked by, and the day wore on. We arrived back at camp after two outchecks, at 55 miles. It was nearing 5 PM and we were sure to be riding at least a little while in the dark. Funny how the day seemed long at the time, but looking back, seems as though it went far too fast. We left camp before 6, and rode on into the dusk, cantering fresh horses into the dark. Although I worried about getting lost in the dark, getting cold in the late October evening and being too tired to give Khopy a good ride the next day, I never worried about my boots. Replika and Jasper picked their way through the dark, glowstick to glowstick, making each of us proud of all of us. It was a glorious day! 


After completing that night, we chowed down in the warm trailer and eventually fell quickly asleep. A good friend had vetted Khopy in for me earlier that day, and Robert and Elly's husband went to work installing Powerstraps on Khopy's brand new set of Easyboot Gloves. I woke up quickly the next morning, excited for the chance to ride yet another pretty cool pony. I popped Khopy's boots on, saddled up and was ready to start the last 50 miles of the year. Feeling fresh after standing on his Hi-Tie for two days and watching the front runners take off over the hill at the start, Khopy had a minor melt-down that was taken care of quickly on my part, and soon we were on our way. 


Khopy quickly hit his groove and kept a lovely trot and canter over the terrain, never slowing through the rocks or over hard ground. He trotted out beautifully at the vet checks and soon we were leaving on our last loop. This loop was the same loop that Elly and I completed the night before, halfway in the dark. On this loop, there was to be about 4 miles of gravel road, that seemed to go on and on, in the waning light AND in the full sun of the day. It wasn't until this point that Khopy started shortening his stride and becoming a bit mopey. Being only his second ride, I figured he would get tired at some point, and this was it. He kept up a nice trot but I wished I had taken the time the day before to put his Gloves on with Goober Glue as a sole packing. Lesson learned and I will be using Goober Glue with the Gloves for endurance rides from now on. Of course once we got off the gravel road and onto the trail into camp he picked up the pace and all but flew into camp. I'm pretty impressed by this guy!

The Gloves never budged during the entire 50 miles. The Powerstrap on my left hind boot broke, which seems to be normal for my horses and their hind boots! We had a little area of rubbed off hair on his hind ankles, which are white, but given the fact we went 50 miles I wasn't too concerned. I couldn't have been any more proud of my horses than I was at that moment. 

I have ridden 850 endurance miles this season, all in Easyboot Gloves of Glue-Ons. I have ridden countless conditioning and trail riding miles, and in Gloves or going completely barefoot. It has truly been a banner year. My horses look amazing, I feel like I have solidified my glue-on process and am 100% confident in the Gloves. Although I am a bit sad to end the season, I am content to bask in the glow of success at this time, knowing I have done everything I could to protect my horses' legs and feet throughout the miles. I also hope to put some time in on the baby, and let Replika enjoy a winter off. 


What are your goals for winter? 

Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

Everyone loves a bargain so be sure to check out EasyCare's Bargain Bin. Although the inventory changes daily you can find some discontinued styles of the Easyboot Glove, Easyboot Epic and Easyboot Bare at 50% off the retail price as well as some boot accessories and EZ Ride stirrups.

All the items in the Bargain Bin are brand new but are not returnable or exchangeable. If you are purchasing boots please make sure you have measured the hooves accurately.

Bargain Bin orders are for orders placed through our on-line store only, no phone orders please. Inventory and sizes are limited so hurry and place your order now.  If you don't find what you need in the Bargain Bin, check out our on-line store for all your natural hoof care needs from our Save Edge hoof rasp to our HiTie system.

As always please call EasyCare customer service at 1-800-447-8836 if you have any questions.

Submitted by Katie Azevedo

If you happen to have similar interests as I do, you enjoy discovering the natural beauty that our land has to offer through the attentive ears of your best equine pal. That is my favorite aspect of endurance riding, if I had to pick just one. It’s the reason I bought my gelding Shrimp six years ago after falling in love with his stamina and animation. We both love the trail.

 
Shrimp and I reside in Northern California on the coast amongst the tallest living beings on earth. Fog is a redwood tree’s best friend, and we have lots of it. The local endurance club, Redwood Empire Endurance Riders (REER) organizes five AERC sanctioned rides each summer including the Redwood Rides in July and August. It was Shrimp’s and my first ride together in 2004, and was also our most recent one- August 7th 2010. This year the second ride in the redwoods was managed by Natalie Herman. It stages out of the fairgrounds in the small town of Orick that lies right on Highway 101. The entire ride is a magical journey through the moist and rich rainforest of the Redwood National Park (yes… national park!).

   
On Saturday morning the riders ride out of camp on a levee that leads them to the entrance of this temperate rainforest. The climate changes to a more cool and humid feel. Huckleberry, thimbleberry, sword ferns, and other shrubs argue for space to grow and capture the light rays that enter between the sitka spruce and coast redwoods. The dirt path is the only spot where the ground is exposed.  It sure makes me feel small and insignificant when I realize that despite the thriving undergrowth, most of the vegetative mass is in the canopy way above me. One look to the sky will have me gaping in awe. It gets me every time!


The trail takes me up a slow but significant incline. I ride alongside Berit and Morgan who are riding their energetic mares. We are all smiles and laughs. As the trail starts to level out, the riders pass through groves of alders. The bright green colors are reviving and the air is crisp and fresh. After 6 miles or so, the single track trail opens into two parallel paths. I notice that laurels and tan oaks have joined in the mix. I advise Shrimp to let the mares push on and we set into a conservative trot behind a bay gelding named Little Bit and his rider Renee. They are riding alongside Michelle and her Rushcreek mare named Nikki. Shrimp and Little Bit conquered one of the 50’s at Bandit Springs together this year and Renee happens to be a great friend of mine, too. She is also a smart rider and good company on the trail. We end up riding the rest of the day together.

 
Before long the flagging steers us right at an intersection. We are back on single track. The trail is windy and technical, going up and down and all around. The footing is nice soft dirt with some dips and undulations. The horses seem to love this type of rollercoaster trail and are plenty warmed up by now. Shrimp feels great and is minding the turns and the occasional root. We are also taken over several long bridges that bounce a bit when walked across. They are made of a composite plastic material. Fun!


This is deeper into the territory of some of the last-standing ancient old-growth redwoods since logging started here along with the gold rush in the mid 1800’s. It wasn’t until around 150 years later that Congress created this national park, and by then nearly all of the ancient trees were gone. Luckily our forefathers saved at least some of the enormous old growth- some around 2,000 years old. Redwoods contribute so much to their surroundings. They are a keystone species because of the way they create the localized climate and acidic soil that the rest of the unique ecosystem has evolved to rely on. Without them, this particular diverse network of flora and fauna wouldn’t have the means to thrive. Redwood National Park is just about the best bet for the preservation of this habitat, as the other parks, preserves, and logging lands are too small and fragmented to sustain the health of the whole eco region into the future. I notice rhododendrons, trilliums, and violets now and then as I ride through this trail. I hear plenty of birds conversing in song, too. It amuses me that these gigantic redwood trees are often skirted by a bed of tiny little redwood sorrel. The difference in the size of organism is remarkable! And oddly adorable… like a whale making friends with a group of plankton or something!

 
Both at the 15 minute hold and the 1 hour hold, there were no lines for the veterinarians. Ah… so amazing. I am also thankful for the volunteers that were making the ride happen! Shout out to Russell and Jefe for the extra help, too. The landing where the vet check was held is the most exposed area we ride into all day. Some sun feels nice and reassures me that the athletes aren’t as likely to cramp up. Once our time is up, it was back into the rainforest. Shaded, lush, yet still warm enough for me to prefer a tank top all afternoon.


Riding back towards camp for the finish at 50 miles was the final highlight in the day. The horses know where they are headed and are as steady as ever. They kindly request to rip the trail up, but Renee and I have been rating them evenly all day. We joke about how Little Bit in particular would have liked to raced it. He just isn’t able to convince Renee yet. There are new exciting trail features like an uphill zig zag of tight hairpin turns… the trail version of Lumbard street. More beautiful creek crossings, a nice wooden bridge, more groves of redwoods followed by mixed deciduous groupings. It just doesn’t get better than this! There is a certain beauty and ambience about a forest with 250 foot tall, 15 foot diameter ancient giants that doesn’t begin to compare to a second growth redwood forest. When we emerge from the enthralling forest at 4 o’clock, the levee takes us to the finish line. We are greeted with smiling familiar faces. After vet through, Shrimp enjoys a nap in the sun (on his new HiTie, our favorite). I get to visit with friends a bit more, and relax the rest of the day at camp. I thank my wonderful horse for doing so much for me! Our horses are just astounding, aren’t they? Natalie and the ride crew did a great job today and I love my waterbottle with the RRII logo on it. I also thought it was great that Natalie gives awards to the last riders that come in- not just the first riders! That is refreshing for a change. Easycare had also donated some great prizes like Stowaway bags and E-Z ride stirrups. Wow!

 
If you have the means to visit this corner of the earth in Northern California, I think you should. It’s one of those rides that tends to stand out from the rest. You may find it the most beautiful ride you’ll ever do and perhaps understand why John Steinbeck wrote that even “the vainest, most slap-happy and irreverent of men, in the presence of redwoods, goes under a spell of wonder and respect”. I am grateful that REER has the opportunity host a ride in such a special area. REER rides in general have a relaxed and friendly feel to them- it’s a really welcoming crowd. They often have a 10-mile fun ride along with the 25 and 50 distances, too, like they did today. This distance is perfect for new riders and young horses just trying out what it would be like to ride LD’s or endurance.


Do take one piece of advice along with you if you visit… offered from a Humboldt Coast native: it is worth it to steer around the banana slugs. Just in case you are faced with this instant dilemma, just go ahead and take my word for it. They won’t get out of the way, and they make for a gooey trailkill.
 
Katie and Bey Shrimp (RD Censashahnl)

EasyCare has formed an exciting collaborative partnership with Australian equine podiatrist and bodyworker Duncan McLaughlin to conduct a thermographic study of shod and unshod horses. Mr. McLaughlin and EasyCare representatives will be on location at the Bryce XP (Paunsagaunt) Pioneer event in Utah starting Wednesday, September 1, 2010. This portion of the study will focus on a comparative analysis of 12 horses shod in the traditional style and 12 barefoot/booted horses.

There are currently four remaining spots available in the segment of the study for shod horses. If you would like your shod horse to participate in this unique opportunity, please follow the instructions outlined at the bottom of this post.


About Thermography
Thermography is non-invasive and has no effect on the physiological status of your horse. Equine Thermography provides an alternative objective view of the circulatory and inflammatory status of your horse. Often, inflammation and changes from the usual patterns of circulation may indicate potential problems before they become apparent by more conventional means. For endurance horses, we find thermography is particularly helpful in identifying:

• hoof imbalance - longitudinal and medio-lateral
• inflammatory conditions of the lower limb - deep and superficial flexors and suspensory ligament strain and joint issues; saddle fit issues; and muscular overuse/underuse, to name the more commonly observed conditions.

About the Study
Our preliminary investigations warrant a much closer look. The study will compare any differences in the circulatory and heat patterns of the foot and limb between shod and barefoot/booted horses. To further examine these differences, we will record thermographic images of horses before and after competition in 50-mile endurance rides using various forms of hoof protection. We are looking for participants willing to have their horses undergo:

• a full thermographic evaluation before the ride start (about 30 mins),
• a quick lower limb evaluation immediately after completion (less than five minutes),
• and a post ride follow-up later in the evening.

The pre-ride and and lower limb evaluations will take place at the EasyCare trailer. The fuller post-ride follow-up will be done where the horse is resting (HiTie, corral, trailer) after the ride and will disturb the horse as little as possible or not at all.

The Take-Away
We will provide any participants who wish it an electronic report, including copies at a later date of appropriate thermograms of their horse. These reports will highlight areas of potential concern such as saddle fit issues, one-sidedness, the potential onset of issues that may lead to lameness at a later date and avenues for remedial action.

A white paper will also be published following the extensive field research and will be made available publicly by EasyCare.

Please contact me at kmyers@easycareinc.com if you would like your shod horse to participate in this landmark study.

Submitted by Leslie Spitzer

Over the July 4th weekend I had the privilege of attending the aptly named Mendocino Magic Ride. The ride was magic in so many ways for me. The weather was magical. July in Coastal California is commonly shrouded with fog and mist, but we were treated to crystal clear blue skies and warm, but not too hot, weather. It did get a bit windy Friday, but thankfully it wasn't windy the whole weekend.



 
I went to the ride with friends from the bay area; Pamela, who rides Eagle's sister JAC Chico's Fortune (aka Fanny) and friend Kirsten, riding Canyon. I went to Walnut Creek Thursday to meet up with the girls as we would be taking Pamela's trailer on this trip. Both Pamela and Kirsten ride barefoot/booted as well. Pamela is in the process of switching over from a different brand of boots to Easycare Gloves. I fitted her mare and we had ordered her brand new boots.

Imagine our surprise when on Thursday we found Fanny's pasterns and fetlocks covered in little, oozy sores :(  Fanny is super sensitive and the best we could figure is she had a reaction to fly bites.  This left us in quite a quandary as to what to do with boots for her as surely anything rubbing on them would be a problem.

 
We had a trailer tire blowout on the way to the ride so we arrived at camp much later than we'd planned. Ridecamp was located in a grassy meadow on a bluff with a spectacular view of the ocean at Lari Shea and Harvey Hoechstetter's Ricochet Ridge Ranch. Parking was a bit tight and they were trying to get us all in to leave room for later arrivals. Since we had to hang horses on HiTies off both sides of the trailer we needed extra room. We finally were able to help somebody move a tent which gave us the room we needed. Problem solved! We were a bit stressed at that point with all we had to do with getting ready, sorting out boots, tack, etc. that unfortunately we missed the wine tasting and potluck that was held in the large shop/barn building at the facility. We did make it to the ride meeting though and cracked open our own bottle of wine which was much needed and brightened our moods!

 
I had decided to apply my Easyboot Gloves the night before the ride. I really wanted to make sure they worked well and I wanted to take the time to clean his feet well, apply athletic tape and get a good fit with the boots. I used Mueller Athletic tape and tried something new in using more tape than I have in the past. The boots were a very snug fit and I had a good feeling about them. We were still debating what to do with Fanny, Pamela's mare. Natalie Herman ended up foaming regular old Easyboots onto her hinds and Pamela decided to use the boots she was used to on her fronts as there was less contact with her sores. This combo worked well and all her boots stayed on all day. I have to give kudos to Natalie for taking the time out to help anybody that needed it. More often than not, every time I saw her she was helping somebody out with their horses feet or boots. Quite impressive to me who can barely handle getting my stuff organized and boots on my own horse without melting!
 
The next morning came very quickly and went even quicker since our alarm had failed to go off (oops!) and we woke up half an hour late. We did fine though and I was really really thankful at that point I'd booted the night before! We left after the big pack and soon were jogging along single track through ancient redwood trees and old logging roads through beautiful meadows. It was really indescribably beautiful. We did a lot of climbing, some technical trail and lots of single track. This was not an easy ride, but my favorite type for sure!


Our first vet check was 18 miles (or so) in. The check was in a beautiful meadow. We had a half hour hold there. All our horses vetted well and then quickly settled in to the smorgasbord of hay, carrots and mash that was provided. Cynthia had suggested that everybody should take a walk into the old growth redwood grove which bordered the edge of the meadow just to take in it's beauty. I did take a moment to step in by myself and I'm really glad I did. Having grown up on the California Coast I have a fondness for redwoods and this grove gave me a tremendous deja vu feeling of my childhood. It felt like a very spiritual place and I could have spent all day there, just sitting by myself. Again, more magic.
 
After the hold it was another 17 miles back to camp for our one hour hold. The trail back to camp was more of the same. Climbs, descents, single track, technical and many amazing ocean vistas. All day long we were treated to various wildflower displays, especially the abundant little daisy's. It's all one big blur of beauty to me. 


At the ride meeting the evening before Cynthia had mentioned one of the trails being called the Spectacular Trail. All day long we'd come to a beautiful trail and proclaim we must be on the Spectacular Trail and we'd "oooh" and "ahhhh". Then we'd come to another even better one and decide that no, NOW we were on the Spectacular Trail. This happened several times throughout the day!

At our one hour hold at camp all the horses again vetted well and we got them settled in with their mashes and hay and helped ourselves the the lunch provided by management (this was an ALL frills ride!) ala Duck ride style; premade sandwiches in coolers, tubs of candy and drinks. To me it is such a luxury to be provided lunch at a ride so I can grab and eat and have the time to care for my horse and even sit a bit. My boots were all looking good at lunch and I had totally relaxed about them at that point and quit obsessively checking to make sure they were still there.
 
We headed out for our last loop refreshed on on horses that were looking great. I think we moved out the fastest on this loop. Lots of trotting on wonderful, redwood carpeted single track and even a gallop up a steep hill! Lots of fun and my boots stayed put! Soon we were back at camp and our magical ride was completed.
 
I really had a great ride and my horse felt really good. He has been barefoot since Dec. 21st of last year and he has really thrived. Our friend Kirsten is a chiropractor for humans and horses.  She has treated Eagle in the past and treated the horses the evening after the ride and the next morning. She pulled me aside to tell me that when she had initially treated Eagle a year or so ago she really thought he was arthritic or had some degenerative joint stuff going on but now she finds that his joints feel like the joints of a young horse! I think this is really significant and the only thing that has changed with this horse is that he has gone barefoot and uses boots when he needs them.
 
I do want to mention that if you have had rubs from your gaiters, don't despair! Eagle had no rubs after this ride. In April I took him on the Nevada Derby and had to pull at lunch due to rubs making him sore. The lesson learned for me was to train more in boots. I had been using them occasionally but riding bare a lot. Their skin does adjust and toughen up to the gaiters. Also I learned it is probably not the best idea to use brand new boots on a ride unless your horse is really used to them. I broke my own rule by using new boots on the rear for this ride, but it went fine. I also have made simple neoprene wraps to carry in case of rubs. They work well.  If nothing else, making them and carrying them alone will insure you never have a rub again :).
 
After the horses were all cared for we took a bottle of wine and headed over to the amazing catered dinner and awards ceremony in the barn. The dinner included tamales, pork, chicken, a rice dish and yummy chocolate ganache cake for dessert. It was all very good and spicy! An award was given out for the first booted horse which I thought was really nice and a bottle of wine to the last 10 riders which I thought was really cool. The completion awards were nice ball caps with the ride logo on them.
 
It was fun relaxing after the ride with friends and chatting with everybody. It was announced that fireworks would be able to be seen from the arena in ridecamp, but us girls were so relaxed later in the trailer that we never made it over there but did see a few from the trailer. I'm sure it was a spectacular show.
 
Due to the length of our drive, we had elected to drive home the next morning. We got a leisurely start and hit Starbucks in Ft. Bragg. We must have been talking and enjoying our coffees a bit too much as we missed our turn off onto Hwy. 20 and decided just to keep driving on Hwy. 1 and cutting over at the highway which heads into Cloverdale. We ended up being extremely pleased as we were treated to a beautiful, crystal clear drive through Mendocino and along the coast. The highway up to Cloverdale was not nearly as bad as we thought it would be and took us through more beautiful country and some wine growing areas. It was tempting to stop at some of the wineries!  It was a beautiful drive home and I got to experience part of California I'd never even seen before.
 
I'd like to thank Easycare for my ride entry and for the technology which created my boots and allows barefoot/booted endurance riding to be really a doable thing. I'd also like to commend and thank Forrest Tancer and Cynthia Ariosta for putting on a ride that was nothing short of magical! 


They really did a great job and this ride is not to be missed in the future. I'd also like to give special mention and thanks to the land owners who allowed us to camp on and share in the beauty of their lands. Firstly, to Lari Shea and Harvey Hoechstetter for providing ridecamp and facilities at the Ricochet Ridge Ranch and allowing us to ride through their beautiful trails and also to the Jackson Grube Family, Nan Deniston (Parker Family), Campbell Hawthorne Timber Management, and Mike and Yvette Maguire. We'll be back for sure!

Leslie Spitzer

Submitted by Saranah Tandberg

The Cooley Ranch Ride June 12, 13, 2010 certainly turned out to be all it was promised to be.  Beautiful rugged country, “challenging” hills, lots of water and wonderful food, wine and companionship. The property is approximately 20,000 acres in Sonoma County with a lot of history. 


I’m new to the sport of endurance riding, having done hunters and jumpers most of my life. I’ve always enjoyed trail riding and had an interest in distance riding so purchased a gaited horse a couple of years ago and decided to give it a try. The Cooley Ranch Rides were my second and third ride and I rode the LD both days. I had entered the ride early as there were limited entries. However, I ended up winning my entry in a contest generously offered by EasyCare. So, that was a pretty cool thing! We completed both days with good scores, had good fun and learned a lot.

We arrived at ride camp Friday afternoon, set up camp and got vetted in. That evening we were greeted by Cynthia Ariosta and Forrest Tancer, the ride managers, two very nice people who made sure all was running smoothly and everyone was happy. There was a potluck and wine testing provided by a local winery. That evenings riders’ meeting stressed keeping our horses well-hydrated and describing the trail. The ride time was moved up half an hour due to the expected warm weather.


Saturday morning we began the ride at 6:30 and climbed the first of many hills. I rode most of the day with my friend, Magali, on her Friesian. My horse is a big champagne-colored Tennessee Walker so Magalia and I make quite a pair on our ‘different’ horses. The views greeting us at the top were beautiful and you could look back down into ride camp. There was a lot of natural water along the way, old barns and some new vineyard development. The vet check was at a spot with a lovely old barn, old orchard, food and water for the horse, and sandwiches and drinks for the riders. Once we left the vet check we traveled through a couple of ranch sites and up and down more big hills. We finished the ride and relaxed back in camp. 

That evening we were treated to an absolutely delicious meal of paella provided by a local caterer who specializes in that dish. I overheard one rider say that he had been in the sport for 35 years and had never seen a meal like that. We enjoyed a wine tasting that evening as well. At that evening’s meeting, hydration and taking it easy was again stressed by head vet Jamie Kerr, DVM. As a newbie, I really appreciated the care and education provided by the veterinarians. 

Sunday’s ride turned out to be sanctioned as a 30-miler and we left at 6:30 that day as well. The trail went out the same way as the prior day, but we went through a different part of the ranch property throughout the day and had some nice shade through the redwoods. After the vet check the trail was down in the river for a long time, which was really nice. I rode about half this ride alone having enjoyed part of the right with Magali and then later with a very nice gentleman by the name of Jerry. He and I took it easy through the river (got lost a little bit when we missed a flag) and then went on to finish up some long, hot hills. It was hotter on Sunday and with more miles, being lost in the river was not a bad place to be. Cherokee and I finished toward the end of he pack and as my goal was to go slow and complete the ride, I was happy. That evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal of grilled chicken and delicious salads provided by another local caterer. There was more wine and much celebration.

The prizes for the ride were very nice. Completion awards were a very useful fabric bucket on Saturday and polo wraps on Sunday. We were all sporting and using the scoop buckets on Sunday. EasyCare donated a HiTie, two complete sets of Easyboot Gloves, several pairs of E-Z Ride Stirrups and lots of other goodies. Seems like we all went home with something.

There was an excellent group of veterinarians there to check our horses and educate the riders. The volunteers were awesome and always helpful. The photographer, Bill Gore, of Gore/Baylor Photography took great pictures and knew just the right places to be on the trail both days. The trails were well marked and the footing was good. Forrest had run the cat over a lot of it which made it nice. Cynthia and Forrest are also the ride managers for the up-coming Mendocino Magic Ride. I would love to go, but can’t this year. You can bet I will return to Cooley Ranch next year and also try for the Mendocino ride. I don’t have much to compare to, being new to the sport, but the Tancer Management team really put on a good ride. 

I would also like to thank EasyCare for providing all the great prizes. The riders  appreciated the useful awards. I enjoyed seeing the support for junior riders and the overall good sportsmanship exhibited by everyone involved. 

I’m looking forward to next year’s Cooley Ranch Rides again and encourage any riders who enjoy the challenge of hills with beautiful views and great management to come join the fun. 

Maybe I’ll see you on the trail,

Saranah Tandberg

Father's Day is just around the corner and EasyCare has some great ideas for your equine loving Dad.

We have a new shipment of our Easyboot Gloves arriving just in time to ship out for Father's Day. Maybe your Dad would like a new pair of EZ Ride Stirrups or a great Stowaway Pack?  I bet Dad has always dreamed of having a HiTie system  for his trailer. If you are just not sure what dad would like best, how about an EasyCare gift certificate? 

You can call our customer service department at 1-800-447-8836 and we can have a gift certificate on the way in time for the big day.

I'm on an extended road trip this summer: EasyCare is broadening its national reach to allow attendance at events across the country. I'll be at Old Dominion later this week helping fit and glue boots. I'm really looking forward to going back East after spending so many years in the West. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you: I'm available all day Friday and Saturday.

I'm using Durango as a base for the next few weeks so I get to test some of the prototype boots in the San Juan National Forest and I'm getting to know the EasyCare product line better.

Last week I participated in the installation of a HiTie Trailer Tie System. I've had four HiTies on my trailer for the last few months. I like how quiet they are and how easy they are to use. This system does not require any precarious removal and replacement every time you arrive or leave an event. There is also no loud banging at night!

The installation process went smoothly - we were able to install four HiTies onto a trailer in less than 90 minutes. It definitely helps to have two people working together, particularly when it comes time to bolt the system to the trailer.



If you'd like to see more moving pictures on the EasyCare product line, click here to browse the EasyCare Videos YouTube page. And remember to drop me a line if you want to hook up at Old Dominion.

Keep up the bootlegging!

EasyCare will be closed for the Memorial Day holiday Monday May 31.  We will resume normal business hours on Tuesday June 1 at 8am, Mountain Standard Time.

Our office may be closed but you can still pick up your favorite hoof care products like the ever popular Easyboot Glove or the new Hitie Trailer System by shopping at our online store.  So let your fingers do the shopping and visit our website! 

Crawford’s father was born in Cloverdale in 1882. His father was a grape grower and the family vineyard in Cloverdale is still owned by the Cooleys. When Crawford’s father was a young man he often came to the ranch to fish and to visit the Hood family who owned approximately 4,000 acres of the ranch. Galloway creek, which you will ride through during the weekend, was famous for the abundance of Steelhead it had in the Spring. In 1910 the ranch became available and Crawford’s father, then a lawyer in San Francisco, bought the property.

The existing ranch was created out of a large number of homesteads. By Crawford’s count, there were at least 105 homesteads and four school houses on the property, none of which exist today. There were many more people in the area at that time but, as you will see, it is not easy country for a homestead. You will see old fruit trees in some pretty amazing places. Theirs was a subsistence existence and most of the homesteaders worked off the land in the vineyards and hop fields near the Russian River. By 1900 most of the ranch and surrounding area was used for sheep grazing, which continued until the early 1970’s when coyotes contributed to making the business unsustainable. There was a substantial amount of fir timber harvested after World War II, brought on by the building boom of the 1950s.

After Crawford’s father bought the ranch from the Hood family he continued to acquire other parcels until the ranch reached its peak acreage of 21,000 acres. Today the ranch is between 19,000 and 20,000 acres. In 1983  the Corps of Engineers finished Lake Sonoma, and the property experienced its next great change. The dam inundated many of the surrounding properties and eliminated the access to the Cooley Ranch. To compensate for their glaring oversight, the Corps purchased the neighboring property and gave it to the Cooley family. The ranch consists of the majority of the substantial watershed that feeds the dam.
About the Ride
On Day One you will ride by the McLaughlin ranch house. That property included 500 acres of vineyards from the 1930’s until the early 1950’s and was the second largest vineyard in the area next to Italian Swiss Colony in Asti. In the spring, when the grass is green, you can still see the footprint from the original vineyard. Crawford is currently planning to plant 200 +/- acres on the same footprint in the next few years.


In 2001, another major change affected the ranch, when the Sonoma County Open Space district purchased the development rights to the ranch, guaranteeing its physical integrity into the future. Land Paths has a management agreement with Sonoma County Open Space District and Cooley Ranch to allow for limited access to the property for recreation.

The Cooley family is very generous to allow us to use the property. It is such a great opportunity to become immersed in the many different ecological zones on a property that goes from 500 to 2300' of elevation and has two of the largest year-round flowing creeks in Northern California. Enjoy and treat it lovingly. 

After The Ride
Wine Tasting two evenings with Louis Foppiano from Foppiano Vineyards on Friday night, Bob Cooley from Landmark Vineyards on Saturday night.

Pot-Luck get together for dinner Friday Night.

Saturday Night Dinner: Gerard's Paella
"With his Giant Paella pans, buckets of ocean-fresh seafood, baskets of farm fresh vegetables, and a big helping of personal charm, Gerard travels with all of the ingredients required to create a truly memorable culinary event."  www.gerardspaella.com

- Farm fresh salad
- Chicken-Sausage Paella
- Vegetarian Paella
- Delicious Homemade Desserts

Sunday Night Dinner: DL Catering of Healdsburg   
- Mixed greens with toasted almonds, crumbled feta cheese and dried apricots
- Orzo pasta salad with fresh basil, dry creek olive oil, cherry tomatoes
- Black bean salad with citrus dressing
- Roast chicken with fresh thyme and garlic
- Downtown bakery breads with butter
- Home made chocolate chip cookies

Don't hesitate to contact us if you would like additional information. Remember: submit an email to marketing@easycareinc.com describing why you should get the ride entries no later than Thursday, June 3, 2010.

Seems like only yesterday we were saying summer is approaching us rapidly and yet, here we are again. Time to clean out our winterized riding gear and get ready for some great trail riding for the next few months.

Not only does EasyCare provide a great assortment of Hoof Care Products we also offer several styles of both Pommel and Cantle Stowaway Saddle Packs equipped with water bottles which we need to have plenty of this time of year. The packs are available in both English and Western and a variety of colors to choose from, Black, Brown, Red, Purple, Hunter Green, Navy and Royal Blue. 




If you are heading out for several days or even just for an overnight ride take a look at the Hi-Tie system for your trailer, and don't forget to have your Hoof Jack easily accessible for any of your hoof care needs.     

Q Why is the HiTie™ better?
A The HiTie™ was developed as a secure system to tie your barefoot horse while also allowing him the comfort of being able to move more freely and lie down. Its lightweight flexible arm and bungee tether give with the horse’s movements to help create comfort and to prevent panic. With the anti-vibration/locking washer, this system is virtually silent when a horse is attached.

Q How heavy is the HiTie™ system?
A The entire system (including bungee and runner) weighs approximately 17 lb.

Q Can it be used on both sides of the trailer?
A Yes it can. Just keep in mind obstructions on the trailer such as ladders, toolboxes or windows that might prevent the arm from being rotated for travel. Many of these obstructions can be avoided if you choose the vertical swing setup.

Q Is the fiberglass arm strong enough for my horse?
A Yes. The fiberglass rod is the same material used to moor large boats up to 72,000 lb.

Q How long is the HiTie™ arm?
A The HiTie™ arm is 48” long. Along with the bungee tether, the system allows approximately 135 square feet for the horse to move around.

Q Where do I take it to get installed?
A The HiTie™ is easy to install and can be done by anyone handy with a drill and a socket set. The system comes with complete easy-to-read instructions for installation.

Q Does the arm have to be removed for travel?
A No. After rotating the arm against the trailer, make sure you tighten the anti-vibration/locking washer securely before travel. This will prevent the arm from rattling or vibrating enough to hit your trailer.

Posted by Renee Houston-Lang

The Kenlyn Urban Challenge was held last week in Aurora, CO for it's 20th season. I was fortunate to be able to ride the LD with my friend Michelle Harrigan, who was sponsoring junior rider Mercedes Muldoon. We had a great time, even though all of us were worried we might not get there!
 
The one-day ride was scheduled for Saturday, April 24th. Colorado weather in April is finicky though, as we can have 70 degree weather one day and snow the next. The weekends leading up to this ride had been gorgeous 70 degree days and we were able to get in some nice training rides. Starting last Tuesday though, rain and thunderstorms were the order of the week. Come Friday, riders in the area were getting concerned, as many around the Denver area were then experiencing snow (12 inches plus just an hour from the ride site). It was still falling and the forecast was calling for more on Friday night. 
 
Facebook to the rescue!  Linda Fisher and Randy Winter put out the call for a vote. Should we move the ride to Sunday when the weather is supposed to be sunny and 60? All involved said YEA! This would give people time to dig out, for trails to dry out a bit, and for Linda to re-route parts of the trail in the river bottom that were now flooded.
 
I arrived on Saturday afternoon and ride volunteers were in full force directing the parking of rigs.  The fields they normally park the rigs in were either flooded or way too muddy to pull a rig into. So we all creatively parked our rigs along the street. Now that's what I call an urban ride!
 

We still had room to set up fences, panels, hi-ties, etc.  Here's a picture of my boy Aidan (Baby's Hasty Bay Flyer) in his digs for the night with a school in the background.


After we were settled in and registered we took a walk to see the extremely cute Kenlyn babies; this one was really curious to find out what I was doing!

As night fell, a streetlight graciously kept Aidan illuminated through the night so I could always look out and check on him; and the nearby Buckley Air Force base played Taps promptly at 10 PM to remind us to turn down the beds and turn off the generators.
 
Wait though...I forgot I learned a little booting lesson before we went to bed. I was confident I had my boot situation all figured out by the end of last fall. Keep in mind I have not been training in boots leading up to this ride though, as we had been riding where the footing did not demand boots. And besides, I am a smug rider who has her boot fit down pat! Uh....WRONG. 

I put on Aidan's front boots (Gloves) on Saturday night; and there were huge gaps, with Powerstraps already on the boots. There was no way these boots were going to stay on. So the good news is, I think my trimmer did a really nice job getting the flares on his front feet under control over the winter. The bad news, no booting for me for the ride since I was not ready to try new boots in a new size the day of the ride. More good news though, the footing at this ride did not require boots, especially with all the rain we had in the last week! So we went barefoot on all fours and Aidan got a really nice truly natural trim from all the sand. I already contacted my trimmer so she can order some new Easyboot Gloves!

The weather on Sunday morning was gorgeous and the ride itself was surprisingly beautiful for a true urban ride. We rode along sandy creek bottoms, crossed the creek (some places up to the horses' bellies) several times, and there was lots of lush grass along the trail for the horses to munch on. We did have urban aspects though: golfers, city buses and soccer players, oh my!  Underpasses (with traffic rumbling overhead) and rifle fire (from the nearby Air Force base) were also part of the fun. We cannot forget our garden variety horse-eating logs, stumps and rocks along the creek bottom though, which I think Aidan spooked at more than anything else!
 
Ultimately, our horses all completed the ride nicely and in good shape; we were happy. 

People had to move quickly to leave though, as the clouds were rolling in for the next round of weather. Yes, I woke up the next morning to a nice dusting of snow in my yard. I can't believe there was just this tiny window of weather for the ride, and we took full advantage of it!
 
Thanks Easycare for a great start to the season; and thanks to Linda Fisher for putting on a great ride and being flexible!

Renee Houston-Lang

In this week's photo our very own Debbie Schwiebert enjoys a perfect summer afternoon after a morning of riding in the high country of Colorado. Her horse is comfortably secured to the trailer using the HiTie™ Trailer Tie System, and its hooves are in excellent condition thanks to the barefoot lifestyle and Easyboots. Debbie is putting her feet up on the Stowaway Deluxe Full Bale Bag, which conveniently stows a bale for travel.

All in all, it was good day!