Hoof Boot News

Finally, a portable horse corral that is quick to set up, lightweight and easy to transport.  A true portable corral that takes minutes to set up and take down.  No struggle, no fuss. 

If you travel with horses you know the importance of a portable corral: portable corrals allow horses room to move around and be comfortable at an event.  A good portable corral gives you peace of mind that horses are safe.  A good portable corral is quick and easy to set up. 

EasyCare has recently been contacted by a German company called RoFlexs.  RoFlexs is looking for a USA partner to help distribute their unique corral system in the USA. The German engineering in the system is superb.

Take a look at the videos below and let us know what you think.  Would you be interested in the RoFlexs portable corral system if it were available in the USA?  What would you be willing to pay for a system with four uprights and a rechargeable electric system like the unit seen in the videos below? 

Setting up the RoFlexs portable corral



Taking the RoFlexs portable corral down

It was a day for all barefoot horses.  A day that will help the practice of keeping horses barefoot be less challenged in the future.  It was a day that Dr. Neel Glass (the inventor of the Easyboot) would have been proud. 

There are countless equestrian sports available to horse enthusiasts and different types of competitions within each discipline.  From dressage to eventing, to cutting, to reining, to jumping, to driving and endurance to name a few.  Each sport is exciting, competitive and invariably has its own event of significance within the discipline: like the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for eventing, The Kentucky Derby for Thoroughbred racing and the Tevis Cup for endurance racing.  These historical events define the sport segment.  It’s where horsemen and horsewomen take their horses to measure them against the best.

The Tevis Cup 100-mile horse race is unquestionably one of the most difficult equine events in the world.  It has a deep tradition and its 55 year history defines the sport of endurance racing.  The challenging trail stretches from North Lake Tahoe in California to Auburn, California.  Riders and equines climb over Emigrant Pass at nearly 9,000 feet; traverse canyons with swinging bridges and ride in temperatures that often climb over 100 degrees.  Average completion rates run in the 50% range year after year after year.

 

The winning horse and rider team is presented with the “ Tevis Cup”.  Winning ride times average 15 hours and the course record of 10:46 was set by Boyd Zontelli on Ruchcreek Hans.  The list of Tevis Cup winners reads like a legends of the sport list and is an award that most endurance riders can hardly imagine.

Although many look at the Tevis Cup as the ultimate achievement in endurance racing, others argue that the Haggin Cup is more prestigious.  Dr. Richard Barsaleau, a veterinarian who joined the race in 1961, was instrumental in creating this distinction, which he saw as an objective award that would recognize horsemanship, conditioning and respect for the health of the mounts.  But it would also honor great performance. Starting in 1964 the top ten horses would be judged for the Haggin Cup.  In her book, “The Tevis Cup: To Finish is to Win,” author Marnye Langer wrote: “Many people, especially noted horsemen, have come to regard the Haggin Cup as the most prestigious honor one can earn, and the award remains unique in both the sport of endurance and other equestrian pursuits as well.”

 

Over the 55 year history of the Tevis Cup the majority of finishing and entering horses were fitted with steel iron horse shoes: horses required shoes to finish the grueling course.  In 1970 Dr. Neel Glass developed the Easyboot and rode the Tevis Cup five years later to show the world that his alternative hoof protection could complete the event.  Neel successfully completed the 1975 Tevis Cup and gave horse people everywhere an alternative means of hoof protection.  Neel’s Easyboot invention was quickly adopted as the “spare tire” for the horse.  Trail riders, endurance riders and equine owners across the world in all disciplines now carry a spare in case they ever lose a horseshoe.

Just as the Tevis Trail has changed over the years, so too has technology and the equipment used to compete at the event.  Saddles have become lighter and more flexible; feed and electrolytes have improved and hoof care has evolved dramatically.  Steel shoes are now seen next to urethane shoes and next to advanced versions of Dr Glass’ original Easyboot.

 

Natural hoof care and booting the endurance horse for tough events is growing faster than any other type of hoof protection.  What was once thought to be impossible is now common practice for the barefoot horse fitted with Easyboots.  The 2010 event had at least 34 horses officially start in Easyboots and 20 horses finish: a 59% completion rate.  In 2009 the event had 20 horses start the event in Easyboots and 15 horses finish: a 75% completion rate.  Comparing the finish rates of the barefoot booted horse to the average overall finish rate of 50% suggests that barefoot booted horses are here to stay and that their numbers can only increase.

 

The Haggin Cup has been won in the past by horses wearing Easyboots over iron shoes.  Sandy Brown and Ruby (The Wonder Mule) took home the Haggin Cup in 1998.  Heather Reynolds and Crystal’s Charm repeated with Easyboots in 1999.

The Haggin Cup, however, has eluded the barefoot horse until now.  The 2010 Haggin Cup makes history for the barefoot horse.  The Fury raced five 2010 endurance events leading up to the Tevis Cup in Easyboot Gloves, recording two Best Condition awards along the way.  Easyboot Glue-Ons were selected to protect Fury’s bare feet during the 2010 Tevis event and to help the barefoot horse make history.

 

The 2010 awarding of the Haggin Cup to a barefoot horse marks a historic point in endurance racing and technological advancements.  One of the most difficult and demanding equine events in the world was just completed by 20 barefoot equines and the most prestigious award in endurance racing was just won by a barefoot horse.  It marks a significant change and proves that if an endurance horse can complete the toughest event in boots, so can most horse owners complete their back-country trails and equine pursuits successfully.

Congratulations to The Fury for making history and establishing change.  Thank you Dr. Neel Glass for inventing the Easyboot and giving horses and equestrians a choice!

Click here to see The Fury showing for the Haggin Cup.

Wow.  To say the results of the 2010 Tevis Cup are a culmination of a lifetime of preparation and dreams is an understatement.


Lisa and I cross the finish line hand in hand.  100 miles side by side.  What a moment in our lives.

My wife and I crossed the finish line of the 2010 Tevis Cup hand in hand.  Our horses finished in the top ten wearing a product we were instrumental in developing.  More than twenty other horses wearing Easyboots would also finish.  30% of the horses in the top 20 were fitted with Easyboots.  Our horses looked strong and sound for the Haggin Cup judging.  I was proud of how we rode our own ride and didn’t panic when riders from the second pen passed us.  I was proud of our company and proud of the horses and riders that trusted in the Easyboot brand to protect them over the most difficult 100 mile course around.  The announcement of The Fury winning the Haggin Cup brought me to tears.


The Fury announced 2010 Haggin Cup winner.  First time a barefoot booted horse has received this honor.  Good thing I had glasses on because the tears were flowing.  

Horses have been in the family and in the blood for the majority of my life.  My first Tevis experience and a successful buckle completion was 26 years ago as a junior rider.   The ride and the riders left a huge impression.  Riders like Sandy Schuler, Boyd Zontelli, Marjorie Pryor, Becky Hart and Chris Knoch were my idols and their accomplishments of finishes, Tevis Cups and Haggin Cups were things to dream about.  

Since 1984 I’ve come and gone from the sport a couple times.  Each time I return I make it a point to hang around with successful riders and see what they are doing: I like to see what is working for them.  I watch riders like Dave Rabe, Christoph Schork, Crockett Dumas, Kevin Waters, Heather and Jeremy Reynolds and Sandy Schuler to name a few.  How do they pace, what do they feed, how do they take care of their horses feet, how do they use electrolytes?  What type of events do the successful riders do before Tevis?  How many miles do they ride before Tevis, what pace and are they 100 mile events, multiday events or single 50 mile events?  Why reinvent the wheel?  Use what works and learn from the great riders in the sport.  I’m proud to say that this borrowed knowledge helped get Lisa and I through the event and gave us the opportunity to show our horses for the Haggin Cup. 

I strayed from the sport of endurance to compete in ultra marathons, ultra mountain bike events, off road Xterra triathlons and road cycling.  In 2001, I had the opportunity to run the Tevis on foot (Western States 100) and really learn about taking care of a horse.  Running 100 miles on foot makes you a much better horseman.  It’s teaches you how to drink, it teaches you how to eat and fuel the engine, it teaches you about electrolytes, it teaches you about gut sounds and what the lack of gut sounds does to performance and eating, it teaches you about foot care and foot protection selection, it teaches you about the trail and how to pace in the tough spots. 

The lessons learned from ultra running, cycling and triathlons have been invaluable.   As human athletes we have the choice to get behind on fluids, we have the choice to get low on calories, we have the choice to go faster than our conditioning and ruin our gut.  When you get behind on fluids, low on electrolytes and the gut shuts down you end up vomiting and spending the day in the medic tent.  I’ve done it to myself enough to know how much it hurts. Because of that experience, I now do everything possible not to put one of my equine partners through the same experience. 

I took 10 years off from Tevis and wasn’t sure if I would be back.  You need a fire to ride Tevis. You need to be committed: it’s not a ride that you can just show up and do.  If you are not prepared and committed it will chew you up and spit you out like a dusty mess.  Before the 2009 event I received a call from my good friend Kevin Waters.  He offered me the opportunity to ride his back-up horse, Thunders Tahoe.  Tahoe was ten for ten in 100 mile events to that point and I knew I had to jump on the opportunity.  When someone offers you a horse for the toughest event in the sport it would be disrespectful to turn it down.  Kevin Waters, Duncan McLaughlin and I went on to ride the 2009 Tevis together and all finished with a buckle.  The 2009 event gave me back the fire and the desire to find the perfect Tevis horse.

I was looking for a Fury.  After the 2009 Tevis I started putting out feelers for a big, strong, forward horse.  I was looking for the type of horse that most other riders dislike: a forward horse that likes his job so much that he is almost out of control.  I was confident I could use the Durango, Colorado training to bring a couple of these types of horses around.  We have the kind of training there to take uncontrolled aggression and stream it into long-term determination.  Horses change when they go from 6,000 feet to over 12,000 feet a couple times of times per week.  They learn how to walk and they learn how to pace.


Lisa (on Fury), Kevin Myers and Rusty Toth at 12,000 feet.  All the conditioning was done in Easyboot Gloves.

The Fury got off the trailer on January 24th 2010.  He was an unpapered Arabian gelding from New Hampshire, owed by Deena MacDonald with the name of Furio.  The name quickly changed to The Fury for his AERC registration.  He had a bit of past endurance experience (200 miles) but I decided to register him under his new name and a new number for a fresh start. 


Fury coming of the trailer from New Hampshire.  January 24th, 2010. 

He conditioned up quickly and our first event was an experience.  We had some mishaps and some behavior adjustments to make but what blew me away with Fury was how he ate and drank.  He drinks like no other horse I have ever ridden.  He drinks so much you wonder where it’s going.  When we got to the first vet check and he started eating I knew I had a great horse.  He dove into is vet check calories like a teenage boy eating at In-N-Out Burger.  I was blown away and knew he would be great at his first 100.

Six months later Fury was my first choice for the 2010 Tevis Cup.  I knew several people were questioning his ability and his foundation going into Tevis.  I could see it on people’s faces and from the questions they asked.  It wasn’t worth explaining but I was confident in the horse, confident in his ability and confident in his way to drink and consume calories during an event.  All the lessons learned from the leaders in the sport told me that Fury was ready.  He was ready to complete the event and he was ready for a top ten at his first 100.  From the start our goal was to ride smart and squeak into the top ten if the stars aligned. 

Lisa entered on GE Cyclone.  I campaigned Cyclone in the 2009 season with a goal of the AERC National Best Condition award.  Cyclone amassed nine best conditions but we fell short of the goal and the national BC award.  He had a nice long break and I knew he would be awesome at Tevis and fly through the event with her 105 pound frame.  Our first goal was to get Lisa and Fury (first Tevis and 100 mile events for Lisa and Fury) a buckle and then better the experience if possible without putting a successful finish in jeopardy. 

The day started out a success but Fury was a bit of a handful coming through the technical trails of the Granite Chief Wilderness.  He wanted to go and didn’t care about the trail, his feet or the rocks.  With some scary moments and some tired arms we made it through.  Riding with good friends (Duncan, Tennessee, Kevin Waters and Lisa) and other good riders helped calm Fury and make it through this section.

The Red Star Ridge checkpoint was my first indication that it would be a great day.  Lisa and Crockett were the last riders to squeeze into the water tank and Fury and I were left with one of the five gallon sponge buckets.  When I reached down to sponge him he put his head in and drank.  When he finally pulled his head up the bucket was empty.  One of the great check point volunteers looked at me and smiled and brought another bucket.  He drank more from the second and we then took some time cooling him.  He quickly pulled me away from the bucket and headed for some hay.


Rusty Toth, Lisa and I close to Robinson Flat.  Fury was still a bit of a handful.

Robinson was much the same as Red Star Ridge.  Fury and Cyclone came in, we cooled them down, they pulsed straight through and then they ate.  They didn’t just eat at Robinson: they ate for the complete hour hold.  The stars we starting to align and I knew we would have lots of horse going into the canyons.

Those canyons are special for me and I like to use the years of athletic training to get through them.  I tend to run down all the canyons and either run/walk or tail up the canyons.  Lisa is in great shape and also did the majority of the canyons on foot.  We blasted down the first canyon on foot and quickly started passing horses.  People were polite and courteous and made way for us to pass.  One gentleman continued to ride and kept up with us all the way to the bottom.  My quads and IT Bands started to feel the downhill and burned by the time we got to the bottom.  The burn in my quads insured me that our horses would be happy later in the day.


Lisa and I take in some calories after the canyons.  We look like crap so the horses didn't.


Lisa and I approach Chicken Hawk

Foresthill at 68 miles was much of the same in terms of the horses’ behavior.  The horses ate for the complete hour and Lisa and I had the opportunity to shower (thank you Leslie Spitzer).  The encouragement we were getting from the vets and vet check volunteers was beginning to get exciting.  “Wow, these horses look awesome!”  “Best moving horse all day.”  “Congrats: your horses look incredible.”  I knew the rest of the course would be a good one for us when we departed Foresthill. 

In the first 100 yards leaving the Foresthill vet check I could feel the power and freshness in Fury.  I had a fresh horse coming into Foresthill but now I was on a monster.   I looked at Cyclone and Lisa: they were both fresh and alert.  It was time to make some time and see what we could accomplish.  We rode past Rusty Toth as we went across the first pavement stretch and I told him “It’s Time To Unleash The Fury.”  It gave me chills and Fury accelerated. 

Fury went all the way to the finish like a diesel truck that has some type of illegal chip in it.  He was strong, he was consistent and he was forward.  Lisa and Cyclone tucked in behind us and we didn’t talk much.  We both knew we were still in the twenties and we had to ride smart and aggressively to make it into the top ten.

The Lower Quarry was the point where we had to make it or break it.  As we came down the road two horses were leaving the check.  I asked the timer as we entered how many horses had departed.  She said 11.  I knew we had to PR fast and get down the trail.  Both horses went directly to PR.  Fury was down.  After his trot out both the vet and vet check manager said Fury looked amazing.  “Best horse we have seen all day, get down the trail and see what you can do to top ten”.  It’s really something to have vets telling you to go faster at 94 miles into an event.  Cyclone looked great and off we went. 

At the Highway 49 crossing road I asked the volunteer how far the horses were ahead.  “Twenty seconds”.  My heart was pounding and Fury was now on the only section of trail he knew.  We had ridden the last four miles the Wednesday before the event and he was now like a horse possessed.  We caught sight of the number 10 and 11 horse going over No Hands Bridge.  They were departing as we started.  We quickly caught them and they politely gave us trail.  One of the gals continued with us and the second dropped off to ride her own pace.  We were now 10, 11 and 12.  About two miles before the finish we caught Christoph Schork and Crystal Costa.  I felt bad passing my good friend but knew he would do the same and it would cause no animosity.  That put Lisa and I in 8th and 9th with about a mile of trail left.  The horses continued to stick with us and I knew we had to continue at a decent pace or we would be passed. 

We rounded the bend in 8th and 9th place.  The horses were hot from covering the last 6 miles in 46 minutes.  I was happy but worried at the same time.  I wanted the final vet to say “You are finished and you have completed”.  After cooling the horses we headed for the vets.  Fury was down and off we went to trot.  The vet had a smile on his face “Your horse looks amazing. Congratulations: you have finished”. 

Jeff Herten gave me a yellow piece of paper that said “8th place Finisher”.  He asked me to put it on Fury’s stall as the Tevis Team would be monitoring the horses through the night.  Cyclone and Lisa did the same and got the 9th Place Finisher paper.  I gave Lisa a huge hug. We did it. 

Fit, Fit, Fit.  When Easyboots are fitted correctly, you and your horse can accomplish the most challenging events and terrain in the world. In the last 12 months, Easybooted endurance horses have finished the Old Dominion 100, Big Horn 100, Tevis 100, Git R Done 100 , Fort Howes 100, FITS 100, UAE 100 Mile President's Cup, Biltmore 100 and the Quilty 100. The success stories roll in daily.


Dave Rabe and Christoph Schork on the way down the Tevis trail in Easyboots.

"At another ride last week a friend told me afterwards that you couldn't get lost if you just followed the boots on the trail."

In reality, boots continue to get better and the number of users is growing at an unprecedented rate. Don't listen to the Easyboot naysayers. Look at the facts - they are indisputable.

Easyboots after the 100 mile Tevis Cup event.

EasyCare just returned from a partner conference with our German partner hufShop. Bernd and Claudia Jung of hufShop organize a conference with their top 40 dealers and hoof care practitioners each year. The conference is a great venue to discuss current hoof boots, future horse boot designs and ways to make them better. 


Claudia Jung of hufShop opens the Partner Conference.

One of the highlights of the conference was accepting the "Hoof Care Product Of The Year" award for the Easyboot Glove. The Glove has been an incredible product and I'm proud of what the Glove has done for barefoot horses. The Glove is a major step forward in natural hoof care. The lightweight, close-fitting design is the future of hoof boots. 


Rosi Schnitzenbaumer and Dr. Alexander Wurthmann of the BESM present the "Hoof Care Product Of The Year" to EasyCare on behalf of the Easyboot Glove. 

Christoph Schork of Global Endurance came along with EasyCare to help with the Easyboot Glue-On demonstration and translation. Christoph Muller of Vettec was there to talk about the adhesive product line and give an overview of application techniques. 


Christoph Schork, Garrett Ford and Christoph Muller discuss Easyboot Glue-On techniques using Vettec products.

The partner conference was quickly interrupted by cheers that rang through the village: goal! Germany was off to a one-zero start in the World Cup match against Argentina. The final four-zero result helped cap a great weekend. 


Bernd Jung, Garrett Ford and Christoph Schork celebrate the 4-0 World Cup win and another successful partner conference. 

Mud and Slop at the 2009 Strawberry Fields Event.

It was June of 2009 when I really knew EasyCare had an incredible hoof boot in the Easyboot Glove.  I had just returned from the Strawberry Fields Endurance Event and had an opportunity to test the Easyboot Glove in extremely muddy conditions.  It had been raining for weeks and continued right through the three day event.  I remember seeing the looks on peoples faces when I told them I was racing in the Easyboot Gloves.  The looks and comments were consistent.  "Those won't stay on in this mud and slop" "It's super boggy, if they stay on I'll be impressed"  "They may work if you go slow". 

I had my doubts but knew this would be the ultimate test.  Conditions were sloppy and very, very wet.  The video below shows Cyclone in the mud of 2009.



Not only did the Easyboot Gloves work in the difficult conditions of 2009, they helped Cyclone win back to back Best Condition awards and a first place finish on the muddiest day of the event.  The 2009 results made some people really look at the Gloves.


Cyclone on the first day in 2009

The EasyCare team went back to Strawberry Fields last weekend to continue the Easyboot Glove testing and success.  Lisa Ford, Kevin Myers, Sandra Fretelliere and Garrett Ford all rode horses in Easyboot Gloves.  Debbie Schweibert rode two days in Easyboot Glue-Ons.  On the first day of the event 10 of the top 11 horses were in Easyboot Gloves and Easyboot Glue-Ons.  The first place horse was fitted in Easyboot Glue-Ons, the Best Condition horse was in Easyboot Gloves and the High Vet Score horse was also in Easyboot Gloves.  The GETC gang took won every day of the 4 day event and placed in the top 10 every day.

Conditions were a bit wet with lots of water crossings.  Our gang of five horses had zero boot problems over the two days! 


The Gloves looked like this most of the day.


Lots to celebrate after each day.  Easyboots performed awesome.  We had a blast!

We are currently testing a couple new plastic and rubber materials that we believe may be better than the current material we use for the EasyCare hoof boot line.  The materials offer a bit more shock absorption but we don't know if they will wear as well as the current material.  The only real way to see how these materials wear is to ride on abrasive roads and trails.  I have been fitting one of my guys with one of the new materials on one hoof and our current production material on the other hoof.  Then going out riding on abrasive roads and trails to see how the new material wears compared to our current material.

Today I headed out on a chip sealed paved road.  The road has little vehicle traffic and was a great opportunity to really accelerate wear.  It was pretty cool trotting and cantering down the middle of the road.  Listen how silent the horse is.  The boots are absorbing the shock and really stick to the pavement.



We spent 4 miles on the paved road and then headed up an abrasive dirt road for roughly 3 miles.  Then we headed home to see how the materials were wearing.





Hoof boot testing is a pretty cool job!


The new material wear after several rides.  Good news.  The new hoof boot material is looking good!

The Adhere Lock makes hoof boot installation with Goober Glue easier!

Goober Glue is one of the adhesives that is working well to secure Easyboot Glue-Ons to the bare hoof. The thing that sets Goober Glue apart from many other options is that it has great cushioning and elasticity characteristics. It's also easier to remove from the inside of a boot when you get ready to reapply the boot shell for a second or third use.

Although Goober Glue is an incredible product it does take longer to setup than Vettec Adhere or Vettec Soleguard. The longer setup time of the Goober Glue requires the horse to stand still for at least 30 to 60 minutes depending on temperature and humidity. 30 to 60 minutes is a long time and it can be difficult to have good Goober Glue results on horses that are fidgety. 

We have been experimenting with a new technique that allows you to apply an Easyboot Glue-On with Goober Glue in 60 to 90 seconds. The process is the best for those fidgety horses.  The horse can then be turned out immediately and the Goober Glue can take the time to set up without the boot twisting. 

The process is pretty simple. We call it the Adhere Lock.

1.  Apply Goober Glue in the Easyboot Glue-On shell.
2.  Leave a two-inch strip on both sides of the shell at the quarters. Do not apply Goober Glue in this two-inch area.
3.  Apply Vettec Adhere in the two inch strip.
4.  Apply the Easyboot Glue-On shell to the hoof.
5.  Make the horse stands still for 90 seconds and the process is complete. The boot is locked in place. 

Back when I was a kid I had the opportunity to ride endurance races as a junior rider.   Junior riders are required to ride with a sponsor (an adult) until you reach sixteen years of age.  Riding many years as a junior was a blast and allowed me and my younger brother (Cole) to ride events all over the US.  From California to Arizona to Wyoming to Oregon and Virginia. 

It's been over 25 years since I've ridden an event as a junior but I just had a new experience riding with my parents but this time I was more of the sponsor and not the sponsored.  I hauled three horses to the Ride The Divide multiday event on New Mexico over the holiday weekend.   My folks drove from Arizona and met me at the ride camp. 



The day was awesome.  We had a good time remembering old races and helping each other on the trail.  The endurance muscles of my parents quickly returned and the competitive juices started to flow as our horses got in the groove. 


Mom and Dad cranking down the trail.

The day ended well with a 1st place, 3rd place and 4th place finish.  Fury was awarded best condition.  The first BC for Fury and yet another BC for Easyboot Gloves (what a hoof boot).


Fury getting ready for the BC judging.  Easyboot Gloves removed and we did the final showing barefoot.  

It was a great day on the trail.  Kinda of fun to finally sponsor my folks.  They will both be sore but are already asking about the next event.  My Dad is a glutton for pain and wants to try for his 9th Tevis buckle this year.


Mom and Dad at the finish.

Over the past several years EasyCare has used the summer months to concentrate on hoof boot research and development.  We put together a list of concentration during the winter months and produce a limited amount of testing samples for summer riding.  The majority of the new EasyCare hoof boots have been developed through his summer testing.  The Easyboot Glove, Easyboot Glue-On, Easyboot Bare and Easyboot Rx have all come through applying customer feedback and then testing the results in tough summer riding.


Lisa Ford tests a new hoof boot adhesive and packing combo.  2,700 feet of climb in less than 4 miles.  Hills, water and speed are the toughest test on hoof boots. 

The 2010 summer testing is shaping up to bring some improved horse boot designs to the equine market.  Early results have been strong and some of the new boots will be seen at events soon.  If all goes well these improvements and new designs will be included into the January 2011 product range. 


Heading down the mountain.  It was a good weekend of hoof boot testing. 

Over the years I have been asked by several engineers and material specialists "What type of force will a horse put on this material?" or "How much torque will a horse boot handle?". I always look at them and say "I'm not sure but it's a truckload!"

Here is an example of what type of torque, force and torture horses put on hoof boots and iron shoes. The photos below show a horse boot that was worn over iron shoes and then glued into place using EasyFoam. Easyboots continue to be used in this fashion to protect horses in rocky country or in events where horses are subject to long sections of road where concussion becomes a problem. The horse not only pulled the boot off his hoof but pulled all six nails out of the iron shoe. The horse also broke the EasyFoam bond. The force and torque had to be enormous. 

Does this mean the farrier work was poor? Does this mean hoof boots don't stay in place? Does this mean the EasyFoam bond in not solid? Or does this mean that our horses are incredibly strong, gifted athletes?

Either way, I hope these shoe/boot/foam combination pictures will give you something to think about next time you have a boot failure. There's a lesson there somewhere.

Happy Mother's Day!  I hope all the mothers out there had an incredible day and understand how truly special you are. 

I've always been aware that I have a special mom, but as I get older I see more and more that I have an incredible mother and appreciate what she has taught me and brought to our family

I'm especially thankful that my mother got the horse bug back in the 1970s and then took the time to give her three children the opportunity to become involved.  Hauling us to riding lessons, the summer endurance rides when we were kids and camping with horses around the country.  The early lessons associated with horses have helped shape my life and point me to a career in the horse industry. 


Mom and I at a recent 50 mile endurance ride.  She can still outride most youngsters!

As I look back at my years in the hoof care industry and examine the reasons that I believe contribute to hoof boot success, I can now say that I was wrong.  In the past I viewed the biggest success factor in a successful hoof boot experience compared to an unsuccessful hoof boot experience as “Fit”.  I’ve even compared “Fit” in a hoof boot to “Location” in real estate.  If a hoof boot doesn’t fit, how can you expect your horse and hoof boot to perform? 


A nicely fit Easyboot Glove

Although I still believe a correct “Fit” to be one of the biggest success factors in hoof boot success, I now believe that hoof trimming and/or lack of trimming to be an equal contributing factor to success.  If a hoof is measured and a hoof boot is sized for the hoof based on the measurements, the “Fit” and corresponding experience will be positive.  Moving forward, unless the hoof is maintained and trimmed it will quickly change and will be different than the original measurements.  As the hoof changes more and more from the original measurements it is less likely that the hoof boot selected based on the original measurements will continue to fit well and provide a positive experience.


One of my horses feet after a maintenance trim.

A well maintained and trimmed #1 hoof is 115mm wide and 125mm long.  Based on the measurements the hoof fits snugly into a #1 Easyboot Glove.  All is well but if the hoof is not maintained and trimmed, the hoof will flare and toe will grow.  The unwanted flare could add 10%-20% to the width of the hoof and increase the width from 115mm to 125mm or 130mm.  The boot will now be hard to apply and won’t fit correctly.  The experience will now be less than positive. Frustrating but it’s not the hoof boots fault as we are now asking the boot to fit a different hoof.  

Now let’s look at the problem from the other end.  Measurements are taken on a hoof 4 to 5 weeks after a trim and the hoof measures 125mm wide x 130mm long.  Hoof boots are ordered and fit like a glove after arrival.  All is well but a week later the trimmer shows up and does a fabulous job trimming. The lack of flare looks great and the toe length looks awesome.  You’re excited for a trail ride and take off down the trail.  Your hoof boots come off and you are frustrated with the process, hoof boots and keeping your horse barefoot.  When you return to the barn you take hoof measurements again and the hoof now measures 115mm wide and 125 long.  Frustrating, but it becomes apparent why a boot won’t stay on the hoof, it’s now much smaller.

You ask yourself “what gives, how can I make this work?”  The answer is consistent trimming and trying to keep the hoof and hoof shape more uniform during a trimming cycle.  Sounds easy but how do you keep a hoof more uniform during a trim cycle?

1.  Hire a good hoof care professional to come every 4 weeks.  Sorry a 6 week or 8 week cycle is too long.

2. Ask your hoof care professional to show you how to do maintenance trim.  Purchase a good rasp and a Hoofjack and practice what they show you.



3. Ask your hoof care professional to evaluate your maintenance trims on the next visit.  Ask them what you need to change and do better.  The answer may be “more in this area, less in this area, more off the toe”.

4. Continue to perform maintenance trims and as you become more confident and your results improve move your hoof care professional to 6 weeks and then 8 weeks.

5. Keep the hoof care professional on board and involved.  Ask them for feedback and help.  Make sure they continue to come at least every 8 weeks.  Keeping them involved will  give you a good starting point and balanced hoof to start your maintenance every 8 weeks.  In the worst case scenario your horse is 8 weeks away from balanced trim by your hoof care professional.  

I was wrong.  It’s not just about the “Fit”.  A good “Fit” is essential but to get there and stay there requires proper measurements and consistent hoof shape.   Consistent hoof shape is the difference between sometimes success and all the time success.  

iBoot T-Shirts are here and ready to ship.  The shirts were developed after a slogan contest on the Easyboot Facebook site.  We were looking for a great slogan to promote Easyboots, hoof boots and the barefoot horse.

iBoot T-Shirts will be available to Easyboot Facebook Fans at our cost plus minimal shipping.  Non Facebook fans can also purchase at the regular price.  Facebook iBoot T-Shirt discounts will be announced in the next couple days. 

We may also give a free iBoot shirt with the purchase of four Easyboot Gloves.

Looks like the new EasyCare Gives Back To AERC Campaign is going to be a big hit.  The 2010 $10,000 Hoof Boot Contest is already over 6,000 miles and riders are signing up to help support AERC daily.  The contest is exploding and the majority of people haven't even started their endurance seasons yet.   It looks like 30,000 miles and $7,500 raised for AERC is very achievable.  


David Shefrin and Kahn coming down the technical section.  Kahn was fitted in four Easyboot Gloves.

Over 22 riders used EasyCare hoof boots during the 25 mile and 50 mile events.  The majority of the riders used Easyboot Gloves but Easyboot Epics, Old Mac's, Original Easyboots and Easyboot Glue-Ons were all seen on horses.  Trails were either on hard packed roads or technical rock sections.  The rock sections were some of the most technical found in an endurance event.  "It was rocky and gave hoof boots a chance to really shine.  The grip was amazing and I felt safe."

Amy Ford (My Mom) came out and did the 50 on my horse Inferno.  She hasn't been on a horse for months but didn't miss a beat.  Just like the early 80's when I used to follow her down the trail as a kid. 


Mom and Inferno are shown going through the technical section on the way back 

Great to see so many riders in EasyCare hoof boots and supporting the AERC.  Make sure you tell your friends about this program and lets try to raise some real money for AERC! 


Easyboot Gloves after 50 miles of tough trail.  No problem!

I had the opportunity to speak at the Region 3 NATRC Convention over the past weekend in Taos, New Mexico.  NATRC is looking at a possible (probable) rule change that will allow hoof boots with gaiters that go above the hairline.  I gave all those who attended some background on hoof boots and how they have evolved over the years.  In addition I shared the impressive results of the Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Glue-On during the 2009 AERC season.  It looks like the rule change will go through and NATRC riders will have the ability to use boots with gaiters during the 2011 season.  To add a bit of incentive I agreed to offer NATRC the same "Give Back" sponsorship we are currently doing for AERC. 

I also had the opportunity to go back to the original EasyCare building that was located in Pojoaque, NM.  The visit brought back some great memories and really showed how much progress we have made as a company. 















The old EasyCare building. (1969-1995)                                           The current EasyCare building.


The NATRC weekend was a good example of much EasyCare and hoof care have changed in the last 40 years.  Rule changes like the one that is still in the works for NATRC are good examples of the change that is still ahead. 

Does your horse have a foot that is wider than long?  Are you worried that a wide hoof is not a canidate for Easyboot Gloves or Easyboot Glue-Ons?  Don't worry, if you have a horse that has a foot that is wider than long there is a very good chance the boots will not only work but they just may work better on your wide hoof.


The hoof above measures 4 3/4 wide x 4 1/2 long. 

Although the Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Glue-Ons shells are made for a hoof that is slightly longer than wide, both shells fit a hoof that is wide (slightly wider than long).  The shells have a great deal of stretch and accomodate a wide foot very well.  A wide foot makes for a very secure and snug fit.


On a wide foot the shell will stretch and the V at the front of the boot will open wide.  When the V is open wide you know the boot fits snug and will perform well. 

If you have a horse with a wide foot don't give up hope on the Easyboot Glove or Glue-On.

1.  Order a "Fit Kit".  A "Fit Kit" will show you if the shells will fit and takes the guess work out.

2.  Make sure your horses hoof does not have flare that should be removed.  There is a good chance that flare is adding width and could be taken away.

As the weather gets warmer and the snow melts, many of us will be riding in the mud and slop that Spring brings.  Deep sucking mud is tough on horse shoes and hoof boots alike.  We have found the Easyboot Glove to be the best hoof boot for these muddy and slick conditions. The Glove performed awesome in these types of conditions in 2009.

Take a look at these videos showing the Glove in muddy conditions.

It's been a bit over 12 months since EasyCare launched our glue on horseshoes to the equine market.  Over that time we have learned a great deal about hoof prep, adhesives, application in foul weather and removal.

The critics were wrong!  When we first released our glue-on boot, many people in the industry made claims regarding the safety of our process and the ill effects the adhesives and the Easyboot shell would do to a hoof.  They claimed glue-on hoof boots would damage the hoof and cause immediate thrush.  They claimed glue-on hoof boots had to be immediately removed after an event.  They claimed you shouldn't use a heat gun.  They claimed you shouldn't use a packing material to load the sole. 



After selling thousands of glue-on shells and personally applying and removing hundreds of glue-on shells, I can confidently say that the critics were wrong!  Here are a couple points to note.

1.  Glue-On shells can be used for 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 20 days or 30 consecutive days.  When glue-on boots are removed and a horse is turned out for 1 hour it's nearly impossible to tell a horse who used glue-on boots for 20 days from a horse that has never used glue-on boots.


This photo was taken immediately after removing a shell and a quick trim.  Boots were in place for 22 days.  The horse did a 50 mile event and many training events.  The horse was in deep water and mud many times during the 22 days.

2.  The use of packing products inside a glue-on shell helps load the foot as nature intended.  Glue-on hoof boots used without packing cause peripheral loading.

3.  Glue-Ons can be successfully applied and used in warm conditions, dry conditions, wet conditions and cold conditions. 

4.  The current adhesives are good and better ones are coming.

5.  I used Glue-On shells on one horse for the entire 2009 calendar year.  I used Easyboot Gloves on another horse for the entire 2009 calendar year.  Both horses feet look incredible and it's impossible to tell what horse used glue-on and what horse used Gloves.

6.  The Easyboot Glue-On shell shape make application easy.  New adhesives will make the process and application even easier.

We just received the Early Summer 2010 Valley Vet catalog and we're excited to see EasyCare hoof boots well positioned in many places throughout the catalog.  Valley Vet is one of the best mail order companies in the equine business and has done a wonderful job with our hoof boot line.  The Easyboot Glove is one of ten products featured on page #190 under the Top Ten Trail Products of 2009.