This was my second Tevis as a crew member for the Easyboot riders. This year was much easier for me because I knew the area and that is was going to get hot during the day. I also had a better sense of what I should expect from our human/horse teams. Last year there was the fear of the unknown: it was our first Tevis glue-on attempt. 2010 was very different for a number of reasons: there was even more on the line this year. In 2009 Easyboots performed almost flawlessly, so in 2010 not only did we want to repeat our 2009 performance; we wanted build on it.
This year Garrett and the EasyCare team booted almost twice as many horses as last year. Because of the way Gloves and Glue-Ons have performed over the past two years it was not a surprise that more people wanted these high performance boots on their horses. Tevis is a grueling 100 mile trek over some of the most rugged terrain in the Sierras and your choice of hoof protection can make or break your experience.
2010 exceeded our expectations. EasyCare had six horses complete in the top 20 and a 59% completion rate vs. only 50% for horses with other forms of hoof care. If those statistics were not impressive enough, Garrett and Lisa moved from 16th and 17th place to 8th and 9th in the last six miles. To top it all off Garrett and The Fury won the Haggin Cup, an award for the horse that is judged to be in the best physical condition the day after the event. The Haggin Cup is viewed by many as the most prestigious award in the endurance world.
I have been with EasyCare for almost four years: it is a great company with amazing support team. I have never been as proud to be part of something in my professional life. Easycare and our hoof boots are making a difference, we are changing the way people view hoof care. We are creating better lives for horses and offering solutions where there used to be none. It feels good to be involved with company that is effecting change and making a difference. It was a proud day not only for EasyCare, but also for barefoot horses.
Brian Mueller
Director of Sales
As the director of sales, I am responsible for identifying new dealer opportunities and building on existing relationships to foster ideas and create additional growth.
