Submitted by Julie Campbell

On the same Saturday that the intrepid Tevis riders were making their 100 mile journey, my mare, Kalena, and I rode the Pacific Crest 50 mile ride in southern Oregon.

It is a beautiful ride but not easy. I think the winning time was around eight hours. Kalena has been barefoot since October of last year. We train and ride in Easyboot Gloves. She has worn 0.5’s on her fronts for all of these months with no problems at all. Then, just two weeks before the Pacific Crest on training rides, her front Gloves kept coming off! That is so unusual so I tried one of her size 0 Gloves from her back feet. Yes, it fit fine and did not come off. I have studied Pete Ramey and do my own barefoot trimming. I am happy with how her feet look now, but I guess they have changed size and shape. By the time I have figured out that she had changed her sizing, it is just a week before the ride. YIKES! I got new size 0 boots locally at Action Rider Tack. I was a little nervous since this was the first 50 for us this year and the first one in Gloves.

Everything went really well. Some parts of the trail are that fine dust covering with large basketball-sized rock. The Gloves did come off two times in the whole ride. I think her foot got caught between two large rocks both times! She stands very still for boot application, even while the other horses are trotting away. So, it was not a problem. On they went and then off we went! Here we are coming in at the finish – 19th out of 37 starters!

Going barefoot and using protective hoof boots is our way of life now. I would not do anything else. I love trimming my own horses and knowing what a healthy hoof looks like. Knowledge is power.

I do want to add that I read the EasyCare blog every day and want to let Amanda Washington to know that she is my hero!

Julie Campbell

Dee Hoime

easycare-customer-service-dee-hoime

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

2 COMMENTS

  1. Julie, congratulations on the great finish at Pacific Crest!! It is people like yourself I was talking about in this week’s blog entry- you should be proud of yourself!! If we are ever at the same ride, please come introduce yourself! I would love to meet you! And don’t forget about the athletic tape- I bet it would prevent any more lost boots. Keep it up!!

  2. Congrats, Julie! I love the Pacific Crest ride! It certainly is a beautiful & rocky one! In my Raven’s prime he won the 50 on ’06! Gaited & barefoot in 5 1/2 hours! 😉
    ~Sue Walz

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