Horse Hoof Boots

It's possible that Small Thing is in league with the weather gods. Last Saturday we were supposed to be galloping across the NV desert (...well, maybe doing a frantic speed-trot) on our first official distance ride. But once again, despite promising forecasts earlier in the week, by Friday the highway over the Sierra was closed from snow and ice-related accidents and the ride had been postponed for five weeks due to the swamp-like qualities of the alkali flat that was supposed to be ride camp (eloquently described as "slick as snot").

So I had to find something else to write about.

Hoof-boot Evangelism

A discussion arose this week about how horse-folk can be very evangelical about their specific way of doing things - their way is the way - and it was suggested that hoof-booters can be a bit overbearing in their attitude at times.

Personally, I have nothing against steel shoes when applied to properly trimmed hooves - they've worked for a long time. On the other hand, I am biased against bad trimming - barefoot or otherwise: - flared feet, long toes - or against a cr*ppy shoeing job - I cringe when I see horses with baked-bean cans instead of feet, frogs up in the air; or more commonly, splayed feet that have little structural integrity (often accompanied by the proud statement "My horse has huge feet") or the other favorite, ski-jump shaped toes. 

'Course, horses with cr*ppy shoeing still do well anyway. Go figure.

This horse did well at a tough 100 mile ride despite its rather alarming shoeing.

To opt to go barefoot is a personal preference and one that requires commitment. There's little point trying to convince someone about its value if that person doesn't share that philosophy.

My personal reasons for using hoof-boots are:

• With hay approaching $20 a bale, I can't afford to pay someone to put shoes on my horse. Sad but true. If I had tons of money, would I pay someone else to trim and boot my horses for me? Probably. Grovelling around in the mud can be fun, but not when you have to do it as a chore and you're already suffering from a severe shortage of time. I can think of a multitude of other things I'd rather be doing. 

•  As with all things that are hard, I get personal satisfaction from doing my horses' feet. Of course it's easier to not have to deal with it and to sit around reading a book, eating bonbons, but not nearly as rewarding

•  If I shod my horses I'd still have to stand and hold them for the farrier, so if I have to spend the time anyway I might as well do them myself, on my schedule.

•  In the old days, whichever horse I shod would always be the horse that didn't end up getting ridden (because of the horse's health, my health, or "life stuff" going on).

•  I like the control I have over their feet. With one toed-in horse and one who grows tons of toe, I like being able to poke at them at regular intervals to keep it under control. If I look at their feet and go "euw" then it's my own fault. 

•  I don't have to worry about trying to synchronize shoeing schedules with ride schedules (just as well, given that my ride schedule is making itself up as we go along).

•  When I get kicked/stood on/ran over the top of, I much prefer the horse to be barefoot.

•  When I'm on pavement, I don't have to scrinch my body in angst convinced the horse will fall down (to reiterate, this is my personal paranoia and has little to do with reality). 

•  If you're going to do lots of miles on a horse, doing it with the least concussion possible seems like a good plan. Boots provide protection against concussion.

•  And finally, the thing that really tipped me over the edge was Roo doing an enormous spook about 50 miles into a 100 mile ride and only half wrenching his shoe off in the process - it was still firmly attached but offset by about 3/4". Luckily it was as we were coming into the vet check and even more luckily, my farrier happened to be doing the ride and was just ahead of us so I was able to interrupt his lunch hold to ask him to reset the shoe (I'm sure he was thrilled). Never again, however, do I want to be in the position where I would potentially have to pull from a ride because of something that stupid. Not to mention the fact that usually when they wrench shoes, the horse yanks out half the hoof-wall at the same time, so there's nothing left to nail to. And even if they don't pull off half the hoof with the shoe, they tweak their leg and go lame. 

Now admittedly, the above reasons may not be sufficient for many to make the switch - that's their choice. One size does not fit all, and if shoes are working for them, then good. If people don't have the desire to mess with boots - without that initial commitment, then, no, boots probably aren't for them.

One time I can see it being appropriate to suggest a change is when people say:

"Look, my horse has [insert foot problem], how would you fix it?".

(thinks: keep the horse barefoot and use boots - being able to work on the horse's foot at every 1-2 weeks would eventually solve the problem, and if it's congenital, at least you can keep it under control with regular trims)

With this kind of toe-growth, being able to trim at short intervals keeps things under control

...Or if your horse happens to have been constructed with the front legs stuck on the wrong sides.
When this horse was in shoes, he needed shoeing every four weeks to keep his toed-in front feet from becoming a problem.

"My horse has sensitive feet and gets bruised easily, but I don't want to pad" (thinks: use EZ Boots - voila, instant pad that you can take off afterwards).

Setting the Record Straight

This week I was contacted by Rachel Shackelford who was mentioned in a post I wrote a few months ago concerning Tevis (article here). She wanted to set the record straight regarding her horse Cody's pull at Tevis in 2010.

It is true I wasn't even on the US continent when this event occurred (I was in England attending my brother's wedding, surrepticiously following the ride over the internet while trying to pretend to be a wedding guest). I was enthused to see locals Rachel and Cody doing so well that year (they were running in third place) and bummed when they showed up on the pull list. Afterwards when I asked people who'd been at the ride what happened I was told that Cody had slipped going through Foresthill (the paved portion of the ride) and returned to the vet check and pulled. Seeing in the AERC records that Cody was pulled for "surface factors" (which invariably means abrasions of some sort) I put two and two together and came up with what seemed to me the obvious scenario.

Except that's not what happened at all.

Rachel says she was about four miles out of Foresthill on the dirt singletrack when Cody tripped on a rock and fell on his knees. Although he had no scrapes and was sound, she opted to return to the Foresthill check and have him looked over by the vets. Despite getting a clean bill of health, she still wasn't comfortable with continuing - as she put it: "Cody ...NEVER trips. He is the most sure footed horse that I have been extremely blessed to ride...he gave me a sign that it wasn't his day" - so she opted to pull.

Given the above information, then, no - as suggested in my post - Rachel probably wouldn't feel the need to switch from steel shoes to boots.

And in Cody's case he retired sound after over 4,000 miles of competition so shoes evidently worked fine for him. I applaud Rachel for being able to race a horse with that many miles at that level - no flash-in-the-pan there - something I have great admiration for.

In my defense, I was writing about the train of thought I had that day - that if a horse had slipped on pavement then wouldn't the rider want to switch to footwear with better traction? Since that isn't what happened, it doesn't apply to her.

My apologies for any offense caused.

--
Lucy Chaplin Trumbull
Sierra Foothills, California

We had a very interesting weekend. We competed in the Texas Trail Challenge CTR in Whitney, Texas. It has turned out to be a such beautiful spring in Texas, and what a difference from last spring and summer. We finally received some rain over the winter and spring, and the wild flowers are in full bloom. Friend and Natural Hoof Care Practitioner Trista Lutz was at the ride with her beautiful 7 year old daughter, Dani. Trista and I have been talking about her doing Newt's feet, but unfortunately she lives about 5 hours away.  

We know of no natural hoof practitioners close to where I live. I have been studying up on natural hoof care, but have never really seen a trim, and frankly, I am afraid of trimming Newt's feet. The Natural Hoof Care Practitioner I used for about 2 years has moved. I rarely saw him work, as I would drop Newt off for his trim at the farm where he was working. My current farrier does a good job, but is of the old school. Newt's toe cracks were worsening and now he is getting quarter cracks, which he has never had before. Of course, my current farrier wants to put shoes on to correct the cracks. Help! 

Trista took a look at Newt and said no problem. She pointed out that his heels were a little long, and his soles were flat and a little thin. She explained the cracks were from all of the peripheral loading. He has decent hoof walls, just too many of the wrong kind of forces working to cause the cracks. Things I kind of knew, but was not sure of how to handle. Trista trimmed him, explaining all the while what she was doing and why. I took pictures, and really tried to eel the wall and waterline relationship. One of the most interesting things I noticed after Trista trimmed Newt's feet was the sound of his feet hitting the ground. Instead of the usual clip-clop, I now heard pad-pad. I was thinking, "Now I know why the Indians always snuck up on the settlers - their horses must have had much more natural feet. No long hoof wall to make clip-clop sounds!" I know his feet are not perfect, but I feel like we are improving.

Right front trimmed, left front still untrimmed.

Working on the hind. Notice the miracle rasp.

My job now is to try to keep Newt where he is through weekly rasping of his hooves. I rasped some yesterday. Don't think I did any harm, but unsure if I did enough. We are at the beginning of a huge learning curve.  

Trista also gave me one of her old rasps. What a difference! My old rasp was difficult to use, hard to cut with and very grabby. Trista's  worn out Vallorbe Swiss rasp is amazing. It cuts so easily and smoothly. Who knew there was such a difference in rasps?

I also re-measured Newt's feet for the new Glove Back Country boots and Easyboot Trails. We have been wearing the Easyboot Gloves for over 2 years. I wish I had saved my measurements from the first time, but I do remember his measurements did not really correspond to the size that actually fit best. The measurements I took yesterday indicate he needs different sizes. Guess I'll try another fit kit and see if his feet have really changed over the last few years. The Gloves seem to fit well now, even the new ones I ordered about 4 months ago. Trista also suggested adding pads to help his soles out. Hopefully, Trista and I can get together at future TTC rides and keep Newt's feet healthy.  I am so looking forward to this journey in natural hoof trimming.

Carol Warren

Another blog about the Backcountry Glove? Yes! I, myself, am very excited about this new protective horse boot and I will shout from the roof tops if I have to.

I received my new boots and couldn't wait to try them.The next decision was to where would we take them on their first journey. Knowing I would eventually take them to the limits, I wanted our first endeavor to be a whopper.

I used the new Glove Back Country boots on my big TWH mare with large hooves. We went to South Mountain Regional Park, and although we only rode about 7 miles that day, it was the ever so famous Arizona terrain we all know and love. We did climbing and very little gaiting, and I tried my best to find a fault in this new boot. I couldn't. Believe me, I tried.

Why yes, this is the trail.

Taking a short rest. This is about the best footing we found up on the mountain.

I watched my Glove Back Country boots from horseback. I wanted to see if I had any twisting, damage to the boot or any sign that the boot was not on securely. Is it wrong that I had a little disappointment that these hoof boots performed perfectly? I even checked for rubs with a fine toothed comb and there weren't any. None, zilch, zip, nada. When all was said and done that day, I did do a little happy dance behind the trailer so no one could see me. 

I love the Easyboot Trails and I love the Easyboot Glove, and I am so in love with this idea of the combining the two. I guess it would be called Love Squared. 

Try them and do your own happy dance behind the trailer.

Sabrina Liska

Submitted by Nonee High, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

Hi. I’m Nonee High. I’m 11 years old, and “time management” is already part of my vocabulary.

I have many different activities I love, but my main interest is Nanny, my Welsh Pony. For the last two years, she has been my best friend and ride. Before that, she was a sweet pony in the field, but very stubborn under saddle which made me very frustrated. Finally one day, with the help of my riding teacher, I decided I just was going to make it work and we have been doing great ever since.

Nanny is my girl.

She loves to jump and do trail rides. Those are our two special things. We are going to show in hunters this year and do our first endurance ride. I can’t wait! Sometimes, other kids ask to ride her. I always let them, but she usually reverts back to stubborn pony.  I kind of like it that she acts especially great with me.

I also have a 7 month old Arabian colt named Phoenix that we rescued with his mom last January. The vet said his mom was about as thin as a horse could get and still be alive. Phoenix was in better shape, but is still recovering from early malnutrition.

Finding Phoenix’ sweet spot has really helped in earning his trust.

And then I also have a 5 year old mare, Bella, a blue roan, probably a quarter horse cross. She came to us as a Premarin rescue at age 2. She loves to trail ride and jump, like Nanny, and is also very stubborn like Nanny, but I am determined this year to bring her along, like I did with Nanny. I hope she and I will become a good team, too. I will sadly grow too big for Nanny, probably after this year. Bella will be my next main horse I think, though Nanny will always be with me.

Besides my horses, I also dance (Highland Dance) play basketball and soccer, and participate in 4H. That is where the “time management” comes in.  

With the WV Highland Dancers.

I made this goal.

Each week, we have at least 3 after school activities. When we get home, there is homework, supper, and chores (we have 7 horses total, 4 goats with babies on the way, dogs, cats). Once a month we have 4H and sometimes we have extra 4H activities. Sometimes it is hard to fit it all in, and do my best in each.  

But I do try. And Mom and Dad say that is the main thing. Each morning, I am up at 6:30. I am the main morning feeder because Mom and my sister have to leave early most days. I like this better now that I am allowed to drive the tractor, though wet days are still just... wet. After school or activities, we all help out. That is when we all pile into the tractor “box” and take buckets and hay around to everyone. It is really fun.

Some of my 4H friends and my sister are helping me feed. That’s my sister’s horse Maggie and then my Nanny in the background.

I also have to do well in school, or else Mom and Dad will cancel my outside activities. Thankfully, I am a pretty good student so it is not too hard. I did my Social Studies Fair project this year on the History of Natural Hoof Care. My Mom is a trimmer and I want to be one, too, so this was an interesting topic for me to work with. I won 1st place at my school and county level! I did not win 1st at regionals, but I am still proud of my yellow ribbon. At least I placed! These photos are of my display, with paddock paradise model, and what I looked like presenting in trimmer clothing!

Back to 4H. This photo is one of an extra activity. Our club, the High Riders 4H Club, was selling tickets for our annual Spring Grand Prize Drawing at our local Tractor Supply. EasyCare has been an appreciated donor to the Drawing the last two years. In this picture, I am discussing the Easyboot Glove with a girl who has just switched boots from the Epic to the Edge. She was hoping to win another pair of boots in the Drawing! Unfortunately, she did not win the boots, though she did win a cool prize.  

Here is a photo of some of us at the Drawing. We raised over $2,000. Some of that money will be donated to On Eagle’s Wings Therapeutic Riding Center in Opekiska, WV. One of their lead instructors will be helping our 4H Club in April with ground work and communication. We hope to also volunteer some of our time with them. (They also have all their horses barefoot and using Easyboot Gloves.) In addition, we will have an “All About Balance” weekend in June with equine dentistry, massage therapy, balanced hooves and Centered Riding as our four pillars. We also hope to go on a horse retreat during summer and one of us will ride in a Buck Brannaman clinic in October. The rest of us can audit. So much to do!

Thanks for reading. Are you as busy as I am? How do you manage your activities and time?

Nonee High

Submitted by Roger Rittenhouse

For the past two years plus I have used other boots with good results on my horse, Omni. While very satisfied with the other brand, I wanted to try another boot that might be easier to install and have less mass going down the trail. Omni has oblong, non-round hoofs, but the other boot is round. So while it fits the length, it is wide for his hoof. The first pair of the new Easyboot Glove Back Country boots arrived today.  With good spring weather, I had to ride and test the boots.

I had measured his freshly-trimmed hooves at least four times. I could not find the mm scale so I used the 32-inch scale and converted against EasyCare’s advice. The sizing is the same as the Easyboot Glove, and from what I can gather, the boot should be long enough for base support but narrow to grip the hoof.

Based on the measurements, I settled on #2.5. It took some effort to get them installed so I used a rubber mallet to seat them. The right front was tight; the left front was better, but still tight. I felt the boots were perhaps a half size too small. I should have ordered a #3. Oh well: once installed there is no return and I had to test ride. Once I got them seated and worked the rear heel capture in place they were easy to lock in place. The mallet sure helped to get them seated. The wide Velcro back flaps worked great. That part was easy.

A little trot in hand went well and the boots stayed on. He moved out nicely. I re-checked the heel and was able to get a finger in the boot to check heel/hoof contact. Everything appeared OK.

We hand walked down the hard road, some trot. No slipping. I mounted at the dirt road, and off we went into the forest. We walked a mile, and then I asked for an easy trot: all felt fine. Due to size and shape, the other boots would clip inside on each other, but not hit the cannon bone. The Glove Back Country did not hit. He also did not forge from behind.

It’s impossible to determine if the boots are working as desired with just a few miles, so we did 7.5 miles, mostly at a walk some at a trot and some jerking around being an idiot Arab. I let him ramp up to about 8-9 mph to see how he traveled. Apart from the idiot Arab kick-outs and hops, he moved very nicely: almost the way he moves when barefoot. Very nice!

When I returned home, the left front was tight to remove. His heels looked good and the captive lip at the lower heel (what EasyCare calls the Comfort Cup gaiter) showed tight contact, as did the back of the heel bar. He had wear marks on the heels showing full base contact. The heel bulbs looked good and had no rubs. The right front showed more pressure contact on the hoof heel bar below the bulbs and more indentation in the heel captive lip. Both hoof walls showed the wear or marks from the grip of the Glove on the sides and the quarters. This shows good width size. The boots were gripping the walls the way they are designed to.

My second ride was not a long ride - only three miles.  I set the boots out in the sun while I cleaned up my boy, figuring it couldn’t hurt them and may make them a bit softer. They were much easier to put on. Since he was ten days into the trim cycle, I filed the left front just to clean it up some and get a better mustang roll. I worked the toe back just a little: a few swipes of the file were all I needed. This hoof grows sort of normal compared to the right front.

Off to the trails: I rode a mile or so on the dead-end hard top, then asked for a little trot. It was nice easy going with no slip. Then into the trails with leaves, mud and downhill terrain. Went quite well with almost no slipping. The tread gripped fine. We did a few loops around the woods trail and into an open field. The boots went through ankle-deep mud. Back at the barn, the boots came off with a slight effort, easier than first ride but they did not just fall off. The grip marks on the hoof wall at the quarters indicated a tight fit.

I think the # 2.5 is a good fit as long as I keep the toes and front walls close and tight. If he would go a week or two, the boots would be too tight. If I were planning on going more than two weeks without trimming, I’d go up a half size to account for the hoof growth. Since I am the primary trimmer, I can work the hoofs as needed. I have a professional barefoot trimmer on a 7 to 8 week schedule to re-do my trims and make corrections as needed.

I noted how well he seemed to move, as in break-over and getting the forehand moving faster. The boots have a natural balance design, that is to say there is a nice beveled toe with the break-over point back behind the white line. I think he moves better in the boots than barefoot. He has tendency to toe clip or toe drag, which causes him to trip at times. The boot design gets that toe over and up into the fight faster. At least I noted he tripped less.

As has been stated many, many times, no boot is perfect for all horses in all conditions. The advantages we have today to find a design of boot that works well for your horse and riding style is significant compared to the limitations that we had to deal with when they are shod. My Initial impressions remain positive. I will find out more as we hit the trails this spring. For me and my old horse the Easyboot Glove Back Country is working and meets my requirements.

Over the course of the next five rides with the four Glove Back Country boots, I used # 3 on the front, and #2.5 on rear. I was concerned the large size would result in pulled boots, but the boots stayed on though hoof-deep mud and rocky washed-out trails.

I am very pleased with the performance of these boots. I have used other EasyCare boot styles with mixed results. The new Glove Back Country really works for me and my horse. They are easy to put on the hoof and take off, and there is no messing around with adjustments. I fold back the Comfort Cup gaiter, slide the boot over the hoof and tap it in place with the palm of my hand to seat the boot. I close the Velcro flaps, and I’m done. I can install four boots in about five minutes. The larger size has allowed me to let the trim and re-shape go a little longer than with a smaller sized boot. He trots just fine over rock stone roads and blacktop. The boot tread and the grip helps to keep him from slipping on the blacktop.

For the riders who are thinking about this new boot design, it really works. I have used almost all the boots ever made over the last 30 years. The new Glove Back Country has performed the best for my current horse and how we ride.


Name: Roger Rittenhouse
City: Pikeville, Tennessee, USA
Equine Discipline: Trail, Endurance
Favorite Boot: Easyboot Glove Back Country

Quo vadis natural hoof trimmers, bare hoof trimmers, booters, farriers, blacksmiths, hoof care merchants?

I have been fortunate enough to have had great mentors when I started farrier work over 20 years ago. My mentors were farriers who were open minded, letting the horses in their care go bare for long stretches of the year to "allow the hoof to relax" for a while, as they always said. Bare hoof trims were nothing fancy or new, whenever a horse had some time off, the shoes were pulled and that was it. Bare hoof riding was a way of life for many horses already many years ago.

Now Barefoot Trimming and Natural Hoof Care have gone mainstream. Natural Hoof Trims and Hoof Boots are in the lime light now, we all talking about it and more and more horse owners are taking it upon themselves to learn and study and doing it themselves.

I have been conducting hoof care clinics all over the Northamerican Continent and Europe. I attend farriers clinics, am a member of the American Farriers Association (AFA) and have ample opportunity to speak and interact with farriers from many countries all the time. Interesting to hear their take on Natural Hoof Trimming and the usage of protective horse boots. Here are some of the comments:

• "It's a fad".
• "It doesn't work"
• "Horses cannot go bare"
• "Steel shoes have always worked"
• "Don't change anything if it is not broken"
• "I'm a professional, I work hard"

None of these statements have any substance, they are hollow, mean absolutely nothing and are only excuses. But for what? Just a few days ago, I heard a new one, which I liked the best so far:

"It is a conspiracy!"

Is this horse a conspirator?

Now I was interested, who are the conspirators? He explained to me that the objective of "them" is to push the farriers out of business.

Conspirators at work.

The Kodak Company came to my mind.  When they filed Chapter 11, did they think it was a conspiracy of the digital camera manufacturers and the various software companies to push Kodak into the abyss? Were typewriter manufacturers victims of a conspiracy?

Life is ever evolving. So are our jobs and professions. If we think we know it all, are lazy, resting and stagnant, we are getting steam rolled. More now so than ever before.

I had to thank this farrier for giving me the opportunity to show him that he will only be out of business if he refuses to educate himself and adapt. The new hoof care findings and new hoof protection product lines offer an amazing opportunity for farriers to participate in the future by providing a complete Hoof Care Service for their customers.  Adding new skills to the art of blacksmithing, like barefoot trimming, Easyboot Glue-On applications, Vettec hoof protection; selling and providing Polyurethane horse shoes like Equiflex and the new upcoming Easyshoe, Easyboot Backcountry, Glove, Epic, Trail, etc, etc; any farrier can participate in this conspiracy and benefit immensely economically through it.

From the past, we move to the future through learning and by being open-minded.

A polyurethane horse shoe made by the Bootmeister with Vettec Superfast.

A protoype of the new EasyShoe.

Jump on board, Farriers, let the journey begin!

Brought to you by Christoph Schork,  The Bootmeister.

Global Endurance Training Center

Submitted by Monique Chaisson-Williams, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

I have a confession. I’m “one of those people”. I loved horses as a teenager but never owned one until I was in my mid-40s. Growing up in Tucson, AZ, I had plenty of access to other people’s horses and I did everything I could to be around and ride them. I learned a lot about riding and handling horses, but very little about horse care. I worked as a wrangler, but I never had horses in my back yard, I didn’t show, I never took lessons, and my parents knew nothing about horses.

When I finally decided – at the age of 45 – that I was old enough to own a horse, the balance and muscle memory of my childhood allowed me to quickly pick up as a rider where I had left off 30 years earlier, in much the same way that one never forgets how to ride a bike. However the day I handed over the check for my new mount, I felt a wave of panic come over me as I realized that I had no idea how to care for this animal on a daily basis. Now that I am a few years into my horse adventure, I have come to realize that my lack of knowledge – which I viewed as a tremendous handicap at the start – has become my greatest asset, especially for my horse.

With a wealth of information at our disposal, today’s horse owners are far more sophisticated and the supportive technology and products for optimal horse care has evolved tremendously. After a 30-year hiatus, I find myself in the midst of an evolution in everything equine. There has been significant development and groundbreaking work in equine care, training, nutrition, sport, and equipment – endurance saddles, gel pads, western dressage, one-rein stops, bitless bridles, competitive trail riding, and of course hoof care products and boots. These things were all new to me. In fact, I had never really looked at a shoeless hoof. To me, that crescent of steel was as much a part of the hoof as the frog.

Before I finally took my horses barefoot last year, I did my research. I read articles on the internet, consulted with veterinarians, ferriers, and experienced horse owners. If I was going to try this barefoot thing, I’d have to do it right. I wanted to avoid all the “I told you so” comments from the people at my barn that asserted that the desert terrain was too harsh for a barefoot horse. I knew that the proper use of the right boots was going to be the key to my success. The boots I was looking for had to be easy to put on and take off; they had to stay on up rocky slopes, through water, and down long sandy washes; they had to be comfortable for my horse; and not break the bank.  Before I pulled the shoes, I searched for the perfect boot for over a year and one day while trail-riding, I saw a horse outfitted with the Easyboot Glove. BINGO – just one look and I knew I had found the missing key!

The other obstacle I encountered was the erroneous belief that replacing the toe weights and heel cocks with boots would cause my walking horse to lose her smooth four-beat gait. Having no prior experience with gaited horses, I feared they might be right but I took my chances and I am so glad I did. In fact, I found that her gait has improved as a barefoot and booted equine. A proper barefoot trim is required for the use of the Gloves, and I am a huge fan of the Gloves to this day. My horses have never been sore and they gait better now than they ever did with shoes. A well-fitted glove will usually stay on through thick and thin. Over hundreds of miles, my Gloves have slipped off only twice and it was due to operator error (too large or failure to clean dirt out of the toe). They don’t fill with sand or water, and when you do get a flat tire it sounds like a flat tire, and the gaitor usually keeps the glove attached to the pastern so you don’t lose it.

The thing I am looking forward to most these days is settling in and maturing together with my horses, riding and exploring with them for many years to come, and establishing a long track record of barefoot soundness. My evolution from steel shoes to Easyboots is a decision I’ve never regretted for a moment and I don’t believe I ever will.

Monique Chaisson-Williams

It was another great weekend for hoof boots. Easyboots were used by several of the horse and rider teams at the USA Endurance Team Time Trial for the 2012 World Endurance Championship.  Although many Easybooted horse and rider teams didn't have the day they had hoped for, the first, fourth and seventh place horse and rider teams finished wearing Easyboots.  The Best Condition prize was also awarded to a horse that completed the course in Easyboots.   

Jeremy Reynolds and Kutt take home first place and best condition in Easyboots.  Photo by Merri Melde.

Heather Reynolds and Riverwatch finish in fourth place.  Photo by Merri Melde.

Amy Atkins and Juniper finish in seventh place.  Photo by Merri Melde.

In addition to the Easybooted horses, several other of the USA competitors were using Renegade Glue-On hoof boots. The second place horse finished in Renegade glue-on hoof boots.  At the end of the day, Easyboot horses and Renegade horses accounted for nearly half of the USA riders looking for a spot on the team heading to England.  The event shows that hoof boots are here to stay and are being used at the top levels of equine sports.

One of my favorite moments of the day was watching Jeremy Reynolds take time away from his horse during one of 30-minute vet stops towards the end of the race.  Jeremy put his race aside and helped a fellow competitor with a lost shoe.  He tacked the shoe on with minutes to spare and then quickly jumped on his horse as he departed on his way to his eventual first place finish.

Jeremy Reynolds applies a shoe to a fellow competitor's horse during a short vet stop.  Jeremy is still in his helmet!

EasyCare is looking forward to the possibility for riders on the USA Endurance team to compete in Easyboots.  We have several new tread patterns for them to choose from that will help them stick to the course.  In addition, EasyCare's new EasyShoe may be the perfect option for the English countryside.

Garrett Ford

President & CEO

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

Garrett Ford celebrates Easyboot's win and Best Condition award at the USA Endurance 100-mile Team Time Trial in Texas last weekend.

Kevin Myers points you to four areas of information about the Glove Back Country, including a video review by Carol Crisp.

Dawn Willoughby discusses tips and tricks to combat the effects of diet on the health of horses.

Debbie Schwiebert introduces a must-read article on hoof loading by Gail Snyder in Natural Horse Magazine.

We welcome three new dealers to the EasyCare distribution network.

And Team Easyboot 2012 member Anke Schreiber reports on a hoof trimming clinic she recently attended in Germany.

Do you need support in making boot choices or troubleshooting? You can contact us at the EasyCare offices for free advice, no matter where you purchase your Easyboots.

Please keep in touch: our goal is to help you succeed with EasyCare products and your booting needs.

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Submitted by Karen Bumgarner, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

A recent question about getting a horse used to gaiters on our Team Easyboot list made me realize that perhaps some people need to train their horse to be used to stuff around his legs. These actions are an important part of my training with foals and older horses to get them used to touch and different sensations on their legs. 

All you need for this is one 10 - 12' long cotton rope and some time. Nothing more. Again the idea is to get the horse accustomed to items around his legs and feet. 

Take the horse into a corral or stall for this and do not tie him. Just have the lead rope attached to the halter dangling there so you can grab it if you have to. Take the second rope in your hands for the leg work. I do not tie the rope I hold it loosely in one hand and pass it around the leg, always holding an end in each hand. This way if at nay time if the horse gets upset you can just turn it all loose and no one gets hurt. I wiggle the rope back and forth over and around the leg, beginning high and allowing it to work it's way down the leg to the pastern.

I always begin high and lower it as they are more likely to kick or fuss as it works down. If they are calm about it you can gently seesaw and wiggle it back up and down the leg. Don't be afraid to flip it around a little after all the idea is to get the horse used to touch and pressure. If at anytime he gets upset just slow down, or stop, and let him think about it. It is a good exercise in trust also. 

Once the horse is fine with the up and down touch and sliding of the soft rope over his legs you can try another trick. Gently pull or tug on the rope while it is low on the pastern. When he picks his foot up, release pressure and let him place the foot down. Do this a few times and then pick the foot up with a gentle pull on the rope and hold it up for a few seconds. 

This not only gets your horse used to touch but if he ever gets his leg hung up in a fence or wire he will know enough not to fight it. And once he is accustomed to this the wearing of splint boots, bell boots, leg wraps or easyboots with gaitors will be no big deal to him at all. 

One more thing. With your horse again in a stall or corral, after you have done the rope work apply the boots and let him wear them. Then slip one off and attach it loosely around the pastern. Your horse may jump around a bit but if you did your homework with the rope he won't even notice. I think its important that horses know what a loose boot feels like so if they pull one off while you are trotting down the trail they don't freak out about this thing flopping on their leg. Just a bit of time and patience can help insure a safe ride for you and your booted horse. 

Karen Bumgarner

Submitted by Lalita Creighton, Team Easyboot 2012 Member from Hillsboro, Missouri

As I get older, I value certain characteristics in my life more and more. Two of these are reliability and dependability. Not only in my relationships with my family, friends, and even coworkers, but also with my horse and even the tack and equipment I use. I’m always willing to give new things a try, and if they work well, they become part of the “tried and true” I depend on every day.

My horse, Flirt, falls in this category. My husband’s horse, Jinx, also falls in this category. So do the Easyboot Gloves we use on their front hooves, every single ride. We don’t use any boots on their hinds. They are both barefoot, and have been for several years. Although they can probably handle most trails without any boots in front, we like using them for that little bit of extra protection, and not having to worry if we ride somewhere with a lot more rock than is in their pastures.

We originally started using Boa Hoof Boots on Flirt back around 2005, because we just could not keep metal shoes on him no matter what we tried. After having the shoer out three times in one week, and still missing a shoe on Saturday, I threw my hands up in the air and was willing to try anything. Boa Hoof Boots seemed like a good solution. They were easy to put on, I didn’t ride a ton of miles, and I no longer had to worry about lost shoes.  The Boas performed reasonably well, and I used them until 2010. 

I was fortunate enough to be selected for the original Team Easyboot in 2010 (and chosen again both in 2011 and this year – thank you, Easycare), and was able to perform some testing in the new Easyboot Gloves. They were revolutionary. No moving parts to break or replace, fairly easy to put on, and boy do they stay on.

A few years before, I had a barefoot trimmer that stopped trimming due to a back injury teach me to trim our horses. When I had abdominal surgery, my husband stepped up and learned, and to this day does all the trimming. Keeping the hooves in shape for the Gloves is never an issue for us, and we have never had a Glove fail us.

The closest we’ve come to one “failing” was due to poor fit. We had let Flirt’s toes get a bit too long, and his Gloves were fit to that hoof size and shape. As we corrected that runaway toe, his boots became a bit too big and started to occasionally come off.  We found a few wraps of athletic tape around the hoof allowed us to keep using those boots until I could get a Fit Kit and confirm his smaller size.

We’ve also been able to depend on these Gloves to perform duties outside what they are recommended for, and perform well. Flirt had stepped on one heel bulb with his other hoof when he got tangled up on the trail in a badly eroded hill. He walked off without any indication something was wrong, and since he had his boots on, I never thought to get off and check. We rode about ten miles that day, and back at the trailer we discovered he had actually split his heel bulb open about ¼” wide and deep, and about  1” long.

I rinsed it with saline, put a clean bandage on it (no ointments), secured the bandage with tape, and put the boot back on. I hauled him home and called my veterinarian. After explaining the wound and my treatment of it, my veterinarian said he couldn’t do anything more than I had done, and to keep it clean, change the bandage twice a day, use antibiotic ointment, and keep using the Gloves for turnout to help protect the area. For approximately one month we followed this protocol, sometimes leaving the boots off during the night so his hooves would have a break. He never had an infection, never took a lame step, and the boots showed no wear and tear from this usage. This obviously falls outside the normal recommendation for these boots, but I was absolutely delighted with how well they worked.

Just today, after giving the horses the winter off, we hooked up and hauled to a local trail for the first trail ride of the season. I took all of my reliables and dependables with me:  my husband, our horses, and of course our Easyboot Gloves.

Lalita Creighton

Carol Crisp has been involved with Team Easyboot for many years. She has a passion for the high elevation mountain trails of the rockies and has become known for putting boots to the test by riding on some of the steepest trails she can find.

Carol recently took delivery of a set of Easyboot Glove Back Country hoof boots and was kind enough to make this video review for us with her horse, Smoke.

Carol makes some interesting points worth underlining:

1. Check the hardware on your boots when you get them out of the box. If you bought from the first batch of Back Country boots, make sure all the screws in the boot are tightened up before you use them for the first time. Carol even puts a dab of nail polish around the screw to keep it in place - and shares a tip on how to remove it if and when you want to change out components.

2. Fit on the Easyboot Glove Back Country is more forgiving that the fit of the Easyboot Glove. You should feel comfortable that going up a half size will still assure you a successful booted experience.

3. Certain boots work better for certain horses. Depending on the conformation of your horse, one boot may perform better than the other. We believe this boot is a good complement to the Easyboot Glove, and allows for more variations in hoof shape and angle than the Glove. It also allows for boot fit throughout a longer trimming schedule.

4. Test the boots before you go out on the trail or go to an event. Carol longes Smoke in the boots before she rides him - just to make sure there is no twisting or signs of rubbing.

Carol's first test of the boots was for over 2.5 hours. I see a future for the Easyboot Glove Back Country. If you subscribe to this blog via RSS, you can see Carol's video review at http://youtu.be/gUXhrqLZYJg.

Thanks Carol. Keep up the bootlegging!

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

Traditions, they say, die hard in the West. Contrary to popular belief, back in the 1800's men weren't the only ones shooting whiskey and packing a Peacemaker. Women were often going toe to toe with the best of cowboys. These women broke tradition and blazed their own trail. They knew no boundaries.

In that same spirit, Kimberly Knight of Date Creek Ranch, Wickenburg, AZ is not afraid to buck tradition. Date Creek is the continuation of over 130 years of family ranching and is now in the capable hands of Kimberly and her husband Stephen. 

This past December Kimberly was interviewed by EasyCare dealer of the month and natural hoof care practitioner Amanda Beno Marsh for Western Horsemen Magazine's monthly feature Women of the West.

As Kimberly reveals in the  interview, Date Creek Ranch embraces innovation and recognizes what it takes to survive in the ranching business today. Proactive and environmentally conscious, the ranch embodies a true spirit of a new West. 

This same forward thinking carries over to the ranch's horse keeping practices. Kimberly, with the help of Amanda Marsh of Mountain Top Hoof Trimming Services have had success keeping the ranch horses barefoot, happy and sound in some very tough country.                                                                                                                                                 

Kimberly, has tried several styles of hoof boots but found the Old Mac's G2  with 12 mm Comfort Pads to be the hoof protection that suits her horses best and can handle the extremely rocky terrain on the ranch. Now with the new Easyboot Glove Back Country she is excited about giving this new boot the ultimate rock test. 

Rocks and more rocks.

The spirit of the West is one of individuals who never settled for the status quo. I challenge you to get a little western and to not be more comfortable with your old problems than with a new solution. Folks from all over the country and around the world just like Kimberly Knight are bucking the tradition of shoeing and choosing a barefoot lifestyle for their horses. Perhaps there's a little bit Western in all of us.

Debbie Schwiebert

Vet Dealer & Hoof Care Practitioner Accounts

I manage the hoof care practitioner and veterinarian dealer accounts at EasyCare. An integral part of my job is to stay current in all areas of barefoot hoof care, which enables me to serve this vital group of EasyCare dealers at the next level.

I am a little embarrassed to admit this, but I was a huge Clash of the Titans fan when I was younger. Since then, the early 80's, I never gave much more thought to Pegasus until I had to come up with an idea for this blog. Then it hit me, Pegasus would have been an awful endurance horse. I discuss the reasons below.

Endurance has always been a great testing arena for hoof boots and EasyCare. The distance, weather conditions, terrain and partnership between horse and ride provide the ultimate test of our boots. EasyCare hoof boots are designed to handle all these conditions and more. Although many of our customers may never test their horses or hoof boots to this extent, we feel it is necessary to our mission of making the best boots in the business. 

Now, back to Pegasus. Sure, he looks fit and ready to go but lets take a look at why he would fail in endurance:

1. Wing placement is not ergonomic and possibly dangerous for the rider.
2. Pegasus needed a golden bridle, not cost effective in any economy.
3. Bellerophon was the only person who could ride Pegasus and I couldn't find any ride results on the AERC website for him.
4. Trailering Pegasus would be a nightmare.
5. Pegasus never wore EasyCare boots.

Brian Mueller

Director of Sales

As the director of sales, I am responsible for identifying new dealer opportunities and building on existing relationships to foster ideas and create additional growth.

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

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

2. "Those boots don't work."

3. "Can you ride in those boots?"

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

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

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

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

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

Distance: 17.7 Miles (28.5 KM)

Time: 2.2 Hours

Maximum Speed: 15.6 MPH (25.1 KPH)

Elevation Gain: 1,734'

Highest Elevation: 7,400'

Number of Easyboot Gloves Lost: 0

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

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

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

Keep up the bootlegging.

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

"Will my horses wear the same size boot in the Easyboot Glove Back Country as they wear in the Easyboot Glove?" 

Of all the questions I receive regarding the Easyboot Glove Back Country, this one seems to be the most frequently asked and the most challenging to answer. The Easyboot Glove Back Country and the Easyboot Glove utilize the same size chart, however customers may want to consider sizing up for the Back Country. It is a difficult concept to grasp but even though the boot shell size is the same, there are some reasons why you may want to select a larger size for the Back Country. 

Easyboot Glove size 1 and Easyboot Glove Back Country size 1.5.

The Easyboot Glove requires a very precise fit and needs to be snug enough that the front V expands. Success with the Glove often requires using a rubber mallet or an alternative method to ensure the boot is fully seated on the hoof before riding out. It also entails frequent maintenance trimming. The Glove has proved to be a very successful boot and was even awarded Horse Journal's product of the year in 2011. Despite this success, there were customers who were unable to use the Glove due to length of trim cycle, lack of hand strength or hoof conformation that would not yield a snug fit. The Easyboot Glove Back Country looked to the Easyboot Trail for inspiration to tackle these challenges.

Size 1 - the V expands and the result is a nice snug fit.
Cal wears this size for the Easyboot Glove.

Unlike the precise fit required for the Easyboot Glove, the Easyboot Glove Back Country will still work on horses where the fit is not “perfect”. The Back Country's Cordura upper stabilizes the boot on the hoof and allows for flexibility in sizing. This unique upper features a front plate that is essentially an integrated power strap - which means unless you are currently using power straps on your Gloves, the Back Country will have a slightly snugger fit than the same size in the Glove. One reason you may choose to increase boot size is to accommodate this feature. Since my horse Cal has a very snug fit in the size 1 Glove, I chose to use the size 1.5 for the Back Country. Some other reasons you may choose to size up are for ease of application or to accommodate a 6-8 week trim cycle.

Alayna Wiley

Customer Service

As one of the customer service representatives, I am happy to help get your horse into the right boots. I have plenty of hands on experience since my horses have been barefoot and booted since 2003.

Submitted by Stacey Maloney, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

I'm getting geared up for this year's Competitive Trail and Endurance season in Alberta. In the next week or so, my horses will be going to see the vet for their annual check-ups and barring any surprises there, we will begin conditioning very shortly.

After a few months off due to the harsh conditions of our winter my horses feet are usually a lot more sensitive; both from disuse and standing around in the moisture, so I always have to boot until things dry up.

In the past I have only used my 2001 APHA mare for CTR. I purchased her from Alberta's only (at the time) AANHCP's trimmer and had a steep learning curve to follow when it comes to natural hoof care and boots. Her hooves were amazing and now it was my job not to mess them up. At the time I brought her home Easyboot Epics were the best technology for her hooves and intended sport.

Since then these Epics have seen hundreds of miles. We go completely barefoot when the terrain allows but these boots are absolutely my "go-to" hoof protection of choice.

This year I will be conditioning one, maybe two other horses and will need to fit them for boots. I love my Epic's as they have never given me any trouble on the trail through the toughest of conditions and their adjustable fit make them ideal for hooves mid-late trim as well. I'm not sure if I want new Epics for my other horses this year or should I try something new?

One horse measures out to have a round hoof and should fit into Easyboot Gloves which I've heard nothing but good things about. The third horse will most likely be ridden by novice riders and therefore might benefit most from the Easyboot Glove Back Country due to their ease of application. On the other hand, both should also do fine in Epics and I trust this boot completely.

What to do? What to do? I'm having a hard time telling myself to branch out because of the great success I've had with the one style, but technology is forever changing and I might just have to take the leap.

Watch for us on the trail and you might be surprised to find what is on my horse's feet.

Stacey Maloney

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

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

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

1. National High Mileage Champion: Carla Richardson

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

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

2. Jim Jones Stallion Award: Leah Cain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A recent full-page print ad featuring Christoph Schork.

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

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

Kevin Myers

Director of Marketing

I am responsible for the marketing and branding of the EasyCare product line. I believe there is a great deal to be gained from the strategy of using booted protection for horses, no matter what the job you have for your equine partner.

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

10.  Popcorn and butter

9.   Chips and Salsa

8.   Peanut butter and Jelly

7.   Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

6.   Burger and Fries

5.   Soy sauce and Wasabi

4.   Cookies and Milk

3.   Bacon and Eggs

2.   Pizza and Beer

1.  Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Trail

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

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

On top all of this, it looks amazing too!

Get yours today.

Brian Mueller

Director of Sales

As the director of sales, I am responsible for identifying new dealer opportunities and building on existing relationships to foster ideas and create additional growth.

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

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

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

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

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

Thank you, Randy Oglesby

Dee Reiter

Customer Service

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