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.
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.
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.
How much stress is being exerted on your horse’s hooves? Why should you be concerned? Hoof care professional Gail Snyder leads us to a better understanding of peripheral loading. Reprinted with permission from Natural Horse Magazine, Gail gives us an in-depth look at this concept. Even if you didn’t get an “A” in physics this well written article is sure to demystify this common but often misunderstood term.
Natural Horse Magazine graciously gave us permission to make the article available to our readers. Simply click on the links below to download a PDF version of the articles. Note: this function requires Adobe Reader to be installed on your computer. If you don't have it yet, you can download Adobe Reader by clicking on http://get.adobe.com/reader/
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.
The hoof specialist and farrier from Argentina, Daniel Anz, hosted several clinics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He showed his trimming method called F-Balance to hoof care practitioners and farriers.
The F stands for flexibility. His take home message: the hoof is more flexible than the head. He trims the hoof according to three natural factors:
Heel length: Anz found that every heel shows where it wants to be cut by showing a little crack or bend caused by the stress of the overgrown material. The distance from the stress point to the hairline happens to be the same medial and lateral and even the same on both limbs of the fronts or hinds.
Sole level: the hoof wall should be trimmed to the level of the functional sole.
The functional sole may not be cut.
Hoof angle: the correct angle the hoof wants to grow can be determined by considering the upper growth of the hoof underneath the coronary band.
According to Daniel Anz, these factors can be applied to any hoof, no matter if it is supposed to be shod or stay barefoot.
He states: "What belongs to the horse, leave it to the horse. Only take away what has grown." Does anything sound familiar to any of you?
When we practiced his method on cadaver hooves I found that I didn't do anything different to what I usually do when trimming hooves after the principles of natural hoof care. Some of the attendant farriers held their breath when Daniel lowered the heels according to the stress point, since among farriers in Germany it is still a rule to leave the heels alone or cut them as little as possible. To most of the natural hoof care practitioners present Daniel's method was a very helpful supplement for their work, but not a revolution.
One aspect of his concept, though, was revolutionary to all of us: trimming the heels to the same length medial and lateral (same length between heel and hairline) can lead to different heel heights, when one heel is compressed and pushed upwards. The amazing thing: shortly after the horse loads the foot, the compressed heel / wall relaxes and slips down to a normal position. This is possible because of the great flexibility of the hoof. I can remember having heard Pete Ramey speaking about adjusting the heel length rather than the heel height, but it never seemed as clear to me as it is now after watching Daniel Anz’s presentation.
My conclusion: anytime people listen to the horses and their very needs instead of holding on to whatever they have learned before, they come to similar results. For the benefit of the horses.
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.
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.
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:
Wing placement is not ergonomic and possibly dangerous for the rider.
Pegasus needed a golden bridle, not cost effective in any economy.
Bellerophon was the only person who could ride Pegasus and I couldn't find any ride results on the AERC website for him.
Trailering Pegasus would be a nightmare.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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)
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!
There is always talk of the importance of boot fit, but what about gaiter fit? Is it too loose? Too tight? Well, I am going to give a few tips, so sit back and take a deep breath.
Let's use the Easyboot Glove as an example, even though any EasyCare boot with a gaiter could be used.
Typically, the gaiter should be very snug once the boot itself is on the hoof correctly. I have seen other riders with snug gaiters, finger loose gaiters, and just plain ol' four fingers between the pastern and gaiter loose gaiters. I think each horse/rider team has a preference, as it should be. But what else can be done for a happy fit?
If your horse is anything like mine, there are those feathers that get in the way. What am I talking about? Check out the photo below.
Hair much?
Ahhh, much better.
So the question is, should I trim or even clip those hairy feathers away? The answer is: it depends. If the hair under the gaiters are getting matted, full of sweat and mud or you think the gaiter doesn't have the best fit in your opinion, then yes. Also, if you are concerned about underlying possible rubs it would be a good idea to nix the hair. Starting with a 'clean' slate will give you an idea about boot and gaiter fit. As a distance rider and a rider with very long hair, I personally feel for the horse and like to get all that hair out of the way. I know I would appreciate it.
Tight gaiters, loose gaiters, hairy pasterns or not, the importance is a comfy horse in well fitting EasyCare boots and a happy ride.
The Easyboot Glove Back Country is added to the Easyboot product line as of today; Monday, March 5, 2012. We have had some fun with the 30 day countdown and now all the ripples will be taken for you to see the boot in detail.
The Easyboot Glove Back Country in a clear mountain stream.
I'm really excited about this hoof boot design and expect it to be a favorite with trail and back country riders. The boot combines many of the features of the Easyboot Glove and a quick wrap outer cover similar to the Easyboot Trail. I believe the Back Country will be one of our most versatile boots and will quickly become our best seller.
Easyboot Glove Back Country (BC) boots drying after a long afternoon in the Colorado mountains.
Some of my reasons I believe the BC will be on of our best hoof boots.
The boot is very easy to apply and remove.
The upper is form fitting and reduces unnecessary bulk.
The Easyboot Glove Back Country will come in 18 sizes. 11 standard and 7 wide sizes.
The Back Country will use the same lower shell as the Easyboot Glove. This will allow riders to use the EasyCare fit kit system to insure a proper fit.
All parts of the Back Country and replaceable. Shell, Comfort Cup Gaiter and outer cover.
The parts can be mixed and matched for various and unusual hoof shapes and sizes. If you have a horse with very large heel bulbs it's easy to custom build a Back Country with a larger outer cover.
It will be a favorite for retail dealers. The wide size selection and one color combination reduce inventory and will allow one boot to work for many customer segments.
Gene Limlaw and Grace put the Back Country to the test with a fast gallop!
The Back Country is launched at a great time. The weather is getting warmer and its time to get the horses on the trail. Over the past weekend on the endurance trail hoof boots shined once again. The Old Pueblo Endurance Ride confirmed to me that hoof boots are the best type of hoof protection in hard, rocky conditions. On the first day of the event there were roughly 1/3 of the participants in the 50 and 25 mile events using Easyboots. After the awards presentation the first evening we held and impromptu drawing for the riders using Easyboots. Doug Swingley won the drawing and EasyCare paid his ride entry for the day.
Roughly 1/3 of the riders at the Old Pueblo Endurance Ride used Easyboots. Many of the first day Easyboot riders are pictured above.
We hope you enjoy the Easyboot Glove Back Country. Keep an eye open for a couple more hoof protection products to hit the EasyCare line in 2012. Two of them will be sure to shake things up.
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.
The launch date of the new Easyboot Glove Back Country has finally arrived. Here are four things you need to know:
1. The boot is available for the month of March exclusively through seven partner dealers across the globe. That means you can only buy it from them until Monday, April 2, 2012. The list of Glove Back Country dealers is as follows:
Valley Vet Supply
Marysville, KS 66508
Phone: (785) 562-5106
Website: www.valleyvet.com
2. The boot is available in 18 sizes. Just like the Easyboot Glove, it will come in 11 regular sizes and 7 wide sizes. You can see the sizing chart on our website. Because of the way the boot attaches around the hoof, the Glove Back Country will be more forgiving with fit throughout the entire growth cycle between trims. If you have a long trim cycle, you can even go a little larger in sizing to accommodate the growth.
3. We're calling this a medium to high mileage boot. We've given it a mileage rating of 25 - 50 miles per week. We're interested in user's experiences with it: there is a chance this could serve as a higher mileage boot.
4. The Easyboot Glove Back Country is built with the finest and most luxurious materials available today. Think of it as the finest off-road vehicle you've ever driven.
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.
Once and for all let's make a concerted effort to debunk a popular myth that thoroughbreds have shelly walls, thin soles, pencil thin frogs and for these reasons they need shoes. "The hell!" I say. Even with wrong hoof care from birth to rescue/career change, the vast majority of OTTBs can be rehabbed to soundness. And gorgeous feet!
Cayuga
When I met him he was 12 years old, shod most of his life. He trained on the track but did not race. Cayuga was living at Tory Hill, a gorgeous farm with a herd of about 10 barefoot geldings, mostly OTTBs, with full turnout on huge and hilly pastures.
Too much hoof capsule. Crappy Walls or Horn.
'Beer Can' feet. The heels are almost as long as the toe. This tells me that the coffin bone is pointing down at a steep angle. The tip of the coffin bone is no doubt disintegrating from mechanical stress. Unfortunately, the farrier can only trim so much and then puts the shoe back on a long, misshapen foot to maintain it. Rehab demands pulling the shoes.
The foot is sweeping forward, in front of the horse.
In a general sense, the green line indicates where the hoof will end after rehab. The Red points out (1) upward pressure of the shoe and (2) a long under run heel
Cayuga's Straight Forward Rehabilitation:
As I applied the mustang roll, mechanical pressure on the lamina was removed and the steep, well connected wall at the top half inch of the capsule grew right in.
As this happens the hoof will get back under the horse. The entire foot will transform as the capsule becomes smaller and the heels shorten.
Transformation is organic. A lot of things are happening at once.
I never force any angle or any particular length because above the hoof is a unique body with unique movement.
Below, in 7 months, the hoof capsule looked more compact. Soles and walls thicken. Heels open up as the frog and internal structures improve. The more movement and the healthier the diet, the better the foot.
7 months later a nicer foot, still on the mend.
Still a long capsule and long heels (as they appear from the outside) but over time it all corrects. Most importantly Cayuga was sound, ridden in padded Epic boots throughout.
Smartie
This fancy OTTB had been in shoes a long term. Sadly we didn't make it to a full rehab before the owner put him back in shoes. He has some things to show us.
This unraveling hoof wall with cracks around the nail holes is not being held together by the shoe.
Force comes down the leg, hits the shoe and runs back up the hoof and leg maintaining the cracks. To treat the unraveling wall, I would definitely use White Lightening to insure there is no bacteria maintaining the problem. Otherwise, it will grow out in about 3 months.
Solar View: Under run heels and long toe
From the hairline in the back of the foot to the heel where Smartie lands, you see about 2" of heel length running under the horse. Many people misinterpret this saying their horses won't grow heels. Smartie, and many horses, grow heels that run forward.
If the frog is healthy and can take a pounding from the current ground conditions, I'll bring the heels back, and down, half inch at a trim. By the end of rehab the heels will in the back of the foot, next to the back of the frog. Above the frog, internally, the digital cushion and lateral cartilages begin to re-develop and give Smartie the structure he needs.
Above, the toe wall appears to be about 3" in front of the end or apex of the frog. Much too long. If you wait about a week after pulling shoes, the horse will develop a toe callus and you can rasp the toe, 10:00 - 2:00, back to but not through, the toe callus. The callus looks like a long bump.
Personally I like to pull the shoes, round things up and leave the horse alone for a month. Pulling shoes is traumatic enough for one day.
My Thoughts on Boots: Because Smartie has a long toe, he would not fit into The Trail or Generation 2. The top portion of the boots would rub his pastern. Boots that fit above the hairline are a good choice for the rounder foot that allows the leg to center in the boot.
Bugsy
If it looks like a Duck Foot, is it?
Just because long toes, complete disconnection of hoof wall to coffin bone and under run heels are seen on almost every Racehorse does not mean it's normal! Can you imagine racing in these 'duck feet'? Poor Bugsy was right off the track, shoes a dangling!
Above, if you ran your fingers from the hairline down the wall, you will find where the wall is well connected to the coffin bone. In Bugsy's case there was a hint of connection!
Under run heels and a long toe, confirm what we saw from the top. Nice frog though.
Here comes the foot he wants, growing in from the top.
Don't let the steep angle scare you. It will level off as the foot grows.
Voila! The foot is now under the horse.
Over time, with lots of movement in a herd, the heel as it appears from the outside will shorter to about half this length. Bugsy still has a lot of rehabbing to do.
Love "Sunny" Days
5 years old. Just arrived from the rescue via New Holland Auction.
Typical racehorse feet: Paper thin shelly walls. Laminitic rings from top to bottom.
Another straight forward rehab.
The black line indicates where ideal wall to coffin bone connection ends. It will take a few capsule growths (7 months per capsule for Sunny) to get things in order. During the spring he will lose a little connection on the bottom. And as viewed from the sole, he will loose a half inch of concavity. However, he does not go lame. Hacking out, he is happiest, in the spring, in his Gloves.
Dinner Time at Tory Hill Farm, home to 7 barefoot Off the Track Thoroughbreds.
A Word on Long Term Rehab of Racehorses
As long as the horse has most of his coffin bone and the lamina aren't necrotic, hoof rehabilitation of former racehorses is usually straight forward.
I gave Sunny off one year from ridden work. This allows all the micro tears and chips to heal or sort themselves out and drugs to clear. I re-started him as a colt in training. From learning ground manners, haltering, leading, ponying off another horse, desensitizing and plenty of in-hand work, former racehorses need a complete reboot if you want an exceptional friend.
As for his body, I made an incorrect assumption that Sunny could fix himself in an active herd on 35 acres. Now I would have jumped on modalities available to me like chiropractic adjustments, accupuncture, Equine Touch, Ortho Bionomy, sports massage, myofacia release. Learn from the professionals if you can.
Currently, unless I am stuck, I do all my own body work. Much more cost effective! There is a wealth of information on the Internet, in books and on DVDs. A horse can't walk around on bad feet for years, ridden incorrectly at the track and not need serious attention to mind and body!
The wonderful thing about thoroughbreds is that they are sensitive, smart and athletic. Most I have met really crave a relationship with good, kind people.
Happy Trails and Give your ponies a big hug for me!
Amanda Beno Marsh has a master’s degree in wildlife biology and wildlife and range resource management. She has had horses and worked with horses since she was very young. She has lived in California, Arizona and Utah and has spent much of her time surfing and rock climbing as well as riding horses. She loves thrills and adventure.
Amanda is now based in the Prescott, Arizona area, but works throughout the state of Arizona and in southern California. She attributes her success to always wanting more information and to further her education. She has a science background, which helps, but lists her foremost experience as the help she has received from Dr. Tomas Teskey, DVM.
Amanda has been trimming for approximately three years. She first started out as a farrier’s apprentice. "After following him around for several months I decided that the natural approach to hoof care was more my style. I am a science minded person, and I researched the science. I saw results early on and the more I practiced and the more I learned the more I decided that natural hoof care was my “calling”.
Mountain Top stocks the Easyboot Epic, Glove, Edge, Trail, Old Mac's G2 and Comfort Pads. The Old Mac's G2 is her best seller and she generally pairs pads with the boots.
Amanda trimming at a clinic in Wickenburg, AZ.
Without boots, Amanda says her job would be much harder and horse owners wouldn’t be able to see and feel their horses succeed as quickly as they do. "I always listen to my clients and pay attention to what they want," says Amanda. "I explain everything I do to horse owners and I keep them in the loop. I call to check in about horses on my rounds because I truly want to know how they are doing. I care a lot and that really shows."
Amanda hosted several free clinics and workshops in order to get her name out into the local community, but she says word of mouth has been the most important way for her business to grow.
She and her husband use EasyCare hoof boots on all of their riding horses. They ride barefoot as much as possible, but when the conditions call for hoof protection, they like to use the Easyboot Trail.
When asked about her most rewarding experience as a hoof care practitioner, Amanda tells the story of removing the shoes from the working ranch horses on the Date Creek Ranch in Wickenburg, Arizona. "Kimberley Knight and her husband Stephan worked hard during the transition process," says Amanda. "And because they have done everything right, their horses are well on their way to a successful transition." A major key to their success has been using the Old Mac's G2s and Comfort Pads when they are working cattle in the rocks. The horses are turned out on several hundred acre pastures. "Kimberley is so fond of her horses, she loves them and wants what’s best for them. She seeks knowledge and doesn’t just rely on me for information. Working with her has raised the bar for me. I feel like anything is possible with natural hoof care."
Amanda's favorite event is the annual Equifest in Prescott each year. Last year she was invited to speak and present a demonstration on natural hoof care. Several thousand people attend the free event every year, and Amanda will be presenting at the event again in September, 2012.
Natural Hoof Care and Hoof Booting Workshop with Rusty Toth
Education on Natural Hoof Care and Trimming!
Bring a horse for a trim, and boot fitting!
Everyone Is Welcome, with or without a horse!
Rusty Toth is a graduate of the Oregon School of Natural Hoof Care. He has also understudied with Duncan McLaughlin from the Australian Natural Hoof Care School. Rusty is a professional trimmer whose clientele is comprised mostly of endurance, barrel racing, and cutting horses. Rusty’s personal equine passion is Endurance. He has completed numerous 100 mile events barefoot/booted and believes in the success from this protocol as the most beneficial for both the soundness and health of our equine's performance and pleasure alike.
Please RSVP With number of horses and people attending. We will send you the address and directions at that time. 10 AM until 3 PM Light lunch provided.
Boot Fitting and Education is Free
Trims are $45.00
Large Inventory of Easycare Hoof Boot Products Available for Sale!
Our next Spring event is May 12-13, 2012 with:
Paul Williamson (41) started riding at age 10 and quickly rose up through the ranks as one of the best thoroughbred riders today. He lives and works in Japan with the Japanese Racing Association.
Paul’s non-aggressive approach and ability to “get the job done “makes him one of the YouTube’s most popular trainers with more than 3,200 subscribers. www.youtube.com/endospink click the link to visit his channel and see him working with horses.
Paul picked up on a natural occurrence that happens in all horses, and turned it into one of the most valuable tools a horseperson can have in their toolbox. He calls it The TAP and has incorporated this tool into his colt starting system. This training tool can be matched by no-one in regards to starting time (under 20mins).
Participants may bring young horses to be started or horses with dangerous behavior problems.
Topics to Be Covered
• Paul’s signature TAP demonstrated live. Not to be missed!
• Learn tips and tricks of ground driving.
• See at least 5 horses started in one day, using different techniques.
• Learn the dos & don’ts of side-reins.
• All colt starting & training questions answered.
• Learn easier, safer & kinder ways to handle your horse.
• Stop wondering if you have what it takes to start your own horse, find out!
TICKETS
1-Day Audit $45
2-Day Audit $60
Bring your horse $100 per horse 1- day session, stalls available!
Rounding out the Summer in July, MileMakers presents:
Now booking private lessons with Stacy Westfall. This is an opportunity to ride one-on-one with Stacy. You do not have to have a reining horse or western style horse to take a private lesson! Stacy instructs all disciplines. There will not be a formal clinic format, no auditors/audience.
This is by appointment only! July 21-26, 2012
Please inquire for details on days, times and fees.
Garrett Ford celebrates Easyboot's win and Best Condition award at the USA Endurance 100-mile Team Time Trial in Texas last weekend.
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