Protective Horse Boots

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

 

 

Have you been wanting to get a better look at the Easyboot Glove Back Country and how to put it on? We've just published the official EasyCare application video for this new boot.

 

A still shot of the Easyboot Glove Back Country in action - photo courtesy of Bernd Jung.

In the video below, you can hear a description of the boot components, and the best practices for putting the boot on.

 

If you subscribe to this blog via an RSS feed, you can see the video by clicking on the Easyboot Glove Back Country Video link.

Keep up the bootlegging!

 

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.

 

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

Trelawne Equine Ltd
Devon, EX21 5XE
Phone: 441409221824
Website: www.trelawneequine.co.uk
 
HufCheck Bernd Jung
Oberrot, D-74418
Phone: 49-0-681-41099684
Website: www.hufcheck.de
 
Hauptner Instrumente GmbH
Zurich, 8305
Phone: 01141448059911
Website: www.hauptner.c
 
Hoofgroove GmbH
Stadel, 8174
Phone: 41-43-311-99-88
Website: www.hoofgroove.ch
 
Ets Weal
Le Passage, 38490
Phone: 0033474887903
Website: www.sosabots.com
 
Mike Ware
Burrill Lake, NSW, 2539
Phone: (42) 864-9369
Website: www.easycaredownunder.com.au

Go to the Easyboot Glove Back Country boot page to link directly to their websites.

Testing the Glove Back Country.

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.

See the Easyboot Glove Back Country page now, or for more information on the boot components, visit easybootglovebackcountry.com.

 

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.

To learn more about Mountain Top, go to barefootnaturalhooftrimming.com.

We've been sneaking various peaks at the Easyboot Glove Back Country over the last few weeks. The big launch is scheduled for March 5 - this coming Monday - but more about them next week. It will be available via a few dealers from across the globe who have partnered with us on the launch of what might be the most exciting boot in the company's history.

Our Best Boots Combined

The Glove Back Country pairs the form fitting Glove chassis and incorporates an easy to secure upper modeled after the Trail. Built to provide ultimate durability using the latest in design and material technology, the Glove Back Country has an infinitely flexible closure system that wraps around the hoof wall. The result: a hoof boot that stays secure in the toughest of trail conditions on the most challenging of hoof shapes.

A Soft, Durable Internal Upper

Lightweight, ergonomic and breathable, The Easyboot Glove Back Country has a soft internal upper that caresses the soft tissue areas of the hoof and lower leg.

We’ve used the latest in technology to build an upper that combines softness and flexibility with the most durable materials on the market today. The result is a boot that secures and stabilizes the foot, reducing fatigue and keeping debris out.

The Comfort Cup Gaiter

The Comfort Cup System: a new form of gaiter built into the back of the boot to caress and protect the soft tissue areas at the rear of the horse’s hoof. Supple and resilient, the Comfort Cup is designed to flex with each step and hug the back of the pastern. And because the gaiter is independent of the flexible Cordura® upper, we’ve virtually eliminated the risk of rubbing.

 

A Convertible Boot

Built on a shared platform, the Easyboot Glove Back Country can easily be transformed into an Easyboot Glue-On or Easyboot Glove. Turn the Glove Back Country into a Glue-On by removing the flexible upper and Comfort Cup gaiter. Turn it into an Easyboot Glove by attaching a Glove Gaiter.

 

An Anatomically Designed Sole

The Easyboot Glove Back Country uses the award-winning tread design from the Easyboot Glove. The anatomically designed sole provides maximum flexibility and resists wear.

The sole shape is available in 18 regular and wide sizes, just like the Easyboot Glove, accommodating a broad variety of hoof shapes for definitive comfort and security. This is a medium to high mileage riding boot (25 – 50 miles per week).

Go to easybootglovebackcountry.com on Monday for the unveiling.

 

As I look back over the Easyboot Facebook questions to you from the last few months, there are common themes in your responses.

If you could have any wish come true for 2012, what would it be?

*  More time in the saddle
*  To ride my horse on the beach
*  Compete a season of LD's with Easyboot Gloves
*  Hit the dusty trail more often

What is the single most important lesson you learned from your horse in 2012?

*  Not take him for granted, life is short - ride while you can
*  I can't live without them
*  He can go barefoot with the help of his Easyboot Gloves
*  She is a keeper, a once in a lifetime horse


* Think outside the box in training and protective hoof boots
* Be quiet and take the time to listen to your horse





Do you have a New Year's Resolution?

*  Ride More
*  Win another barrel racing buckle (a girl after my own heart)
*  More time in the saddle out on the trails
*  Get a pair of Easyboots
*  Make riding time a priority
*  Try out Easyboots with studs so I can ride in the snow





What are the common themes? More time in the saddle, escape to the trail and have your horse in Easyboots.


Reminds me of some of the words in Kenny Chesney's song, Reality.

"Reality, sometimes life ain't all it's cracked up to be.
So, let's take a chance and live this fantasy
cause everybody needs to break from reality.
Where we feel that sense of freedom
Leave our worries behind, we don't need 'em
All we need is a sunny day and we'll escape realty."
 

 

Submitted by Chris Hordley from the UK

The Easyboot Epics fit and have been a life saver, literally. Casper's donkey feet were so tender that I was considering putting him to sleep this winter. He had a history of laminitis prior to coming to us. Plus, he is white and at least 35 years old. He is full of spirit in himself, but was finding moving on our yard so painful with his hoof problems.
 

 

He is good about having his protective horse boots put on and it's tricky because he is small to close the clip down without his weight against you to help. We manage and he is much happier walking around.
 

 

It's official. The votes have been tabulated and the new Team Easyboot 2012 members have been announced. The list of names is published on the Team Easyboot page of the EasyCare website.

We received an overwhelming number of applications for this year's Team Easyboot. The panel of EasyCare staff members and volunteers made their selections based on diversity of representation in geography, discipline, age and skill set. They were also asked to use their observations from the Team Easyboot 2011 dialogue to select their list of 75. Our goal is to to populate TE12 with members whom we think will be active in their various communities. We think you will find the TE12 members to be engaged, excited, educated and communicative about EasyCare's product line and application methods.

Team members are expected to participate actively in at least 7 of the following 12 items:

1. Represent EasyCare in a professional and positive manner
2. Be fully knowledgeable about all EasyCare products and help others in the field
3. Keep information available and on hand to help answer people’s questions
4. Be available to assist in boot fitting and advice in person and on line
5. Provide feedback on product as needed
6. Actively promote the EasyCare brand in person
7. Submit bio, photo and monthly schedule of activities and availability to help others
8. Blog once a month on the EasyCare corporate blog
9. Actively participate with positive interaction and product advice on the Easyboot Facebook page
10. Wear Team Easyboot attire at events
11. Display Team Easyboot logo on tack, trailers and vehicles
12. Consider hosting boot fitting clinics in conjunction with hoof care practitioners

A brief bio and photo of each of the TE12 members will be posted post haste. Do you know any of the new TE12 members?

Team Easyboot 2012 Members

After my horse, Filly, had her front feet trimmed within 1/4 inch of her coffin bone, she nearly foundered and we were off parades, drill and trail for the remainder of the season. I was devestated. She recovered well and went on to win two USEDC titles in Advanced Youth drill team work, but on the trails she was still tender in the front.

I purchased a full set of four Boa Horse Boots to protect her feet when we ride trails. So now she wears her Boas, or her sneakers, as I call them, on her front feet for all our trail rides and a full set in rocky terrain. She knows the difference. Where she would avoid the trail and go into the grass before wearing the Boas, she now stays to the trail and plows right over the stones and gravel with no hesitation and no discomfort.

This past summer, we were able to enjoy several night rides that would not have been possible if it we didn't have these wonderful boots! Thank you, EasyCare for giving my horse many more years of enjoyment on the trails

Name: R. Dinse
City: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Equine Discipline: Pleasure Riding
Favorite Boot: Boa Horse Boot

Would you like to be an industry insider? Would you like access to discounted product in exchange for helping EasyCare promote the brand? Who wouldn't?

Applications for Team Easyboot 2012 close tomorrow, Wednesday, February 8 at midnight MST. If you have not already submitted your application, you can do so now by going to the Team Easyboot page on our website.

The team members in 2011 enjoyed sharing information among themselves, and then using it as a basis to disseminate information across their broader communities nationally and internationally.

I've listed below some of the things Team Easyboot 2011 members had to say about their experience.

"I have learned a lot this year, and have been able to help several horses and their riders as a result."

"I have really enjoyed being in the team and I'm hoping I will be picked for 2012 also, I really want to stay on this train of knowledge!"

"Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to be involved with the team this year. I have been able to keep up to date with all the latest developments with Easyboot and try some of the hints and tips out with customers."

"I can't tell you how much I enjoyed being part of Team Easy Boot 2011! I have to say the thing I loved the most is that I was able to help out many new booters at home and at rides."

"I have been very impressed by how active the team was this year and enjoyed reading about all the tips and solutions."

"I thought the conversation & blogs of TE11 were extremely helpful in teaching me how to overcome the complexities of boots. It is so important that customers have positive first time experiences booting their horses and I felt so much better equipped to make that happen."

"The knowledge exchange is just the best. Having a variety of experience levels and disciplines has really broadened my understanding of how the boots can be used. The best part is of course the team itself and the information exchanged but a very close second is being able to be a resource to others."

"Thank you for the opportunity to help others with their booting. I love the exchange of information among the group. We all learn from each other and together think up some great ideas and solutions." We're looking for a broad range of representatives from various disciplines from across the globe, so please send in your application.

Want to read more? You get all the juicy details by reading last week's announcement.

There are some people who believe shoes have ruined the human foot. They say that shoes have made our feet weak and that the majority of foot problems and lower joint injuries occur as a result of wearing modern footwear. These views are a bit extreme since not all shoes are created equal and the length of time spent wearing a given shoe must also be considered. A person who frequently walks around in high heels is going to have much unhealthier feet than someone who wears tennis shoes. An equine equivalent would be the difference between “Big Lick” Tennessee Walking Horses and those that are flat shod. There are times when foot protection is necessary for humans and horses alike - selecting the appropriate type of protection is what is important. With the upcoming release of the Easyboot Glove Back Country and the development of the EasyShoe, horse owners will have more choices in hoof protection than ever before.


A few months ago I started running. This encouraged me to research the human barefoot movement and Vibram FiveFingers, a minimalist shoe (which is more or less a human equivalent to EasyCare hoof boots). Being well versed in the arguments surrounding the equine barefoot movement, I was fascinated that the arguments in the human barefoot movement are strikingly similar. In a nutshell, supporters of both barefoot movements argue traditional shoes weaken the internal structures of the foot and lower leg which increases the likelihood of injury. Detractors of both movements argue traditional shoes are necessary to protect the foot and that the likelihood of injury is higher without this protection. Whether you are a human or a horse, going barefoot is not as simple as removing traditional shoes – both require a transition period and conditioning. The length of this transition varies in both humans and horses; for some it may take weeks or months to be comfortable barefoot while for others it can take more than a year.


There are many runners embracing the human barefoot movement and this has encouraged shoe manufacturers to develop running shoes that blur the line between minimalist shoes and traditional ones. Similarly, the EasyShoe will blur the line between alternative and traditional hoof protection, creating a unique option that combines advantages of both. For the time being I have put the Vibram FiveFingers on hold and am using a light weight trail runner that has some minimalist properties. Being young and healthy I am sure I could go barefoot and that over time my feet would strengthen a considerable amount. In the same manner, most horses that have been raised with proper stimulation, nutrition, and environment do not need steel shoes. The majority of horses lacking such an upbringing are able to make a successful transition with the aid of a qualified trimmer/farrier and the appropriate hoof protection. As with most things in life, there is no absolute right or wrong; you must do the research, weigh the pros and cons, and in the end, make the decision you are comfortable with.

What do you get when you cross the hoof boot that was used to win the 2011 100 mile Tevis Cup with the polyurethane horse shoe that was used to win the 2011 136th running of the Preakness? 

A new tool for farriers and hoofcare professionals.  The new glue-on urethane shoe is a collaboration between EasyCare and No-Anvil.  The combined efforts have produced a new urethane hoof protection device that blur the lines between boots and shoes.  The urethane hybrid device absorbs concussion, is held securely in place for a shoeing cycle without nails, is lighter weight than most all nail on shoes and allows the hoof to expand and contract as nature intended. 


Stay tuned for more updates and news on the collaboration. 

Gail Snyder recently wrote an interesting two-part article for Natural Horse Magazine on the best practices for managing and preventing thrush.

"Thrush is as controversial a topic as any in the equine world. Everyone has a tried-and-true remedy with free advice for you. If you doubt that statement, type "horse thrush" into an online search engine. In this two part series, I'll cover the topic of thrush in detail."

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/

Here are the downloads to the articles:

Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally - Part 1
Thrush: Restoring Hoof Health Naturally - Part 2

Let me know what you think of them.

We're listening. Please tell us what you think.

If you are a current EasyCare customer and you've purchased Easyboot hoof boots within the last 12 months, we'd like to hear from you.

Help us shape the evolution of our boot design based on what is important to you as a boot user. It won't take you longer than five minutes to complete and your answers are completely anonymous.

Click on the survey link now at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/utltimateeasyboot2012 and follow the simple directions on screen. The survey closes at midnight PST on Friday, February 3, 2012.

We're listening. And we hear you.

P.S. Enter the sweepstakes at the end of the survey and you could win $100 in Boot Bucks, (redeemable only through purchases made directly through EasyCare). Due to gaming restictions imposed through the Survey Monkey platform, the online sweepstakes is only open to US residents. We will therefore hold a separate drawing of all non-US residents who identify themselves as such in the demographic section at the end of the survey.

Submitted by Joanne Pavlis, Team Easyboot 2012 Member

Back in the December 2011 Newsletter, Garrett Ford wrote to us about the concept of “New Tracks”, and asked us the question “Have you ever thought about what tracks you leave”?

As a licensed race track trainer, riding instructor, endurance competitor, and equine wellness foundation founder, I think about this all the time. Whenever I contemplate the vision of “New Tracks”, I recall the remarkable journey I embarked upon with this new EasyCare concept and product. MileMakers has played, and continues to play, a small part in the overall EasyCare evolution of change, as we all move ahead with our new found knowledge and product development. When I think of what Milemakers does on a daily basis, it seems relevant as an answer to the proposed question.

MileMakers began seriously promoting EasyCare products and educating our local horse community about the benefits of equine hoof boot protection in 2011. It has been the best transformation we could have made for our horses health, while giving us the added benefit of exposure to the latest science and technology to better educate those owners who had been sitting on the fence between old school & new school thinking.  EasyCare is constantly improving their product to better the wellness of horses, and they do it by using sound research while listening to the horse’s response.

Time and again, I lay witness to the fact that people will not change unless they fully understand the reasons behind the need for change. That is why, at MileMakers, we believe in promoting the education behind the EasyCare concept as we develop one knowledgeable customer at a time. Each newly educated owner/equestrian represents a “new track”. And each “new track” represents a seed of knowledge that has been planted and will continue to grow.

When the new EasyBoot Racing Shoe concept came onto the horizon, there was a lot of head scratching, questions, and a whole lot of “what if” scenarios. Some race track officials and commissioners didn’t know how to react to this new product because it was a divergence from their zone of comfortable knowledge. Other racing officials embraced the new concept, and were able to easily see the benefits for the future of horse racing, and overall equine foot health. No evolutionary journey is without its setbacks. The key is to remain confident with your concept despite those who want to drag you back down to “what has always been” and “we’ve been doing it this way for the last 200 years”.

In 2012, MileMakers will walk our talk. We plan to take our 3 year old colt, Defying Magic, (a.k.a. Indy) to the race track.

He has been barefoot his entire life, and will only wear the new EasyBoot Race Glue-Ons, while running races, due to a Colorado Racing Commission ruling which calls for all race horses to wear hoof protection. He is the first foal we ever bred, and we will not trust his feet to any other type of hoof care product or ideology.  

The journey one must take when laying down “new tracks” will never be an easy one. But by using education and proven results we can progress one step at a time. That’s why at MileMakers our motto is “Not just a destination, but a journey taken one hoofbeat at a time.”  With “New Tracks” I am excited about what I do as a Team Easyboot member, and we plan to leave a lot of “New Tracks” in 2012.

“Sometimes you’ve got to run away and see if they follow” - Manfield Park.

EasyCare will accept applications for Team Easyboot 2012 until midnight on Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Visit the Team Easyboot section of the EasyCare website for more details and to complete the application form.