Submitted by Tanya Robertson, EasyCare Customer
With the purchase of a new horse in June 2016, I set out with a purpose. In my mind my aim was simple, transition my new gelding from metal shoes to boots. I am not the most patient person in the world and I never will be. When I get something in my mind I want it done right away, now, if not yesterday. Instant success is addicting! This partnership with my horse is a journey that I continue to learn from and teaches me patience.
I have tried other boots on other horses. Everything from boots that when the wire broke you had to make sure you were carrying spare zap straps with you, to big clompy boots that flew off into the bush when cantering. I read the reviews, searched the forums and decided on the Easyboot Gloves. Only one local tack store had them and they were over priced. I was already getting impatient. I didn’t bother ordering the sizing kit and instead traced my horses feet on cardboard, measured, re-measured and jumped on buying a set of four size #1.5’s online at a reasonable price. I found a farrier willing to work with me and who understood my purpose. When the hauler arrived and my new horse came off the shipping trailer he was barefoot in the hind and had metal shoes with clips in the front. I have no idea why. First things first, off with the metal shoes!
After a few trail rides in the wet West Coast over bridges, on rocks and through rivers I was very happy with my new Easyboot Gloves. They stayed on, didn’t rub or fill up with rocks and debris. We could walk, trot, canter and the boots didn’t go flying off into the bush! Success, or so I thought. Another visit from my farrier and he pointed out some stone bruises. I questioned if I should put metal shoes back on. Was I doing the right thing? Was my horse uncomfortable? I cringed every time I watched him walk barefoot across rocks like he was walking on egg shells. My horse came to me with a thin hoof wall and feet that barely grew between the eight week visits with my farrier. I knew I had to get his feet stronger so I changed up his diet and started adding Biotin.
After less than a month of riding in size #1.5’s the gaiter stitching ripped from the boot while cantering on the road. EasyCare was fantastic to deal with and I received a replacement under their 90 day replacement warranty. I started venturing out on rides with friends and kept having a boot come off. I would have to ask everyone to stop and wait while I put the offending boot back on, usually while teetering on a small winding mountain trail with a drop off. I was getting frustrated. The gaiter was staying on but the shell of the boot was coming off, dangling around my horses leg. So while the boot didn’t go flying off into the bush it was still coming off.
I questioned the process the whole way. Always asking myself if I was doing what was best for my horse. I posted on forums asking others for insight on how long this transition would take and if I should just give up and go back to metal shoes. Questioning my farrier and the process, hovering over his every move. Contacting EasyCare looking for answers. You always get a plethora of opinions from horse people but the majority encouraged me to continue on. All the support I had helped me go from one failure to the next without giving up.
Another visit with my farrier and he told me I was using the wrong size. The same day I ordered half a size smaller and put my existing boots up for sale. When the new size arrived I continued to strap them on like I had the larger size. Another mistake. The Velcro gaiter was now overly tight and started to rub and cause blisters. I had to give my horse time off the trails to heal and could only go barefoot in the hog fuel arena. I was itching to ride the trails again. A couple emails with EasyCare and I decided to try doing up the Velcro gaiter much looser. Success! No more rubbing! I really learned the difference of a correct fitted boot and in hindsight should have ordered the sizing kit.
Six months after the start of our Easyboot journey I am a happy customer with a happy horse with healthy feet. Many said it would take longer. I almost gave up. At first they will ask you why you are doing it. Later they will ask how you did it.
