Everybody knows that we tend to learn more from our mistakes and failures than from when everything goes right. Yet we spend most of our lives making sure we look perfect from the outside, presenting our good side and leaving the not so great parts in the shadows, hidden away from our Facebook walls, Instagram posts, and EasyCare blogs. I want to buck the trend and share with you one of my bungles. I learned from it and hope that by sharing it you can too, perhaps the easier, less expensive way.
Remember my blog about applying EasyShoe Performances to my horse? Two weeks out from application and my worst suspicions are confirmed. Left shoe looks great but the right shoe not so much. I knew it when I applied the shoe and saw (and felt) the Adhere was setting up before I could even get it smeared all the way around the shoe.
At the time I thought about putting my Adhere and a fresh shoe back on ice and letting them cool down before starting over but opted instead to roll with it. I knew that my hoof prep was bulletproof and was curious how much effect the partly cured glue would really have. Turns out, it had a lot of effect. Check out two days after I noticed the heel popped, the toe has come undone, the cuff has sheared in two, and while technically the shoe is still on the foot, it’s obvious that this glue job is not long for this world.
But look at the left side. Exact same protocol followed to a T. The only difference is that I did the left side first when the glue was straight out of my cooler. Having the Adhere a little cooler than the ambient 90 degrees bought me that 30 seconds so critical to the success of the application. That’s it. That’s the only difference. A couple of degrees and just a few seconds was all it took to throw a wrench in my glue job.
The moral of the story here is that with the EasyShoe Application, one little thing can have big consequences on the outcome and longevity of application. Truthfully, I was bummed with my mistake but had already predicted it. As it turns out, pulling that shoe was still a bear! I wonder how many more days it would have made it on its own. We will never know as I had to get those shoes off to take Rosie to the Durango Pete Ramey clinic the following day. I guess if you are going to screw a gluing up, it may as well time perfectly with a long awaited clinic!
Rebecca Balboni
Customer Service Representative
A lifetime of riding and showing sport horses has given me a deep appreciation for the importance of soundness and comfort on performance. Let me help elevate your equine experience by finding the right boot for your horse and unique situation.