Karen's EasyCare & Endurance Musings

New technology for horse foot wear

ABC News recently did a short story on advances in hoof care including the use of EasyCare hoof boots in place of iron shoes.  Click here to view. 

Updated EasyCare catalog off to the printers

The newest version of the 2008 EasyCare catalog is off to the printers.  It contains a few updates and will be available soon. 

To download a copy in .pdf, click here.

There are lots of products in there ranging from EasyCare hoof boots to items to help with natural hoof care as well as accessories like comfort pads and replacement parts.

There are also lots of great products for the trail horse and rider - everything from EZ ride stirrups to nice comfy sheepskin saddle covers to stowaway saddle packs, gear and a wide range of accessories. 

Don't forget that EasyCare offers a 30 day money back guarantee on new hoof boots - so you can shop with confidence.  Now is a great time to look into natural hoof care and weighing the benefits of keeping your horse barefoot and using boots when they are needed. 

EasyCare Hoof Boot Upgrade Program

To learn more, click here or go to hoofbootupgrades.com

EasyCare is seeking a Graphic Design Specialist

I really hate having to post this because it means that our Jessica is going to be leaving us.  We are really going to miss her and know it'll be extremely difficult to find somebody as talented as she is. 

I'm so sad!  Here is a graphic showing some of the creative work Jessica has done, in addition to putting together our catalogs, brochures and lots of other items.  Anyway....here is the job opening that we will need to fill soon. 

New Equestrian Products - Videos at horsecity.com

Here is a link to some videos from horsecity.com.  These videos are showing new horse products from the WESA show in Denver in January.  Below is the video they made at our EasyCare booth on our new product updates, including the new Easyboot Edge boot. 

New Survey - Easyboots in Colors

Google just introduced a really neat new feature to their Google Docs.  They now will allow you to create surveys and it automatically fills out a spreadsheet for you to see all of the results.  So I'd like to try it out with this question:

Would you like to see Easyboots in colors?

Please answer even if you have done so previously - we'd like to know how much interest there is.  You can see that we did previously have regular Easyboots in red, and they are still very popular and I see them used at every endurance ride I go to. 

A new EasyCare ad

Email server is down

We just changed email servers at work, and it's not working.  If you need to reach me, use my gmail address.  I'm sure they will get it fixed asap, but in the meantime I am not able to receive or send email with my work address.  Sorry for the inconvenience. 

New Symposium added to EasyCare Event Schedule

The EasyCare event schedule has been recently updated and now includes the AANHCP Symposium for the Humane and Natural Care of the Horse. 

It is going to be in Reno, Nevada February 24-26, 2008 at the Nugget. 

This event is now also open to the public and would be a great educational opportunity for those that are interested in the topic of hoof care! Click here for more information.

See you there! 

EasyCare money back guarantee

This is actually old news (over a month old, to be exact).  If you buy an Easyboot (or an Epic, Bare, Grip, Boa, Old Mac, G2, Soaker) -- TODAY -- you can try it out and if your horse absolutely hates it or it doesn't fit, you can send it back for up to 30 days for a full refund.  Seriously. 

My horses are all thinking "you aren't sending MY boots back!"  They all really seem to like their boots.  I know Chief is a dedicated Easyboot fan because one time I tried to use a competitors boot on him, and as soon as he saw me coming towards the barn with them, he immediately whacked his leg and caused it to bleed.  You think I'm making that up, but I'm not - he really did!  And aside from that incident, he has never once done that.  Weird, huh?  ;) 

Getting the booth set up

Several of the EasyCare staff is at Denver, CO this week for a tradeshow - here are a couple of shots of some of the booth as we are getting it set up.  We should be all set to go tomorrow!  We are sure lucking out with the weather here, it's been great!  I can't wait to check out some of the other items here, love looking at horse stuff. 

If you'd like to provide feedback on EasyCare boots, here is how.....

If you are having some issues or problems with your EasyCare hoof boots (that would include the entire Easyboot line: original Easyboots, Epics, Bares, Grips or Custom; Old Mac's original or G2, Boa Horse Boots, or EasySoakers) - fill out this form and submit it.  You can even attach photos.  If the form doesn't work for you, you can email (or call) customer service. 

Another way to participate in providing feedback is to apply for a spot on Team Easyboot.  Applications are here, and more information on what we are looking for can be found here.  We have received close to 100 applications so far and will start the selection process in a couple of weeks. 

New EasyCare hoof boot gaiters, and hoof boot design

I've been really happy with how the current Easyboots have been working on my horses this year, especially at the last few endurance rides I've done.  Tigger just did 50 miles last weekend with four Epics - two with existing gaiters and two with a pair of trial gaiters.  They all did super well, and didn't cause any problems - here is a photo of one of his pasterns that I took after finishing.  No rubbing anywhere, which is great.  The new gaiters were also super easy to get on in the morning, in freezing cold temps -- even on a horse that is not the most cooperative about having his feet handled.  He is getting better and I got all four boots on him fast enough to warm up inside the trailer and avoid getting frozen hands and feet. 
Lots of new stuff is in the works at EasyCare.  Check out the latest on some of the new gaiter designs in Garrett's blog.  Stay tuned for more info on upcoming hoof boot developments.  My horses can hardly wait!   
 

Stagecoach Ride

Looks like Tigger will get to do a 50 on Saturday.  I have to admit that I'm not particularly looking forward to doing this ride.  It's three days/155 miles -- I'm just going to go out and do one of the days.  Fortunately it is a close ride, only about 60 miles from my house.  I think the reasons why I'm not really excited about it (like I am for other rides) is because 1)  I'm not very fond of the trail and riding alongside highway 50 in a 65 mph zone  (been there, done that), and 2) because I'm not going to be riding Chief,  ;)  and 3) because I have been gone a lot and really want to have some time to spend at home for a change. 

I promised Chief that he would get a couple of months off between the ride seasons, after he did 5 days at Grand Canyon.  I like to let the horses have breaks after they have a big ride season, and Chief did do 1370 miles in 2007.  It will be good for Tigger to get to do this ride for conditioning purposes.  He has been really coming along well and I am really happy with how well he has progressed this year.  And, I did get to ride Chief yesterday so it's all good.  We had fun trying out some of the new boots that EasyCare is working on. 

The New Easyboot Name is......

The winner of the contest to name the new boot -- Pete Ramey!  Pete was the only person to suggest the name Easyboot Edge.

It took a lot of time to narrow the names down.  We had nearly 1600 names submitted, in which over 1200 were unique (not duplicated).  We narrowed them down, then voted, narrowed down and voted some more.  Discussed which ones we liked or didn't like, and why.  Then FINALLY late this afternoon we came up with the name of the new boot.  Easyboot Edge!!! 

We will be doing more testing of the new boot and only when we are satisfied that it passes all of our tests will it be released to the public.  I am already confident that this boot will be better than any other boot on the market.  It's going to be a really nice boot! 

Applications are still being accepted for Team Easyboot, for those that are interested in helping out with the testing process. 

EasyCare Press Releases

The latest EasyCare press release is about Team Easyboot.  Check it out.

For those of you into contests - check out Garrett's blog in the next couple of days for your chance to win a pair of Easyboots. 

EasyCare Video Contest

We are going to announce the winners soon of the 2007 EasyCare Summer Video Contest.  There will be ten winners.  Which videos do you like best?  You can view all of the submissions here. 

Congratulations Garrett and Cyclone - BC on Day 3 of Bryce!

Here are photos of Garrett with Spyder at the Bryce Canyon XP this last week.  On the day after these photos were taken Garrett finished in 8th place with Cyclone and received the Best Condition Award!  Way  to go, Congratulations!  Cyclone is barefoot and used Easyboot Epics, and Spyder is also barefoot and used regular Easyboots. 

I'm working on putting up an album right now of photos from the ride.  It is taking awhile because there are over 500 even though I deleted at least that many.  I'll post the link as soon as the upload is complete. 

Bryce Photo Shoot Photos

Here are a few photos that Jessica took during our photo shoot before the XP ride started.  She did a great job!   Thanks to everybody that volunteered their time and put out so much effort to help with this.   We got quite a bit of variety as you can see.  The scenery here is truly spectacular.  The Bryce XP ride is definitely one of the best.   

EasyCare Press Releases

The EasyCare website is kept current with the press releases I send out.  I try not to do more than two a month.  Sometimes it's hard to narrow it down to the two topics that are the most newsworthy.  The most recent PR was about our new German distributor. 

Name the new EasyCare Boot update

Here is a list of names submitted so far.  It's close to 1200.  When you see duplicates it is because more than one person submitted that name.  You can submit more name ideas to us at this email address.  We'll keep accepting entries until September 15, 2007.  The first person to submit the name that we choose will win a year supply of the new hoof boots!  The new boot is shaping up to be very promising but will be kept top secret until all necessary paperwork has been completed as well as passing through a very thorough testing process.  I want this boot to hold up to extreme conditions and be an improvement over the current EasyCare line of boots, which is asking a lot. 

Need Easyboot Parts - Cables, Buckles, Heelstraps?

During the month of August, EasyCare will be offering a two for one special on Easyboot parts. Limit of four free items of equal or lesser value per customer (one free for each item purchased). Website orders only.  Simply place your order online (Aug 1-31st) for each part you need and your order total will be adjusted so that you will be charged the correct amount. 

Parts included are for the Easyboot and include standard buckles, cables, and heelstraps.

Parts included are: SB-CABLE/05, SB-CABLE, SB-CONLY/05, SB-CONLY, SB-STRAP, SB-STRAP/05, SB-CLEATCOV, SB-BUCKLEPIN and SB-SCREWSET

This is a great deal if you have an Easyboot, or even an Epic that needs a new part.  The cast buckles are now made out of an even stronger metal so are not likely to break.  Check out this video. 

EasyCare Event Schedule

As you can see, EasyCare has a fairly busy event schedule with various events.  We've got tradeshows, hoof care clinics and endurance rides coming up.

While I am in Australia in November for Equitana, I'm going to be attending some endurance rides (and riding!).  I'm most excited about the opportunity to do a 160 km ride in Victoria that will be on the same trail as the 2008 Quilty.  :)  Since it's a FEI only ride I've got a lot of paperwork to do with the USEF. 

Dave beats easyboot buckle with hammer. Result: Buckle 1, Dave 0.

Dave Rabe submitted this video for the EasyCare Video Contest.  He took a boot that had done a 155 mile endurance ride and beat the buckle with a hammer, trying to break the buckle.  If you'd like to submit a video for the contest (you could win some cool prizes) click here, there is more than a month left! Here is the result of Dave's battle with the boot buckle....

EasyCare Weekly Special

This is a really great deal.  If you like Comfort Pads, that is.  ;) 

Hoof Boots in Action Photo Album & How to get your own photo in the 2008 EasyCare Calendar

We've received many great photos since this album was put together, so while it is a little outdated it still shows how many different ways equestrians are using their EasyCare hoof boots. 

We're currently collecting photos to choose from for the 2008 EasyCare Calendar.  We don't pay for these photos, or give anything away to those that we do choose (except for maybe a few extra copies of the calendar), but still -- it's pretty cool to get your photo published in a calendar! 

If you've got a good high quality photo that you'd like to submit for consideration, please click here for details on exactly how to do that.  We'd love to get a variety of users from all over the world.  Last year we had a few photos from riders in Australia, South Africa and mainly the United States featuring draft horses, driving horses, endurance and trail/pleasure horses.  We'd love to show a greater variety but need to get photos that are good enough quality.

Hoof Boot Commentary Straight From The Horse's Mouth

In case anybody thinks we only thoroughly test our own hoof boots -- Click here for the latest on EasyCare hoof boot R&D!

Weekly EasyCare Special

WEEKLY SPECIAL

July 8-14, 2007.  To celebrate the 53rd annual Tevis Cup 100 Mile Endurance ride the next 53 website orders over $53 will receive a FREE EasyCare Gear Bag!

These bags are really nice, I love them for keeping my boots organized, and also for storing horse blankets in.  They can also be handy on rides where you have multiple out vet-checks and need to send a few things separately. 

 

Easyboot Bares on the Rocks - Video Contest Submission

This is a great video submitted for the EasyCare Video Contest!  If you'd like to see what the contest is all about, check out the EasyCare Video Blog.  You've still got plenty of time to enter, so get out there and have some fun being creative with your horse!  Hope everybody is enjoying their 4th of July holiday in the USA! 

Happy Dance - Ooga Chaka

This is the closet thing I could find to a Happy Dance, to celebrate the good news for EasyCare! 

EasyCare made THREE Equestrian Magazine covers in one month!

What timing, huh?  EasyCare had three covers of different magazines feature our hoofboots on the covers - in the same month!  Our newest EasyCare product catalog also happens to have a photo from the same photo shoot on it's cover as the one on Trail Blazer.  It's great to be getting so much publicity for our products that have been so well received (and so necessary!) in the equestrian industry! 

New stuff at EasyCare

Some news from Garrett's blog.  As you can tell, we never get bored.  ;) 

Feedback on the dome pads

So far the feedback on the dome comfort pads has been really good.  I know I really like them for my horses.  I hope that we can add them to the product lineup in sizes.  They are currently in testing.  Here is some feedback that I just recently received:

EasyCare Gloves, Hoofjacks and more....

I've been using these gloves for a few months now and love them.  They are so great for using around the barn and absolutely the best thing I've found for using while working on my horses hooves and using while putting their boots on and off.  Every other kind of gloves I tried seemed to get torn up, or weren't really protecting my hands.  The price is reasonable too - 5.95 a pair.  What I like the best is that the size small fits my hands - well -- like a glove!  I can actually do things with these gloves on.  With other gloves I would have to take them off sometimes in order to use my fingers. 

Besides the new EasyCare gloves, EasyCare has also started recently carrying the Hoofjack.  Now through the end of May, anybody that orders a hoofjack will receive a $25 credit on their next order.  I've had a Hoofjack for years now and use it often.  It goes to rides with me so I always have it with me in case I need to do any last minute touchups on the horses hooves.  My rasp and hoofpick stay conveniently attached to the magnets on the stand.  Now all I need is a horse! 

So what do you want to know about hoof boots?

We are starting to work on a new page for the website that will be titled "New to Boots?".  It will be a starting place for people new to hoof boots. 

It would be great to get some comments or suggestions from some of you on what you think would be helpful to include on that page.  What are the first questions you had about hoof boots?  What do you know now that you wish you knew then about hoof boots?  What don't you know now that you wish you knew, about hoof boots? ;) 

Feel free to post comments in my blog below, or send me an email.  Thanks! 

Article on the Hoof-Boot Market

An equestrian magazine geared towards retailers just recently ran a several page article on hoof boots.  It's really good, and look, the first page even has a photo of Chief's back side!  lol   This was taken at the Grand Canyon ride when we did our photo shoot there last October. 

If there are any EasyCare dealers out there who would like to see the entire article, please visit Boot Camp - a blog set up specifically for keeping dealers informed.  The entire article will be added shortly.  If you need the password to get in, you can find it in your newsletters or contact your sales rep.

EasyCare Team - my turn

Most everybody else has put up info about themselves on their blogs.  Here is Garrett's, and several from the Customer Service Rep's.  Previously in my blog I posted info on Tara and Jessica.

I'm the Marketing Director for EasyCare.  I take care of the advertising, promotions, write the newsletter and most of the website content.  I also help a lot with R&D, and manage the product testing programs as well as the EasyCare Hoof Boot Contest.  I also blog, and ride quite a bit!

In my spare time I help Dave and Ann with XP Rides.  I sanction the rides (around 30 per year) and help with all of the paperwork, insurance, results, whatever needs to be done.  I also write articles from time to time that have been published in various magazines and newsletters about endurance riding or other horse or trail related topics.  I have one husband, two dogs and four---no make that FIVE horses!  Two of them are waiting for me to go load them into the trailer and head off for our next adventure!  :)  Karen 

Trail Blazer & EasyCare Photo

Boa Boots are on the cover of Trail Blazer this month.  :) 

Meet the EasyCare Team - Jessica

Hi, I'm Jessica. I work with Karen and the rest of the team to produce our catalogs, packaging and advertising. I also do stuff like maintain the website, create product images, and make sure everyone has graphics to post in their blogs and newsletters. When EasyCare hired me, I was still a student at the University of Arizona.  Then when I graduated last year, they brought me on full time and have been keeping me pretty busy ever since!

Just for fun, here's a little video of my rabbit, Remi, making himself comfortable.

Answering Email Questions

I'm always available to answer questions.  All you need to do is email me.  You can also call EasyCare and get me - I am ext. 2250.  I do my best to answer the emails as promptly as I can.  Some days I get A LOT of questions - and sometimes the questions aren't simple one sentence questions.  Sometimes they are several paragraphs long and require some time to go through them and answer them.  I tend to get more behind when I am away at a ride for a few days and have no internet service.  (this gives me the experience I need to be able to answer the questions that I do get)  I try to add an auto response that lets people know I am out of the office.  If somebody needs an immediate response to a boot question, it's best to send an email to the Admin address. 

I sort the questions I receive into folders and have good intentions to get back to them that same day, and usually I do... but ... sometimes real life intervenes in the form of meetings, phone calls and deadlines.  Before I know it, I didn't get everything answered as quickly as I would have liked - if you have a question that has an immediate need please contact the above Admin address or don't be shy about emailing me again.  I don't mind, really! 

My next ride will hopefully be Mt. Carmel.  To check the upcoming EasyCare schedule, go to this link.  I usually also need one or two days on each side of the ride dates for travel. 

Easyboot R&D Stuff, New Fastening System

We're testing a new fastening system on the Easyboot.  So far, it's working better than we anticipated.  No cables, no buckles.  And the boot can be adjusted even tighter than it can with a cable and buckle.  Pretty cool.  :) 

New EasyCare Blog Contest

If you or somebody you know have had success using Easyboots or some other EasyCare product and have a few minutes to spare, let us know and include a photo.  We'll send you a free Get A Grip T-shirt!  Limited to the first 25 responses, and they need to include a valid email address and a photo.  Submissions can be sent through the EasyCare website at this link. 

In addition to getting a T-shirt, each month we vote on the testimonials and stories that come in.  The one with the most votes receives a free pair of Easyboot Epics!  So sharpen up those writing skills and charge up your camera battery!  Time's a wastin...!! 

Meet the EasyCare Team - Tara

We're going to be posting info on all of the Team members at EasyCare in the coming weeks.  I'm going to start it off with some info on my assistant Tara.  She does a great job helping us keep up!  In addition to the other items she lists she also compiles the results from the hoof boot contest.   Check our other blogs in the next few days (and this one too) if you want to meet more of us and put a face to our names, should you ever have reason to contact EasyCare.  Karen

**
Hi, I’m Tara.  I moved here from California with my husband Travis and dog Duke last year.  Living in the desert has made us realize how much we really miss the beaches of California and the San Francisco Giants of course.  So we go back often to visit family, friends, the beach and catch a ball game:) We also run our church youth group which really keeps us on our toes!

I started working at EasyCare after Thanksgiving last year and I love it.  I live so close, that some days I just walk to work!  A nice change of pace from sitting in traffic day after day!  I work on a variety of things here at EasyCare.  You’ll find me editing and proofing blogs, newsletters and ad copy, working with contests, compiling our growing list of donation requests, tracking warranties, making travel and trade show arrangements and tinkering with the online store to name a few.  I have the privilege of working with an awesome group of people who are a joy to be around.  Being new to the horse world, they have taught me a lot.  It is really nice to enjoy coming into work every day.

EasySoaker Promotion

We are starting a new promo with the EasySoaker boot.  Here is a link with more information, and here is the press release on it.  The dome pads are still being tested and we've received mostly positive feedback so far.  Some people have had trouble with the sizing since the pads have only been made in one size.  Once you trim them down so far, you lose the dome shape.  Others haven't been sure how to trim - I do it so that I keep the most concave part of the pad in the concave section of the horses hoof. 

I like using the Soakers on my horses, and none of the reasons are because they have hoof problems.  I like to make Dave's job trimming them easier in the summer when their hooves get so hard.  Now I'm soaking them in warm water with the pads in their boots and walking them every other day to see how that works.  Cheryl Henderson is working on an article explaining the benefits to the horses hoof of doing that. 

If somebody would like to try the Soakers on their horse (with or without the pads) to see if it might help improve their horses feet (or make them easier for their trimmer to work on), I'll give away a free pair in a drawing to everybody who comments below on what type of non-horse use I referenced using the dome pads for in one of the above links.  I'll give everybody a week or so to respond and pick a winner after I get back from Color Country. 

EasyCare's Dealer Support

Here's a post written just recently by Garrett.  He posted it in his blog, and on ridecamp.

Custom Easyboots Available

Click here to read more about the new Custom Easyboots.  It's pretty cool that you can order your horses hoof boots any way you want them!

I Believe in EasyCare Hoof Boots!

Here is a link to a new PR out today on our new ad campaign.  If you've got a good photo and would like to be considered for inclusion in these ads let me know!

Happy Anniversary to me! (and EasyCare)

Wow, can you believe I've been working for EasyCare for a whole year already!  Time flies when you are having fun!!  We've accomplished a lot in the last year but for me the most exciting part is that I think we have so much more potential and opportunity ahead of us. 

Just as soon as I get a few more things taken care of this morning, I'm going to celebrate by going out and riding a horse for a couple of hours this afternoon. 

New EasyCare online catalog

NEW! Browse through an interactive version of the EasyCare printed catalog, with direct links to the items in the online store!

Really Awesome Deal on Easyboots!

Now is a great time to stock up on hoof boots if you need any.  New inventory has arrived and the new incoming boots are updated and improved.  In order to keep from shipping last years product to dealers, the remaining inventory has been placed into the Bargain Bin.  Currently, there are Boas, Easyboots, Epics and Soakers. 

Don't miss this chance for a really great bargain.  If your horse uses boots this is a great opportunity to get your next set or have a couple of spares.  There is nothing wrong with these boots, in fact if parts wear out or break you can replace them with the newest parts quite easily.  At these special prices, once word gets out they will not last long so don't spend too much time thinking about it!

If you get your order in soon enough you might also be able to get one of the free Get A Grip t-shirts.  Just be sure to add the size you want into your shopping cart prior to checking out.