Karen's EasyCare & Endurance Musings

Insulin Resistance Horses

I got the results back from the vet clinic on Rocky.  He doesn't have cushings but was at a 68 on his insulin level with 65 being the top level of normal.  Fortunately I have had my hay tested and know what he's been being fed.  My current hay tested really good, so I am good there.  I think that Rocky's problem started in November when I opened up the fall pasture to all of the horses for two weeks while I was gone on a trip.  He was able to enjoy grazing on the grass, which was by that point brown.  I now know not to do that again!  Fortunately he is doing well and is happy wearing his G2's with dome comfort pads. 

Here is an excerpt from an article on safergras.org:

Old Mac's G2's and Dome Comfort Pads Make for a Happy Horse :)

I took a few photos earlier this morning of Rocky and his Old Macs G2's.  Looks like the spring thaw is well underway and we have been alternating between muddy swampy goop and frozen hard ground.  As you can see from these photos, it's quite the mess! 

Rocky has been wearing his G2's for four days now in these conditions and I wanted to see how things looked inside.  Well, I didn't really *want* to (lol), but I figured that I had better check to make sure he wasn't getting any rubs anywhere, or scratches.  I'll put a note next to each of the photos below explaining what they are.  Click to enlarge. 

This shows the area that the horses are in now.  It's been like this all week.  It melts during the day and becomes a goopy mess.  Then at night, freezes up hard. 

Here is how the boots look on Rocky when I got him out.  He's wearing the G2's on his fronts, with dome comfort pads inside.  I'm not using an inside gaiter or anything because I thought it might get too messy and wanted to see how it would work without.

After digging through the caked on mud, I found the end of the leather buckle strap.  Used a tool to grab onto it and pull it to open.  I did this same thing when putting the boot back on and was able to get it nice and snug.

Here is how the boots looked inside.  I was able to use a hoofpick to clean a bit of the mud out.  Once things dry out further, I'll take the boots off and give them a good cleaning. 

I bought some medicated foot powder at the $1 store and have been putting that inside the boots.  This helps keep it from getting smelly and so far so good - no signs of any thrush and no stench. 

I used a brush and brushed off the foot that I took the boot off of.  You can see that there has been no rubbing from the boots and everything looks great!

Another view showing Rocky's RF from the outside.  There are no signs of scratches, rubbing, or tenderness.  I am pretty sure that he is going to be diagnosed with insulin resistance (since he has all the signs) and am glad that he can wear the boots for extended periods in these kinds of conditions.  I am really glad that he can walk around comfortably on the frozen uneven ground and have total hoof protection.  Rocky is a happy camper! 

Now if only this mud would dry out and stay dried out!! 

 

Lighting the Torch - Horse wearing Old Mac's :)

COMPETITIVE HOOF BOOT UPGRADE PROGRAM

During the month of March EasyCare is going to be expanding the Hoof Boot Upgrade program to include riding boots made by EasyCare.  More information on this will be available in the March newsletter.  You can subscribe by going to this link. 

Easyboots and Old Mac's

These are the cutest photos sent in from a customer.  Have you got a good photo of your horse using EasyCare boots or other product?  If so, submit it for the 2008 EasyCare Calendar or for our 2007 "I Believe in EasyCare Hoofboots" advertising campaign!
Click to enlarge any of the photos.

EasyCare Boot Fitting Clinic

Today we did the EasyCare hoofboot fitting part of the 5 day Ramey/Bowker clinic in Tucson, Az.  The clinic has been going really well and everybody is learning a lot - it's been great!  I had a really rough job today (lol) - I got to show pretty pictures of endurance rides and talk about that and my horses.  Yeah, it was pretty rough :).   I also showed all of the participants how to put Epics and Bares on and shared a few tips.  Most of the tips are here in my blog.  You can find them by clicking on the categories in the left hand column by each subject as well as looking through some of the photo albums that are mostly in the left hand column.  A lot more information can also be found on the easycareinc.com website.

The next two days will have Dr. Bowker speaking.  I can't wait.  Everybody said that the information he presents is excellent. 

 

Eventing in Old Mac's G2 Boots

Just received these photos today from a happy customer.  Here is an email from her telling about their accomplishments in eventing this last year, while using G2's.  Way to go!  They look like they are having fun don't they?  Click on the photos to enlarge.

To update my horse & my's accomplishments while wearing your boots :

1.  We are currently listed 2nd in the Nation on the United States Eventing Association's web site leaderboard. (Senior Beginner Novice Rider)
2.  We just received the 2006 Champion Adult Amateur Jumper award from Colorado West Hunter Jumper Association

3.  We placed 3rd As High point Beginner Novice Horse thru the Mountain States Eventing Association's year end awards

4.  We are also MSEA's Champion Leading Senior Beginner Novice Rider of the Year.
This is all very exciting for me - I raised this mare from a foal with hopes that she would just be a good trail horse.  I can't get over how great she's doing - and it all really fell into place after I pulled her shoes & started booting her.  I truly think she is happier & more comfortable.   People are amazed to see we are doing this in hoof boots as well as bitless. (we do have to use a bit in our dressage tests)

Azure's Last Chance

Here is an email from Linda Cowles who is a certified hoofcare practitioner with a link to a great article on a horse that she has been working on and rehabbing using boots and pads!

I put up a series of web pages for one of my clinic horses up in the Cool California area.  Laura, the host, asked if I wanted to try helping a long shot horse who had been lame for years... it was bad enough that his poor owner had given up and had a grave dug for him, but she was willing to wait and let me try to help him.  I didn't hesitate a second, although realistically, these horses are scary to take on in a clinic environment...

It turned out great, a real tear jerker, so grab your hanky's.  He's going to be living in padded boots for a while (Comfort Pads and Old Mac G2's), but he was sound by the second trim.

This Thanksgiving? I thanked God for hoof boots.

Click here to read Azure's Last Chance

Cheers! Linda

Linda Cowles
Certified Hoof Care Provider
WWW.HealthyHoof.Com

Riding Rocky in G2's and the FreeForm

I finally got around to getting the sheepskin cover on the saddle I'm trying.  Turns out, the one from my old saddle fits the FreeForm perfectly (It's for a Bob Marshall Sportssaddle).  How convenient was that? 

On our ride a hawk swooped down into a tree a few feet in front of me and caught a rabbit.  Then he took off flying carrying the rabbit, but it was too large for him and he had to drop it.  We stopped awhile and waited to see if he would come back and try to get the rabbit, but as long as we were there he wouldn't. 

I used four Old Mac G2's on Rocky.  They seem to fit him well and he moves well in them.  I've left them on him for a couple of days at a time, and he hasn't had any rubbing or chaffing anywhere.  I think I can get Epics on faster and prefer them myself, but I can see why people like the Old Mac's.  I've been using Comfort Pads in the boots to see how they work.  It's neat to see the nice little frog impression in the pad when you take the boots off.

Rocky's sarcoid

My vet prescribed some Xxterra  to put on Rocky's sarcoid on the inside of his back thigh.  Zenos also had a small sarcoid on the side of his face, so I was able to treat both horses at the same time.  I only put a small dab of the stuff on each sarcoid once a day for three days. 

This photo actually shows it looking pretty good.  A few days ago before the vet finished removing the last of the sarcoid, it was really not pretty.  Rocky was REALLY good today about letting me hose this off and get it cleaned up and then put some derma skin stuff on it.  He knows I'm trying to help him. 

I wasn't really prepared for the reaction this was going to cause and was really worried, luckily that was normal and to be expected.  Rocky hadn't been moving around much because of this, but now he is doing much better so I thought I'd let him try out some Old Mac's with Comfort Pads in them to see how they work.  I have left  regular Easyboots and Epics on the horses overnight, or even for days at a time with no problem whatsoever and want to see if the Old Mac's (actually the G2's) work as well.  He seems to fit well in a size 3 boot on the front.  I'll check tomorrow and see how everything looks.  Being able to leave boots on with padding in them is a great way to treat a horse with hoof problems or that is footsore so it's good to do things like this so I can learn what works best.  Rocky likes the attention too. 

More hoof measuring charts

Here are links to download the forms for all of the hoof measuring forms.  They can also be found on the sizing page for each type of boot on the easycareinc.com website.

Easyboot, Epic, Bare

Old Macs G2

Old Macs

Boa Hoof Boot

EasySoaker

Easyboot, Epic, Bare Hoof Boot Measuring Form

Download Easyboot, Epic, Bare hoof measuring form

Here is the first finished Hoofboot Measuring Form.  This one has the size chart on it for Easyboots, Epics, and Bares.  There is a place to record your horses measurements and angles if you want to keep track, or you can use it to figure out what size boot your horse needs. 

We'll be adding measuring forms for the Old Mac's, OM G2's, and Boa Horse Boots as well.  Check the website, and feel free to let me know if you have any suggestions! 

How much do the boots weigh?

I was surprised at how light the G2 felt when I put it on the horse, so of course I had to get the scale out and weigh all of my boots.  Just for fun, I grabbed one of the metal shoes that would go on a horse wearing these same sized boots.  I was surprised to see that a regular Easyboot weighs less than a metal shoe and the Epic is basically the same -- the Epic I weighed was new.  Once I modify it, I take the plastic cleat covers off and cut the heal strap out which probably makes it the same weight as the metal shoe all things considered.  If your horse takes pads with shoes, or a wedge then the weight works out to be about the same as any of the boots do.

            St.       Easy                         Old        Boa

            Croix     Boot    Epic     Bare     Mac G2   Boot

Size       1-F        1        1         1        4           1

Weight     13   9 1/2   13 3/4   16 1/2   16 1/2   16 3/4

in Ounces

Old Mac G2's and Boa Boots

Download DSCF0215.AVI

Thought I'd give Chief a chance to try out some Old Macs G2's and Boa Boots before taking him out for a ride in them.  I took some photos and experimented with the video function on the camera (first time) while he ran around in them.  The video isn't great but it shows how he moves in the boots.  I think he did pretty well in them.  He has size 4 G2's on the fronts and size 1 Boa's on the hinds.

Need parts?

If you need to replace a part on one of your EasyCare boots, you can go to this page to see what accessories and replacement parts are available for your particular boot.  Most things on the boots can be replaced.  I remember one time when I was getting my Easyboots ready for a ride, and my dog came in and ate the screws!

Hoofboot Upgrade Program

We have a great new program worth kicking our heels up about!  You can trade in your old non-EasyCare brand hoofboots and get a new pair of Easyboots, Epics, Bares, Old Mac's, Old Mac's G2 or Boa Hoof Boots for 50% off! 

Here are the details

This is a link to the form you'll need to fill out if you'd like to take advantage of this special program.