Team Easyboot

Easy booting in the White Mountains

Hello  everyone! Carol and Larry here
we would love to see who you are! 
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Ghost of the Coyote Trail from carolcrisp on Vimeo.

Heel rubs-no pain

I can't tell you how many boots, pads, you name it that I've been through and still not able to fit this mare well. I cannot feel comfortable with using the gaiter. This mare is in between sizes and I'm afraid she may not be a candidate for boots. Traditional easy boots are an option but I'd really like to get the gaiter correct.

I did 50 miles barefoot (no boots) in March.   2 weeks ago I started a 50 with well fitting (so I thought) bares, tapers and no pad. I pulled the boots off through the 1st loop because my mare was paddling in the front and tripping a bit. Took the things off, no open rubs or pain but after the boot were gone, an all around happy horse that finished another 50 barefoot.

This mare has great feet, no doubt about it. I just cannot get that fit right.

There could be 1000 solutions or suggestions. I'm trying guys! Suggestions welcome, a phone call welcome, I'm in the AERC directory. I've got a mound of boots, pads, etc. LOTS OF MONEY INVESTED!!!! But still nothing to show for it. I'm having shoes put on her this Friday because the Old Dominion is coming up as is the Michaux  ride and I can't expect her to pull another finish out of her... at either of these rides.

Plumber's putty and bares

I have my first ride of the season and I am going to be using my Bares (oh where, oh where, are those Edge boots to try...hint, hint :) Right now I have the Bares adjusted so that the outside of each boot is on the middle adjustment and the inside of each boot is on the tightest adjustment. This is where I am for getting it as tight as possible but still being able to get the boot on. But it leaves a bit of a gap at the front centre of the boot, so I am thinking of using plumber's putty.

I was only able to get the stuff that is in a small plastic container, rather than the roll as Karen shows on her blog. Has anyone been using plumber's putty from a jar? I don't think there is much difference is there?

Is the boot hard to get off once the putty is on there?

This ride is just a training ride (which I'm using as a reminder for my mare of her job...to behave at vet checks!) so it is 12 miles one day and 18 the next.

Our next ride is the following weekend - a two day 50. So this weekend is my chance to work out any kinks in a competition setting. I still have foam which I could use at the next ride to fill in gaps if the putty doesn't work out...but I wanted to at least give it a try (for those times when I'm out of foam).

Introducing.......

ZINTAHN FANTASIA - well finally after waiting since the day she was born to being weaned i finally picked up my part arab filly this weekend.... at 6 months old now, she is my future endurance star and hoofboot model!!!!

So i just wanted to introduce her to you all. :)  Photo at our second rest stop and meeting her new big brothers!

On another note I have an 80km ride in 4 weeks time but really struggling to train in this dark winter here in Tasmania fingers crossed we will get there :(.  Also finally worn through my bares so eagerly awaiting my new set to arrive - fingers crossed they get here in time LOL.  But my old pair out lasted untold numbers of gaiters and two sets of bungee straps so boy they did some miles!

                                         

Need help relieving heel pain!

Hi!

I've been browsing all of the articles and information on this sight, just to learn. :-) I was delighted to come upon this article that explains my horses behavior and odd front feet. The article is by by Chrisann Ware on Heel Pain. http://www.easycareinc.com/education/articles/problem_hooves.aspx

My Lusitano horse has been barefoot and in Epics for trails since December of 2006 when I bought him. He's never been lame or has had any unusual problems.  He had then short wide feet and still has them after 17 months of barefoot trims and care. The back feet are at least equal in length and width, but his front remain a little over 5" wide and a little under 4 1/2" long. Using Epics required some creativity, but they are working well. I now only need the back boots when riding over 3 hours or on a lot of gravel and cobbles. However, he will not walk on even one small stone with my weight and no front boots! Besides having odd shaped feet, they are very healthy and I need only to roll them (wet soft ground with rocks) and take away a bit of flare on the front. The toe does not grow, or is worn off, nor does the hoof change shape for the better with no shoes.

Celo is turned out at least 8 hours a day on well drained soft grass and is an active 8 year old seldom standing still. After all this time in EB's (with pads) and barefoot, I've been surprised he can't stand any rough surface with his front feet while I'm riding. I have a wonderful Barefoot farrier that comes out a few times a year to see our progress. She told me to take him out more and more without my front boots over time and that he had no pain in his frogs and good calloused feet. That was last fall... with a snowless and iceless winter!

Photo: Celo's short front feet, during last trim.

A link to his lovely back feet that need no trims other than a tiny mustang roll! http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2004051220101443917VgDIjL

  Furthermore, there is the hard wear and on the front hooves.... not with a break over. Some times, Celo steps toes  first, other times he doesn't.  Still, he has no high heels from this and seems sound and willing. This manner of moving comes and goes, so I didn't worry. He's a higher stepping fellow and doesn't stride out much, especially in his walk. Other horses leave us behind when we walk on the trails! in the riding hall with no boots.

All of this has been nagging at me over the last year. One last thing I've noticed, but not understood.... In Celo's standing photos.... he seems to always haver his front feet tucked behind his shoulders... one or both! I don't think I have a single photo with both front legs in a normal position. his back legs weren't tucked under too, so once again I didn't put it all together until the article on heal pain.

Celo on vacation in my friend's pasture... on his toes.

SO my plea for help is here.... What can I do about this? The answer in the article was barefoot with boots and pads. We've been at this for 17 months with no changes. His frogs have good contact with the ground. I don't ever take anything off the frogs or soles, unless there's a pocket collecting thrush. I do notice the frogs don't grow much at all despite this. Celo loves to go and just waits for me to let him move forward, no mater how many hours.  I plan to try some G1 Old Macs on him for shorter rides.

Celo a few weeks ago in his Epics and comfort pads, on his toes.

Based on all of this, does heel pain sound like my horse's problem? If so, I really need advice on what I can do to help...  Supplements, pads, anything at all! Can this way of standing and moving be a habit from prior years of pain?

Thanks,

Jen in Germany   

 

Thanks for the boot lady!

This photo was just too cute.  At Rides of March this year, John came up to me at the start line and asked if there was a ferrier as he had a loose shoe.  We did not have one handy but I had a trailer full of Easy boots so I found the right size, showed him how to use them and off they went.  I think Blackmagic, the horse, was saying thank you for the boot. The boot stayed on and so did the shoe and now John is going to start carrying the boots himself.

Tami

Crescent City, Ca-Horse Expo

I went to the first annual Redwood Coast Horse Expo last weekend to promote my business and Team Easyboot. Wasn't all too exciting (for a first time try, they did a good job, but the scale was about the size of a local level schooling show or gymkhanna...all in one arena mostly with a few demos and a breed parade... Next year it will grow and we hope to continue growing for there. A fun, local, horse event was neat to have though, as we don't have many. There was a demo by a barefoot trimmer, but I hope to do one next year and also have my horse down by my table to do boot demos on throughout the event. I had a lot of ppl ask about the boots. Many in our area either know only the REALLY old style boots or don't even know what they are at all, or have only "heard of them"...So it was a good way to educate them about barefooting and booting....still many do not believe a performance horse can go barefoot, and were astounded when I told them the mileage I had last year alone... Here are a few pictures from my setup...
  Nat

Got Hoof?

We do!  I have been riding endurance with my mare Fancy for about 7 years now.  She is an awesome, if not opinionated, 16+ 3/4 Arab 1/4 Saddlebred.  She has great feet, a little small but good for barefoot.  Her problem has become is that she never stops moving - never!  She lives with her buddies in a 1/3 acre sandy arena most of the time with frequent outings to the other 2 acres of grass and gravel.  I wish there were pedometers for horses so that I would know for sure how many miles she does everyday.  It is wonderful that she exercises, however, she wears down hoof like nothing (imagine running an emory board over your nails non-stop all day).  I have left boots on for a day or two a week  but was not sure about leaving them on more than that.  She is also very slightly club foot on the right with a hoof/pasturn angle that has to be carfully managed.

Last fall Karen and I had long discussions about this issue and I decided to start leaving easyboots on more than off.  During the wet,wet winter she was just barefoot.  It was too slick to take any chances and I had not yet invested in grips.  Once everything dried out my trimmer came out and put a very nice trim on all the horses.  I put easyboots on Fancy that day.  I used my old red boots with the backs cut out and only tightened the buckle enough to keep the boot snug but not tight.  I did not want to end up with other problems caused by leaving the boots on too tight for too long.  She threw a boot now and again and I took them off every couple of days to check that all was well with her hooves.  Other than that she had the boots on all the time.

6 weeks later we went down for our Spring cash exchange with the vet.  She had grown an amazing amount of hoof to include heel for the first time ever!  Her toe was a little long but nothing that a bit of rasping could not fix.  It was amazing how much the angles had evened out and her foot had leveled.  We had x-rays from the fall to compare and it was just amazing.  I always knew that she grew good foot and that wearing boots helped but I had no idea that the hoof would actually change. 

We are going to keep the boots on more than off to keep the good thing going.  I also got a bit of a rasp lesson so that I can keep the toes more in check between trims.  The trimmer, Cindy, was even amazed at how much the feet had changed.  This is just another example of how the boots have helped to improve the hoof health of my horses.

Tami and Fancy

From a happy lady & her ponies

The Answer At Last

For years I have been driving my pair of Welsh ponies on our local country roads, where there is an abundance of loose gravel, much of it very sharp as it has been put through a rock crusher. Metal shoes eased the traveling somewhat, but not completely. I spent a lot of time driving in ditches. The ponies, one of which has been foundered, would wander when on gravel, always looking for better footing. I was embarrassed with the crooked track we left, and it was a standing joke among my friends. Recently I purchased a pair of Easy Boots for each pony and went for a drive with my friends. I couldn’t believe it, the ponies did not try to wander at all, they went as straight as could be, just as they do on grassy trails, it wasn’t hurting their feet at all . I am completely sold on Easy Boots, and so are my happy ponies, Cloud and Cricket. Thanks to Barb Fenwick for introducing Easy Boots to me. Jean Bogner

Round Up Event Boot Demos

Here I am doing one of the Easy Boot Demos during the Round Up event in Brandon, MB, April 18-20.   I had a seminar/demo time of 1 hr each day.  I also had a boot with the local dealer providing the boots for sale.  My foxtrotter mare Foxie did very well & we had some very good enthusiam about the boots.  I have as a result 3 clients or more who are measuring their horses feet this week for boots!  I showed the Epics & Bares & showed Foxie moving with a young rider after the boots were on. They actually enhance her gait! She occasionally paces & does NOT with her boots on!  The one pics shows how I get a client to feel how tight the gaiters should be by having them "wear" the boot.  All and all it was a super event, many natural horsemanship clinicians etc and a good venue to show another natural aspect of horse care and management.  In June I hve been invited to do my demos at a joint endurance/competitive ride with my horse Spirit. Our crowd up here are just not familiar with the boots & or with barefoot trimming/hoof care.  I am on a mission.., barefoot, booted and bridleless is my  motto!  Yes, and Jen..that is a Barefoot treeless saddle I use...guess thats the 4th B! LOL  Barb F.

~ LOVE THE BARES! NO FUSS! NO HASSLE! ~

I have always enjoyed doing things easy with little hassle and no fussing or worries! If you know what I mean - you'll love the Easyboot BARES. The first time I saw the pro-to type, I said those are the boots to own! I have a horse that thinks the buckle is funny and fun to flip up on rides. These he can bang on, take a trip on (ha-ha) or just plain abuse and they don't come off! He is now coming 7 yrs old (hopefully getting to know his long legs now) and has worn boots for 2 ride seasons. I use the 1's on him and 00's on my mare and stallion. They also do great! These are so low maintenance and IF you need to change the bungee size... its a piece of cake! One small secret I learned is to use "knee high panty hose" for gaiter rubbing. I know it sounds funny but its cheap! You can get 8 stockings for a $1 at Walmart in the US. It is light, non-bulky and easy to use. Don't worry your gelding won't mind either! ha-ha :-)

I have used 1 set of boots for over 500+ miles now and they have the same bungees on them. They are really strong and once you get them sized for your horse, no trouble to use. I will wiggle the boot on and if the bungee is stuck, I will take a small hammer and tap the toe of the boot, bottom side and heal. This gets the boot on good and tight too, then the gaiter comes right up. I also remove the back inside strap. I found the bare boots fit so well, it just gets in the way and too much trouble to mess with. I have rode only 100 miles this year so far but plan to keep putting as many miles I can on these boots.

I also LOVE the DOME PADS!!! They fit the boots great and give my horse flight! YES - if I could put wings on him, he could just fly with these pads. He's like a spring bunny bouncing along the trail. I can't say enough about these pads. I have used 1 pair for 200 miles. They really hold up well and you won't believe your horse's gait! Trust me they LOVE them too!

If anyone has any questions or would like help just let me know. I ride in upper NV rides (due to limited funds and time off work). Our next ride is the 2-day Washoe Valley ride just north of Carson City, NV. I will be there both days. I think riding one day and helping out at the ride one day.

Hope everyone enjoys their "Freedom from metal ice skates" as I do. NEVER going back to anything with nails again! Just call me the "Bare Lady!" ha-ha :-)

PS> If you look close you might see the panty hose in these photos. See you can't even tell!

Amy in Stagecoach, NV

I've moved

I just relocated from California to Millbrook, New York. Seems to be right down the street from Amy Sheehy, maybe we can get in contact and talk about horses! I'm currently looking for some clients to do some natural hoof trimming for in this area. I may be moving to Mass. this year, but not sure yet.

Best boots for beach runs?

Hi everyone!

I would like to hear people's opinions on their favorite boots (and why) for a week holiday of sandy beach riding. My horse won't tolerate bare front feet for any trail riding (he'd ouch on a tiny seashell), but backs can go either way. I usually have Epics for all 4, but the front are worn and still with winter studs until I decide what to try next. I'm looking at using my studs, grips, Old Macs G1, or more Epics for this trip. How is the traction of plain Epics or the possibility of sand collecting in the Old Macs and rubbing his coronets and pasterns raw? Too much traction? Too little?

What do others that do beach ride more often prefer? Are both front and rear boots needed? My horse is afraid of slippery footing, being from Spain. Security in dry sandy deep footed hills is important for him until some day he becomes more trail savvy and confident. I too know nothing of traction or lack of it needed for beach sand and dunes, being a land lover and afraid of water more than my horse. :-))

Thanks for the input!

Jen

Update on EasyCare Medical - Therapy hoof boot

Read more here in Garrett's blog.  If you are a Team Easyboot member and would like to be among the first to test these please let me know.  Send as much information as you can such as what type of horse or hoof ailments you would be using it on, and sizing requirements.  Thanks!  Karen

Seeking boot/ hoofcare advice on clubbed feet

Hello!

I have been looking for a new Iberian horse for several years. If anybody has traveled to Spain and seen the native PRE's feet, you'll know few are in good shape. In all the studs i've visited, the feet are long and high, like an ASB or TWH 's feet after ll the leather padding is added! (if this is still done) The heel are commonly contracted and the frogs cut so high that I've measured up to and 1 1.2 inches from shoe bottom to frog. The stallions are kept standing int heir stalls 24/7 after reaching the ages of 3, except for a walker. There is no turn out, no such thing. I'm basing this on 7 studs I visited and info from friends.

Keeping this in mind, I have a few questions on what to do with the feet of a horse I am interested in. I have not vetted or bought him yet! The poor fellow has a mismatched set of front feet, a clubbed rear foot which looks like comes from the pastern, and a blocky other hind foot that at least matches. Here's some photos: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2385900220101443917NQcOIU
http://image69.webshots.com/469/0/79/9/2103079090101443917qCEeJs_fs.jpg
http://image58.webshots.com/758/5/55/70/2476555700101443917esGUlq_fs.jpg
http://image63.webshots.com/663/5/94/32/2591594320101443917xKRleW_fs.jpg

One, Can this horse go barefoot, or will he need corrective shoeing? He also has a slight Campeneo. (paddle)  Video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFRll6EFEsU
I know little about clubbed feet and the severity of this one, and if the horse of 8 yrs will stay sound. He's discounted to a whopping $17,000! (ouch!!) So no problems with soundness is very important to me. Looks, I don't care. An equal horse with no issues adn half the age starts at 22G. ;-(
Two, can these feet be booted with standard easy boots with gaiters ? They are very high, and from what i've seen of my friend's 7 yr barefoot Spanish horse, they stay that way. Original Old Macs might be better, but all could end up setting on the hoof in unusual spots. Also, I like to ride very long trail rides of up to 6 hours. (the horse is very smooth) I don't think the old macs can do this!  The left front foot (minus some toe) is what I'm used to seeing for god old Epics. I'd really like to know what I'm gettign into shoe wise!

If this horse can stay sound his long life (how severe is this cub?), doe the standard BF trim and roll work on all four feet, or is there something special? Something extras needed in form of pads or care. Are long hours in the saddle going to be too much?  Is there anything else I should know?

It's a long story on why a Spanish horse, but here in Europe, this fellow is the cheapest decent horse I've found. It's the dollar/ Euro that is the extra killer. Just know both my back (herniated disk) and knees are shot. for good. The Iberian is like a Rolls Royce to ride! I have  Lusitano now (can't pass blood tests for the US) that I've had Epics on for 1 1/2 years, even with the back and knees making new ways to get those boots on (LOL!) and I am hooked on the BF trim and EBs!! They have given my horse a new chance in life. I'll post photos of his picture perfect feet some day. :-) SO, I hope to continue like this for all future horses.

Thanks for the advice!

Jen

Indian Springs Ride south of Socorro, NM

Well we had 3 weeks off since our last ride.  Debbie and I entered in the Indian Springs Ride which is held in the rugged mountains south of Socorro, NM.  We entered the Limited Distance (30 mile) event due the technical nature of the ride.  The trail is very rocky and traverses through some of the most gorgeous country you will ever see.  If I could pick out a term to describe the ride it would be "4 wheel drive via horseback".  In general we can complete a 30 mile ride in 4 hours.  It took us 7 hours which included vet 2 vet checks to give you an idea that speed was not an option.  Again Easyboots all the way around on both my horse Selene and Jake.  The horses made the ride beautifully and the boots did well.  We did have one broken buckle on one of Jake's boots, but only broke off the tip of the buckle.  Selene's Bares did very well.  After 125 miles in competition and who knows how many training miles gaiters are starting to show some wear, otherwise they are holding up great.

CTR organisation accepts hoofboots with gaiters!

Two years ago, a friend and I had submitted a resolution to change the penalty points assessed for use of a gaiter on  Easyboots in the organisation we ride under (I live in Quebec, Canada, but ride in Ontario under the Ontario Competitive Trail Riding Association which sanctions CTR and AERC endurance rides, since there is no Quebec organisation). Regular Easyboots without the gaiter were accepted in CTR and received no penalty points because they are entirely below the coronet band and of course, could be used at endurance rides, but the boots with gaiter were given an automatic 10 point penalty for going above the level of the coronet).  After **much** discussion, explanation, showing people the boots at meetings, responding to people's concerns, having the CTR Committee consider all of our arguments and pros and cons, etc etc we convinced them to recommend changing the rule from a 10 point penalty (basically taking anyone using gaiters out of the running for any placing) to a 1 point per boot penalty. Yesterday, was the meeting and the vote on various resolutions. I made sure to wear my brand new Team Easyboot shirt and was asked about Team Easyboot and showed some people the boots I do have at the moment - like the Epics and the Bares. :)

We had a lot of support for our resolution and amendments to our resolution were proposed by other members during the meeting. In the end, the result was even better than expected. Now, all hoof boots can be used (so not just Easyboots, but Old Macs, Boas, etc) and the penalty assessed will now be 1/2 a point per boot. The vets reserve the right to ask that the boot be removed, but they generally do not unless there is a very specific issue (i.e. if a lameness problem developed they might ask to see the horse without the boots). We will have to open the gaiter (or in the case of the Old Macs or Boas, open up the boot a little) at each check so that the vets can see whether any tack lesions/rubs have developed because we could still be assessed a penalty point for this (like any other piece of equipment worn by the horse).

The distinction has also now been clearly made that hoof boots are hoof protection, not leg protection, and should not be considered in the same manner as splint boots, bell boots, bandages (all of which are penalized at a higher level if used in CTR).

I was so excited at this development (much time and energy over the past two years has been put into this to), my eyes watered up when the whole thing was finally passed. Such a relief. Yeehaw!! Bring on the boots! hahaha   At least now we are not taken out of the running before even getting out on trail.

Just thought I would share - I know this issue has been discussed in other CTR organisations and some still do not even permit Easyboots (!!), so hopefully this might encourage others to continue pushing for rule changes in this regard.

Lysane

Still snow in Manitoba

Hi fellow team members!

The snow is slowly going here in Manitoba, Canada. I have attached a pic of my TWH  horse Spirit & I from last weeks first ride of the season. Spirit is the horse I wrote about in my article on the Blog about founder.  He is recovering nicely.. in part thanks to BARES.  I am hoping to have some Edge boots for next winter to get a better "grip" on winter riding. 

I am hoping to go do a demo of Easy Boots at a big clinic/symposium event being held Apr 18-20 here at the Keystone Centre to promote the boots etc. If we have time to get it together on short notice!  If we do, I will post pics & video of the demo.  Happy Trails everyone....yehaw.. spring is here at last! Barb Fenwick 

Help needed

Well I seem to be failing as a success with modern easyboots. I know I have used them for years on other horses in the past but I'm not having much luck now.

I put regular easyboots on her fronts, and bares on her hinds today. The fit seemed good. Walked and trotted her around at home. Seemed OK. Got out in the country and the first hill we trotted up she pulled the fronts off by stepping on them with her hinds. Now she has never been a horse that forges and pulls shoes off. But I guess the added thickness of the boots is what is maybe doing it? I don't know. So how do I keep her from doing this. If I put boots with gaiters on all 4, there will be less chance of her pulling them off but she'll wear out the gaiter, rip it up, when she hits it with the back boot. Her hoof angle is good and since it has never been a problem before and she travels well with shoes, I don't think it's her hoof angle. But somehow I have to keep her from stepping on the front boots. Karen B

Renegade Ride in Southern NM

Greetings from sunny/warm New Mexico

My wife Debbie and I just got back from a 3 day endurance ride called The New Mexico Renegade Ride held 30 miles west of El Paso in the desert of southern New Mexico. We were able to participate the last two days. Each day featured either a 35 mile (limited distance) and 55 mile (endurance) rides.  The terrain ranged from flat to mountainous.  The footing ranged from really good to 12" deep sand to extremely rocky.  The temperature ranged from the low 30's at the start to the mid 80's by mid afternoon.  I believe there were 7 lameness pulls the first day, 4 on day two and only one on day 3.  This is unusual for this ride but gives you an idea what the terrain was like.

My horse Selene and I competed in the 55 mile race on day 2.  We had Easyboot Bares on all fours.  This day was the rockiest of the 3 days circumventing Mt. Riley and through the pass where it was safest to lead your horse due to loose rock.  We completed the ride with all A's in 5 hours and 45 minutes.  I was impressed with the boots when one of the water stops was a dirt holding tank.  Selene had to wade out in 12" deep mud to get a drink.  I feared that the boots may get sucked off by the mud but they didn't. After the ride we simply cleaned them up and got them ready for day 2. I had two instances where Selene seemed off on her gait.  I stopped and pulled the boot off to find a several small stones (smaller than a pea) in the boot.  I dumped the boot out and reinstalled the boot and was on my way in less than 2 minutes. Easy fix!

On day two Debbie rode her 4 year old gelding, Jake on his first 35 mile ride.  Selene and I rode along for support. This day was a combination of deep sand and lava rock.  The 27 mile loop wound around and through a large lava flow. The second loop of 8 miles took us through a large crater caused by the explosion of trapped gasses under the lava flow.  We went slow for Jake's sake and made through the 35 miles in about 6.5 hours. We had easy boots on all feet.

The boots held up really well considering the amount of rock and lava we navigated over.  The horses finished with flying colors and the boots are cleaned up and ready for future rides.   Selene's boots have over 150 miles on them (in competition) much more than that if you consider training.  They have lots more miles left in them.  Jake's boots, Epics, have 60 miles (one fun ride and one limited distance ride) and lots more from training rides and they still look pretty new.

I have to admit that since going to natural hoof care last September and riding in Easy boots my horse has had fewer lameness issues.  Prior to last September my ride completion at this particular ride was less than 50%.  I have now completed the last 3 rides there without any problem.  So far, I think we made the right decision to go natural.

Team Easyboot Items Have Shipped to Everyone!

As of today, April 3 -- every member of Team Easyboot has had their items shipped to them.  Those that have not received their 'stuff' from us yet should receive it next week sometime.  There are a few that didn't receive all of their items because we shipped the majority of it before everything came in.  Notations have been made on your account so those additional items will be included next time we ship something to you. 

Additional Team Easyboot apparel items are available at our cost.  If you need an order form for that, let me know.  Deadline for ordering from this batch is this Friday. 

Event schedule:  If anybody has time available to stop by and visit or help out in the EasyCare booth at the Colombus, Ohio Equine Affaire, please let me know!  If you haven't yet seen the Team Easyboot Events calendar, please check it out at teameasyboot.com

Healthy Hoof Clinic 2008

Learn all about healthy hooves!

Click here to learn more!

Founder A Matter of Life or Death

When you're raised with horses and have them around you most of your life, you can expect to have to deal with their health issues over the years.  We always learn something from these issues and what's equally important is to share how you managed them so others can learn from the experience.  I never thought I would have to deal with not one but two foundered horses in the last few years, but I did and what I learned by the second founder has saved that horses life and what I didn't learn with the firs founder condemned that horse to an early grave.  I wanted to share this story in hopes of maybe saving a horse you know.

Click here to read more!

Hoof Boots make the News!

Check out the ABC Channel 7 news story, on alternatives to traditional shoes.  Bonnie Hellevig, of the Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners, is given the opportunity to talk about Hoof Boots. She does a great job showing off some different boot styles. This kind of mainstream press  could reach some horse owner, that just aren't aware of the barefoot option. You can watch the news clip at: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/drive_to_discover&id=6051896
Leslie

Bob Bowker Down-Under

Hi Team Easybooters

Just home from Prof. Bowker's first Down Under seminar, held at the lovely property of Chris and Mike Ware of Equethy. It was an informative, still fun, weekend with the Prof further explaining his research. We also got to find out a bit about what professors get up to with their own horses.

It was also a great opportunity to meet up with like-minded trimmers, farriers, vets and horse trainers. Thanks to EasyCare for helping to get Bob Bowker Down-Under. I look forward to hearing more from him at the upcoming session for the Dip. Equine Poidotherapy.

cheers, Dunc

Photo: Team Easyboot members Rebecca Scott and Duncan McLaughlin

bares and dome pads

Hi everyone. This week I used my easyboot bares. I had to play around for a bit and get them adjusted and I'm still not convinced I have it right. Once on the hoof - the "bungee" seems a bit loose but if I tighten it another hole I can't get the boot on. So I guess that's where it'll be. She forged a bit with just these in front. Different weight and all slowed down the front hoof and changed the flight pattern just enough where she'd hit them with her hind foot. This is not normal for her at all, she normally travels clean.

So the next time I put them on the back. I had a pair of old ones that were a bit big but then I remembered the dome pads. So I put the dome pads in the old ones on her front feet and they fit better. We rode about 10 miles over rocks and hard ground and she was very happy with her springy padded boots. I think Hollies likes the dome pads. They are very easy to use. I guess now I need new boots for her hinds so she won't forge. Karen B

Tassie Update

Hi everyone,

Had my second ride for the season this weekend which is the 80km Woodstock ride. 

Wasnt the fastest time but after the colic at my last ride all i wanted was to complete :).  We came 5th Middleweight in just over 7 hours.  VERY tough track alot of sealed road - rocky sections and due to the rain very very slippery hamstring pulling hills!! 

I was so proud of my boy he didnt falter once and felt great the entire way thorough despite the fact being rained on coming off the first leg and this was freezing cold icy

muscle  stinging rain.  My first ride in three years in the rain and it was awful!!

We did the ride in 4 Bares and dome pads in the front - I was VERY impressed with the dome pads as well!  No pics of the ride due to the revolting weather but a few pics from the day before when i set up my banner :)

Next Ride is June 7 - cant wait!!

Kylie & Go Get Em Jack!

Team Easyboot Events

Hi Everyone - I have started a new Team Easyboot event calendar in google calendar.  I am going to post it below and will also add it to the teameasyboot.com website page.  We will add each Team Easyboot member to it today so that they can post their upcoming events, ride schedules, clinic information and such.   This calendar can also be viewed at this link here. 

Endurance in Oz - barebooted and bareback

Endurance has started back in Victoria after the great EI outbreak and it is all happening over here, I can tell you! I have a couple of horses just starting their endurance career and have also introduced a great family of 4 kids plus Mum and Dad to the sport. Between us and another friend we have entered 14 separate rides over the last two weeks. One of those rides I was on the organising committee and still had to help manage 11 horses. It was busy!!

At Yarrabubba ride Jake and Nikita Verspaandonk successfully completed a 40 k ride which was the first for both riders and their horses. Nikki rode the whole way bareback - see pic of the two of them in front of my Easycare banner.

At the Rosedale Stellar Endurance Carnival two weeks later the whole family got into the act. Between them the Verspaandonk family competed in 11 events and totalled 520 km over the two day carnival with no vetouts. Zeke aged 14, compted in 2 x 40 rides on Friday and backed up for an 80 ride on Saturday. He won the fittest Horse award and was equal first junior rider with his sister Nikki, who won the award for the lowest heartrate on a bare/booted horse in the 80 k ride. Nikki rode bareback again in her 40 k ride, but agreed to use a saddle for the 80 k ride. She says she prefers bareback!   

All but two of the horses were barefoot or booted, and the remaining two horses had shoes on front feet only. Interestingly, the only horses to have any leg filling post-ride were the two shod horses. They have now had their shoes removed by the owner who is finally convinced!! Below is a picture of the family with all the horses they competed on.

Team Easyboot members Susan Gill and Jackie Hooper were also busy at the ride. Jackie was part of the crew helping run the event and handing out Easyboot Competition forms. Susan had a very successful weekend completing 2 x 40 km rides fully booted on her horse Danny. Next ride I will get my bum on a horse and finally get some miles on the board for the Easyboot competition.

Jenny Moncur in Rosedale, Australia

EASY BOOT BARES

HI GUYS--I HAD SOME FRIENDS TRYING THE BARES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHEN THEY TOOK THE BOOTS OFF THEY SAID THEY HAD A PRETTY DEEP IMPRESSION ON THE HOOF WALL JUST BELOW THE CORONET BAND---THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE TRIED THESE WHAT COULD DO THIS?  I HAVE USED THE BARES AND DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM--I AM GOING TO THEIR PLACE THIS WEEK TO TAKE A LOOK--WOULD YOU SAY THE BANDS ARE TOO TIGHT OR LOOSE OR WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS HAPPEN?  JUST WANTED TO GET SOME IMPUT ON MORE USERS BEFORE I GO CHECK THIS OUT--I DIDN'T FIT THE BOOTS PRIOR TO THIS. 

4-H club's gaming show

Hi Team member's

Just wanted to share how I went to a Spring into Spring Fun Show hosted by a local 4-H club as their fundraiser. I was invited to go by my trimmer and friend, Pam Beall, who's daughter Miranda was riding in it. I had never done gaming before but went to expose my horse to this event, due to the fact that it was 6 days before I ride in the extreme cowboy race, which is later this week. Perfect timing for large/fast event training. And I was the only one using boots since Miranda's horse was going barefoot. It was odd-some folks assumed I had boots on because my horse was lame or something!       LOL

Anyway it was a fun time for all who attended this first gaming show of the year.

Martha from Wash

New Video in Catalina

Here is a link to video of Larry riding Smoke in Catalina State Park with easybootbares on front feet and no boots on back. Easyboot Bares in Catalina

If any of the Team Members would like to join the Team Easyboot "Posse" where you can post photos and videos go to TeamEasyBoot.org this will also make it easy for us to see you all in one place. Click on the sign up in the upper left hand corner and follow the instructions.

Just for kicks and giggles

As I was putting in my comments for the original easyboots I thought of this picture to share. This is 1978, Mt Burney 50, I placed 5th I think it was. We came from behind, hence the dirt on my face. This was on my gelding Sunny Spots R, 4410 AERC miles. Note the easyboots on the fronts. I believe I got close to 400 miles on them before i started getting holes in the heels. Now that's pretty darn good.

Note the "outfit". :-) Blue jeans, tennis shoes, flannel shirt, stocking cap, modified western saddle that I cut the horn off of myself and re-rigged the cinch. I had cut open the fleece pad and inserted my own piece of egg crate foam. Made my own fleece breast collar cover too. Back in the day we did a lot of do-it-yourself stuff cuz the equipment we needed could't be bought! HA! Karen B.

Hi I bet I'm the last person to introduce myself

Hi My name is Åsa and I'm originally from Sweden. I live in Las Vegas since 1998. I can't stand the desert so I'm not sure what I'm doing here. I work as a Barefoot Farrier. It is by far the most fun job I have ever have. My body doesn't like it much but my brains can think of little else. I live with my boyfriend Chris and our two dogs, (or one dog and one wolf mix) I have a horse that I bought back in 2005. His name is Sirocco and he is wonderful. I ride him in Bare boots and because we live in the gravel pit of America we sure abuse them. Even though we have ridden in boots for years now I still marvel after a really rock crushing ride that the boots are not just still attached to Sirocco but also in great shape. Now when I finally have understood how to post something on this thing I will try to get back once in a while. Happy Trails ! Åsa

EZ boot weight

Hi all,
Input please.  I've always thought that the boots are generally heavy with the exception of the traditional Easyboot. My blacksmith, Ralph, and I have been having ongoing discussions about the weight of the boot and the possibility of trouble for certain horses, particularity young horses who are in the initial parts of their distance careers when the tendons, ligaments and bone are all building and strengthening. Ralph thinks this might put added stress on these areas, soft tissue in particular, and cause problems up in the leg. He has had a few problems with young horses but there have been other factors present that made a clear answer difficult.
Ralph doesn't use heavy shoes on the endurances horses because of the above questions. I myself am curious, concerned, about the possibilities.
Please know that I certainly bring the horses along slowly, building them from year to year. No flash in the pan success stories here.
The insert pads are wonderful.
Thanks for any input.
Amy Cieri

I'm Featured in the Local Paper

Unfortunately, although I talked about barefooting and riding trails with Easycare boots, none of that made it into the article.  It was fun being interviewed though, and my "son" behaved himself beautifully for the photographer. 

Article

barefoot tools

HELLO ALL YOU BAREFOOT TRIMMERS--JUST WANTED TO GET YOUR IMPUT ON THE TYPE OF NIPPERS YOU USE.  WANTING TO BUY A GOOD PAIR AND NEED SOME HELP--I TRIM ABOUT 10 HORSES STEADY AND SOME NEW ONES HERE AND THERE--WHAT BRAND WOULD YOU USE?  ANY IMPUT IS WELL APPRECIATED--THANKS--WURST 1

Join me at the spring clinic and tack sale

If you're in the Carson Valley area this weekend, stop by the Douglas County Sheriff's Mounted Posse Equine Clinic and Horse, Trailer, Tack Sale. It takes place at the Douglas County Fairground in Gardnerville , Nevada on Saturday. There will be vendors and regular folks selling all that tack that accumulates in the barn over the years. I will have a table to sell EasyCare Hoof Boots and just spread the word about how great this barefoot thing is! Look for my Team Easy Boot banner and keep an eye out for Karen and Chief. They'll be riding over to show off those boots and give me a hand. Leslie Carrig   

Trailing cows

It's the time of year to take the cows from the ranch and send them to the high country in the Eastern Oregon Owyhee range south of Adrian, OR.. If you have never heard of Adrian it is the Capital of Eastern Oregon. (LOL!)

Here is a picture of Joe Nebeker on my Arabian gelding, Z Summer Thunder, heading cows up to the gate. We trailer up within about 4 miles of the gate, unload and head them uphill through the canyons, snow, mud and creeks to the hills they will call home for the next 6 weeks. We found some pretty big snow fields with some deep drifts along the way. Thanks to the weather they are going out later than usual but at least they are out. Sunday was a nice day for a long ride! It has been a terribly long winter and we have all had "cabin fever". The four of us had a great time!

All the horses were barefoot. I had the regular easyboots but with the mud and snow I didn't feel like hunting for the darn things if they got sucked off. All four of the horses did great, even in the rocks. Maybe when we bring the cows in we'll have a couple of the new Edge's to test. :-) Karen B

NW Horse Expo at Albany,Or

Hi Team members

I just was wondering if anyone plans on going to the NW Horse Expo? And if there will be anyone representing Easycare there? I would enjoy meeting up with other Team members while in Oregon for the Expo. I do plan on promoting Easycare myself as I ride in the Extreme Cowboy Race using my boots and hope I can hang my banner up on my stall front.

Martha from Wash

Heart of the Hills 75

Howdy folks,

  Well our second attempt at a 75 was alot of fun but unfortunately we did not get a completion. Fortune and I got through 67 miles and I decided to pull her for a sore back. We are flatlanders and sometimes hills can get the better of you, and we had plenty of good climbs at this ride. Again, she rode in her Bares and had no issues at all. They held up great as always. I have alot of life left in front ones I have been using as they have alot miles on them. The back ones are new, this was their second ride, but do not have the new gaiters on them. I'm looking forward to trying the new gaiters.
  We were about 3 miles out of camp on the next to the last loop and I noticed she was off so I got off and led her back to camp. I was thinking it was a front end problem, maybe something in the boot the way she was off, but that was not the case. Her vet scores were fantastic as well as her CRI's.

  I saw more people at this ride with boots on than any ride I've been to. Most I think did not have any issues at least I did not hear of any. There were 2 though that had some issues with new boots that they were using. They had the new gaiters on the boots and had 2 of them tear and one of the buckles had broke. They have informed me that they have talked to Easycare and the boots will be warrentied.

I could not be more proud of Fortune. She did fantastic and was over her sore back by the next day. I palpatated it and there was no soreness. We had an 8 mile loop left but what was a bit disappointing was that we had only 3 miles to go for our 500 lifetime miles. We'll get it next time. We are going to do a 100 at the end of April and can't wait to see how well the boots hold up. I have all the confidence in the world that she can do it.

Safe Riding,
Todd

Here's a photo of a client of mine, Nicole, and her horse Ruby...the day they tried their new EPICS on.

I'd lent Nicole and Ruby a pair of BARES and they found life much more comfortable in them, so Nicole ordered a pair of her own.

We thought this was a cute response from Ruby. Flehmen which I guess is an equine version of a swoon!

- Rebecca
www.gobarefoot.com (web)
www.gobarefoot.typepad.com (blog)

Jumping for Joy

After a lot of Icy weather our pastures were a mess and the hoses couldn't run around and play so we turned all the horses out in the ring for some "play time"  This is my boy Larry. Had I known I would have been able to capture such an exuberant moment I would have  put his hind boots on too! I hope everyone enjoys this!

Amy