Easyboot Glove passes the endurance test at Las Cienegas

The Easyboot Glove is the real deal!

On the second day of Las Cienegas, Cyclone and I finished second on a tough 65 mile course.  It was originally a 55 but will be sanctioned as a 65.  The course was long, rocky, sandy and had a bunch elevation change. 

I started the day booting Cyclone with four Easyboot Gloves 10 minutes before start time.  All four went on easy as Cyclone moved nervously in anticipation of the start.  After the start we settled into a nice trot with an occasional canter behind a lead group of roughly half a dozen riders.  Around the 10 mile mark I caught the lead group and we rode together for several miles. 

Photo of the Easyboot Glove at vet check #2.  Front and back feet.

 

When the hills started Christoph and I did a bunch of running and eventually pulled away from the group.  Christoph and I have partnered in a couple Ride and Tie events and we both like taking care of our horses on the steep up and down hill sections of an endurance course.  Cyclone and Dapple were working well together and Christoph and I continued to run and tail on the hilly terrain. 

The strategy kept the horses fresh as we slowly ticked off the miles on the difficult course.  

Dapple and Christoph heading to the first vet check.

Christoph rode Dapple (fitted with the Easyboot Glue-On) to a 1st place finish and Best condition.  I ended the day second on Cyclone (fitted with four Easyboot Gloves), two minutes behind Christoph.  I believe we were roughly 45 minutes to an hour in front of the second place horse.

I rode the last 6 mile loop alone.  It gave me some time to reflect on the success of the Easyboot Glove as we cantered down the trail.  Cyclone was moving effortless after 60 miles of tough, rocky and sandy terrain.  The boots had stayed in place perfectly.  No twisting, no turning and no sand build up in the boots.  It's a bit hard to believe that this sleek, simple design works so well.  It's roughly half the weight of other hoof boots and fits the hoof like a glove.  It will be our most economical boot at roughly $55.00.  I was pleased with the weekend and the success horse owners will have with this product in the future.  

Christoph, Cyclone and I before BC judging.

Many of the competitors using EasyCare and other hoof boot designs commented on the boots and the sleek design.  Everyone loves the streamline design and lack of hardware.  Biggest question was  "When can they can get the Glove?"

Here are a couple photos of the boots after removal (before washing).  The boots took on very, very little sand and dirt.  Not bad after 65 miles!

Comments

[Endurance Granny (Jacke)]

Are these boots sized the same as the rest of the easyboots? Or will the sizing chart be different?

Will the easyboot glove be sold individually? or in sets of 2 or 4?

[Garrett Ford]

The Easyboot Glue-On and Easyboot Glove are sized differently than other EasyCare boots. Both the Glove and the Glue-On will come in half sizes. We will release the following sizes in late January or early February. 00, 00.5, 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3. Wide sizes will follow.

Glue-On will be sold as a 4 pack or a individually. Slight discount as a 4 pack.

Easyboot Glove will be sold individually.

[Sharma Gaponoff]

I am currently training my barefoot Arabian horse for the Tevis next summer. I've been researching a variety of products, boots and other aids for the barefoot horse and my Tevis coach forwarded your site on the Easyboot Glue-on and Easyboot Glove. Your results look very promising I've read just about all that is posted here and would like to know how many total horses competed in the Las Cienegas endurance ride where you beta-tested these new boots. Thanks.

[Garrett Ford]

Las Cienegas was a small event. Not sure on the numbers each day of the 50, but they were lucky to have 30 plus. Very small compared to Tevis.

FYI, Easyboots have been used at very high levels at the Tevis Cup. Many top ten finishes, Two Haggin Cup Awards, and many completions. I finished 5th On Caproz Five Star in 1999 fitted with four Easyboots.

Hope we have some horses using the new Glue-On and Easyboot Glove in future years.