Sink or Swim

There are points in a company’s or an individual's life that are sink or swim moments.  Times when you have to stick your neck out and show your peers you will succeed or fail.  Tevis Cup 2009 was a sink or swim moment for EasyCare, hoof boots and in a way barefoot horses.

The Tevis Cup is arguably the toughest and most grueling one day horse event in the world.  Over the years it has a 54% completion rate, half of the riders never finish.  I know great horse people who have 5 or more starts and have never finished.

Christoph and Garrett apply Easyboot Glue-Ons before the event at Robie Park. 

I’m not sure of the total start numbers for the 2009 event (roughly 150) but EasyCare had the following riders start with Easyboot Glue-Ons, Easyboots, or Easyboot Gloves.  The list below is not inclusive because there were several other riders that I saw during the event that also used boots.

1. Kevin Myers #129
2. Marina Bredda #54
3. Laurie Birch #39
4. Sue Walz #191
5. Lucy Trumbull #170
6. Christina Kramlich-Bowie #112
7. Garrett Ford #5
8. Duncan McLaughlin #25
9. Tennessee Mahoney #119
10. Larry Cooper #59
11. Anton Reid #28
12. Christoph Schork #79
13. Kevin Waters #175
14. Dave Rabe #141
15. Laura Hayes #98
16. Kathy Webb #177
17. Megan Doyle #65
18. Allan Horn #104

Dave Rabe and Christroph Schork (two of the best in the sport) coming into Robinson Flat.

Original unaltered Easyboots also finished.  Dr Neel Glass did the Tevis several times back in the 70's in Easyboots as well.

Of the boot starters that I’m aware of 13 out of the 18 finished.  A 72% finish rate.  An awesome day compared to the 54% overall finish rate stats.  Two horses in the top ten.  Only 5 horses showed for Best Condition, 2 of the 5 that showed for Best Condition were booted in EasyCare boots.

1.  6th Place Tennessee Mahoney

2.  8th Place Megan Doyle

3.  22nd Place Anton Reid

4.  24th Place Christina Kramlich-Bowie

5.  25th Place Laura Hayes

6.  29th Place Garrett Ford

7.  30th Place Kevin Waters

8.  31st Place Duncan McLaughlin

9.  32nd Place Kevin Myers

10.  33rd Place Dave Rabe

11.  40th Place Marina Bredda

12.  59th Place Kathy Webb

13.  64th Place Allan Horn

Kevin Waters and Golden Ali coming into Chicken Hawk.

It was a great day for barefoot horses and EasyCare.  Results were impressive, we had a great completion rate, legs look amazing after the event, we were all happy.  Sink or Swim, We swam!

Tennessee and Salty at the awards.  6th place and looking great!  The smile on that gal says it all.

Tennessee showing boot wear after the 100 miles of rough trail.  Looks like the boots could do several more 100 mile events.

Comments

[martha]

Hi Garrett

What a ride!

I watched the Tevis Cup for the first time ever this year. Since I use EasyCare boots, I check the blogs daily, and have enjoyed reading about the pre race prep by all the bloggers and riders.
I was curious to know what the Tevis Cup was all about.
WOW
It was thrilling to follow,first learning about the Tevis Cup, reading up on the riders and their horses,then checking up on where everyone was, and saddened when a rider was pulled.
I stayed up super late Saturday night because I just had to follow the race. LOL

Now I am just a western trail rider who could never see myself doing anything like this. But I throughly ENJOYED following this race and all of you.
Even my non-horsey husband was asking for updates.

It is amazing what you folks do and the GAME that you play!

My hat's off to all of you and your horses!

Martha Nicholas

[pauline Holloway]

That is a great result, hope it makes non believers stop and think. Congratulations to all barefooters in Tevis 2009. Pauline

[Susan]

Congratulations to all you individual riders and horses who got through, and also to those of you who had a go, and to EasyCare too - awesome results, I'm envious!
Susan :)

[Jenny Moncur]

To all the booted competitors - Congratulations!!!
I watched the webcast and rode with you in my mind. It was exciting and challenging and a fantastic result.
I am thrilled that our two aussies, Dunc and Anton, completed and did so well - and of course, Garrett.
Great swimming style - must be the Aussie crawl :-)
jenny

[Susan Chittenden]

We never had any doubt you would swim! the boots are great - even for average type riders like me! And the caliber of rider you had competing was always going to be a plus.

Fantastic outcome - the proof really is in the pudding.

Sue Chittenden
Banjywon Park
Australia

[Sue Walz]

Garrett,
What a great Tevis!!! Just let Raven out in his own Oregon pasture this evening. He's sound & happy... all four glue on boots still tightly on! I'll deal with that another day. We got 64 miles through the toughest parts of the Tevis trail before ol' Raven just tired out. The boots were flawless! He gaited so well in them. No slipping on the granite rock. Gripped as well as barefoot! Like a cat! Thanks for all the help.

~Sue & Raven

[Marina Bredda]

Hi Garrett,
A big thank you for gluing Spirit's boots on, she was awesome in them. We skipped over Cougar Rock and had a fantastic ride. I had complete faith in the glu on's (not only because you fitted them):)) but because they provided the greatest hoof protection on what proved to be a really rocky ride. Spirit looked as good at the finish as she did at the start...

Marina