Team Easyboot

Glove boots and Walking horses

I tried my glove boots on the back of my TWH this past weekend and was very pleased at how well they did. I have been using and loving the Gloves on my horses front feet, but was worried about how they would do on the back feet since he twists his back feet when he gaits. I had heard from others with gaited horses that they had had problems with the Gloves coming off the hind feet, so I packed a set of bares, just in case.  

We started out on the trail, went through creeks, sand, woods, fields and mud and never had a problem. The ride was 17 miles with a lunch stop and we completed it in 4 hours, so I would say my horse was gaiting most of the time.  I am planning on getting some of the power straps to take up a little bit on the slack on his back feet, but I love the way they performed.

By the way the other 2 horses I was riding with also had boots on and when we stopped for lunch several people wanted to know all about the boots and the horses. Boots make both me and my horses happy!

Stocking use update and something new to try

Well, had been using the nylon stockings for our training rides for a while with some fairly good luck, so I figured it was time to try them on an actual ride. I have been doubling up on them, using a pair on each leg, and it seemed to working well on the training rides, like I said.

   Unfortunately , they did not work to well on the actual ride. After the first loop Fortune had rubs on all four pasterns, the front legs actually down to the point of bleeding. I removed the boots and stockings and replaced them with vet wrap and we completed the ride with no more problems. I am at a loss as to what to use to not get rubs.

 

I have been experimenting with some different fabrics and making "socks" out of them but have not really found anything I like except for the some really thin neoprene. The first pair I had made didn't fit her (made them too small) so I'm having another set made. My idea is to have them cover from the coronary band all the way up to ankle and be able to fold them over the velco on the gaiter. I do not have any trouble with her heel bulbs or anything esle being rubbed just her pasterns from the gaiters. I think the neoprene will work if I can get it to the size where I can pull it up over her hoof like a sock. I would like it to be a one piece construction. I thought about velcro but decided against it. The neoprene I'm using is 2mm thick which is very thin and I have also found a place that sells "breathable" neoprene which might be even more worth looking into if these "socks" work as I'm am a bit reluctant to use neoprene in the heat, but again, it is covering a small area and the gaiters are neoprene as well so it may not be an issue. I had it stitched top and bottom to keep the neoprene from tearing but did not use elastic thread which the lady who is making these for said I can get and would probably help. When I did try to stretch it over Fortunes foot the thread broke (didn't help being too small either) but it did stretch quiute a bit before that happened so something learned in making each of things. I hope to have newer ones this week to try. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Safe Riding,
Todd
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Calendar help

Alright, either I'm just that ignorant that I can't figure it out or I'm just missing something, but can someone please instruct me on how to post events to the Team Easyboot calendar in Google. I have exhausted myself trying to figure it out. All help is greatly appreciated.

Safe Riding,
Todd

Thank You from Dave Rabe

I want to thank everybody for their support and for all of their donations and contributions after my trailer accident in March.  Everything really helped me to get going again.  My horse that survived the accident Rushcreek Okay has completed three endurance rides since the accident and is doing really well.  I was able to get my truck repaired and had a new flatbed put on it and just recently purchased another horse trailer which was made possible because of all of the help and contributions that came in from so many generous people.  There are so many individuals and companies who have supported me in many ways that I am afraid if I listed them I would miss somebody.  Please know that I am genuinely appreciative of all of them and for everything that everybody has done for me.   Dave Rabe

Photo:  Dave and Okay at the Washoe Valley Ride, May 2008

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

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 

Team Easyboot Update

Hi everyone - we are going to start sending items out to each of you.  We had some things delayed so what we are going to do is send what we have now and then get the rest to you later.  I hate to keep things held up for very much longer.  We'll do this in batches so that it is manageable and doesn't overwhelm our staff ;).  If you have an event coming up soon and I haven't already confirmed that we are sending things your way, just let myself or Tara know. 

For you Team Easyboot members that are endurance riders - we'll be sending you forms for the hoof boot contest.  Please do your best when you are at a ride to sign up riders who are riding in EasyCare boots.  They can receive 50% credit for using two boots, and for any distance.  Also - if you'd like to get some spare parts to have on hand to help riders (or for your own use) that need them we can do that if you are willing to help with the part replacement. 

Still working out more tweaks in the Edge's and some various gaiter versions.  We are also making an online submission form for feedback so that we can keep up with all of your feedback once we get you some product out to test! 

Howdy from Southern California!

Hello everyone! My name is Teri Payne and I live in sunny southern California, specifically the Mojave Desert. It's really rocky here and my horses are barefoot so Easy Boots have been a real help.

I have two Morgan geldings. Knight will be 4 this year and I'm looking forward to training him. Red came to me as a weanling and is now ten years old. He was my first youngster to raise and he¹s been my partner in exploring all sorts of new horse activities. Together we've participated in clinics, play days, a little cattle sorting (he¹s a hoot with cattle!), trail trials, gymkhana, and plenty of good old trail riding with friends. The past couple of summers we¹ve been camping, which always has been one of my favorite activities even before horses.

Last summer, my sister and I took Red and my husband¹s Quarter Horse, Dolly, camping in the high country of Yosemite National Park in California. We live in the desert so trees, meadows, and water were a bit of sensory overload at first, as were the deer that seemed to be everywhere and came bounding through camp occasionally. Our horses quickly adjusted to this as well as the hikers with their big backpacks.

Highlining was a first for everyone, but Red and Dolly did fine, except one morning at dawn when Red woke us with his whinnies and we found Dolly gone! Sharon called for her and she came running from where she had been eating out of the back of my truck. Whew! We still don¹t know how she got the clip unhooked under her chin and wonder if someone let her loose. But all's well that ends well!

Being that we don¹t encounter many water crossings in the desert, Red always behaves as if he¹s never seen it before. Oddly he just wandered into the stream to drink and at first he didn¹t want to come out. I think it was because the water was so clean and clear that he could see the bottom and was not worried about walking into a bottomless hole. Red had lots of "good" water experiences in Yosemite.

The Tuolumne Meadows area has a variety of trails all with gorgeous scenery. The Pacific Crest and John Muir Trails run through these meadows. Although our horses were barefoot and we stayed on easy trails, there were enough to keep us busy for three days of riding. Next time, we won't forget our Easy Boots and will have more trail options.

My favorite ride was from Tuolumne Meadows to Dog Lake. About a half mile of it was a bit of an uphill for our flatlander horses, but not too difficult and definitely worth it. Once there we had lunch on the banks of this little jewel of a lake, then I took pictures while Sharon played in the lake with the horses and showed them off to little girls who petted their soft noses.

Late in the afternoon of our last day, we rode silently through the forest, memorizing sights, scents, and sounds. Deer grazed on bright green grass on the forest floor lit with shafts of afternoon sun breaking through the trees. Heaven has to look just like this! The does had small spotted fawns with them and we even saw two sets of twins. They didn¹t seem to care about us as long as we were quiet, and when one pair wandered off we¹d just mosey down the trail until we came across another pair. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip.

Teri and Red

Tassie First endurance ride back since EI

JILL SHEEAN - SASSAFRAS RIDE, 2/2/08

Well what a weekend.  Alot of laughs were had and tears were shead - but that is HORSES AND ENDURANCE for you!!

Overall I was  more than impressed with my boy - he was fast, fit and tried his heart out.  He came in 2nd middleweight with a time of 6hrs 3mins and got to compete for Best Conditioned. 

Unfortunately about an hour after best conditioned workouts he wasnt quite right and had a mild colic.  Heart rate was normal, temp, capilary, jugular, and gut sounds all normal at that time but he just wasnt comfortable.

I had the vet look at him and due to the fact that he was administered pain relief within 2 hours of vetting in I lost my place  - if another 18 minutes had past before he was given the shot he still would come 2nd LOL.    A little frustrating but as long as he got better I was happy.  That night he was stuffing his face with anything he could find and drinking normally again so was very relieved.

Arrived home today (sunday) and he is fully hydrated now and cantering around the paddock.  He has dropped absolutely no weight at all and even though we had a late disqualification due to his treatment I am still proud of his vet scores as he received all A's and 1'S except for one B at the end so he had all his vet checks with near perfect scores - so proud of him! 

We will see how he goes the next ride - there are a few things I will change for the more humid days and hopefully he will be great at Woodstock at the end of March!

He was ridden in 4 Bares.  A friend rode in epics - had one latch smash to pieces, one gaiter totally came off the boot and the boot flung off and is lost and another boot the gaiter broke as well - these were both brand new boots.  I have a suspicion the boot that came off was to big but I dont think the gaiter should have seperated from the boot???  I havent looked at the boot yet to see exactley what happened.  BUT she is still a boot convert and I think just needs better fitting! 

Good luck with the start of everyone elses seasons!