Team Easyboot

Introducing Christoph from good old Germany

Hello everybody. First of all, sorry for being late in introducing my self. I feel honored by getting accepted into the Team Easyboot, even though I prefer to ride with Old Mac's G2. But let's start with the simple facts, my name is Christoph and I'm from Bavaria (that is between Germany and Austria ;-)). My wife and I live in a small town south of Munich, where we have a small stable with three horses. All of them are walking barefoot, for obvious reasons. Unfortunately the turf in southern Bavaria isn't always as good as it could be. The last ice ages brought some stones into the plains. Therefore we started using hoof shoes a couple of years ago. After experiments with some "less perfect" models (some of them we never found again in the woods :-() we came across the Old Mac's G1. I guess from then on our experiences were quiet similar to the ones of you all ...

But maybe not all of you take part in three day events and hunts (don't worry, we don't hunt foxes, we just bring out a scent) with there horses and even less people do that with hoof shoes. Actually in the German hunting and eventing community we are pretty unique, at least I've never seen anybody else with hoof shoes. Which is really unfortunate, because I can just really recommend it. I've never experienced any disadvantage compared to riders with metal boots. So if anybody wants to share ideas about using hoof shoes especially in events and hunting, let me know. Other than that, if you a resident of Bavaria

and interested in hunting, come and talk to me. Or if you are just interested in making mileage with your horse let me know. I’m always looking for people to exercise with

Hello from Tennessee

just thought i would introduce myself

jim Apple - 4th generation farrier/blacksmith - Farrier for over 25 years, barefoot only since 1994

Facebook

I dont know how many of you are on there but I have just created a group for us all to join! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20628849488 or just search team easyboot

:Op

Team Easyboot - North Idaho Panhandle Member

Hi Easyboot Team!

I would like to express how excited I am to be part of the TEAM EASY BOOT TEAM and to work with a product that leads the industry in hoof care also to service the horse and owner in a safe and healthy manor.

My name is Chris Dunn and I live in Athol, Idaho between Coeur d' Alene and Sandpoint in the beautiful panhandle of the great Northwest.  I am partnering on Team Easyboot with Debra Ayers.  Between us we have 3 horses and 1 mule and will have a foal on the way for 2009.

After one of our horses came out of winter with hooves that were unable to be shod due to the degradation throughout the winter from the nail holes and weak hoof walls and soles from wearing metal shoes; we got our first set of hoof boots.  We knew about Easycare Hoof Boots because we had read about them in magazines and seen a very educational testimonial by a world renowned natural horsemanship expert.

Since we practice natural horsemanship, going barefoot was the next perfect progression for all of the horses now that we were using the Easy Boots.  I can not tell you enough how Easyboots have changed all of our horse's lives.  All of our horses feet have been able to grow out naturally and become healthy and strong.  The greatest part during this period of rehabilitation was that we were able to ride like normal because of Easyboots.  All of our horses are barefoot now, and have been for the past 2 years and are doing excellent because of our use of Easyboots and we know that when it is time to ride our horses their feet will be fully protected and comfortable. 

We participate in as many local public rides as we can possible.  These rides are put on by local club chapters, charity events and ,back country horseman of Idaho etc. and so far we are the only ones wearing hoof boots in this area.  Sometimes there are up to about 150 horses at these events.  We get a lot of attention and we love to share our success stories about going barefoot with the help of Easycare hoof boots.  We have even gotten calls at home because someone was thinking about going barefoot and wanted to know more about the different products easy care offers and how they perform.

A good success story…during one of the riding events I was carrying an extra Epic Boot. There was a woman that was riding a horse that threw a shoe. We were in the midst of some extreme terrain and had quite a way to go to get back to where we started.  I offered my extra hoof boot to help this woman and her horse make it back safely and without injury to the horses barefoot.  She was really worried because her horse was not good with his feet, but I reassured her that I would have no problem fitting the boot so that they could finish the ride.  Because I practice natural horsemanship, I was able to fit the boot without any incident and the woman was very impressed by my technique with her horse.  Needless to say, we all finished the ride and everyone made it back to the trail head without incident.

A couple weeks later I was recognized at a tack store as the guy that handled the difficult horse that threw a shoe and very easily fitted the horse with the Epic Boot with out incident; which as this person stated “saved the day”.  I was proud to be recognized for helping in such a way because I believe so strongly in the Easycare boots and this was a perfect example for others to learn about this tool that has saved my horses hooves.

We ride in Epics because of the extreme terrain we get into were we sometimes break buckles, but the gator helps us continue the ride with out worry.  I am looking forward to the R&D aspect of being on Team Easyboot in hopes of giving feed back and learning about different boots and things that can be tried for different events and terrains and the education.

Thank you Team Easyboot for extending this great opportunity.

CHRIS DUNN

Greetings from Pennsylvania

Hey Everyone. Looks like we have a really good group of motivated people raring to get it going. My name is Amy Cieri and I've been competing in endurance and ctr's for 12 years.

Just a thought and a request from your experiences. I feel that when my horse is booted his stride is shortened. No rubs noted and the fit is good.

I love my epics but hesitate to try the bares or the grip because they seem to weigh more.

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Thanks again,

Amy

"GIDDAY" from an Aussie

Hi to All from Anne in Australia!

Like many of you, my husband Greg and I have been involved with horses for a whole lot of years.  I have ridden stock and endurance, dabbled in western, trained racehorses, carted 3 girls all around the state competing in pony club and now in middle age, I'm really enjoying dressage and social rides with Frank, my equine partner.  We are training Level 2 dressage, attend clinics, weekend camps, social endurance rides, navigation rides etc.  I used original easy boots when they first came on the market basically as a backup for a thrown shoe on endurance rides, then for horses with problem feet, but always returned to shoeing horse.  Then Frank arrived, a lovely thoroughbred, and I entered a real learning curve as I strove to keep shoes on his flat, thin-walled, crumbly hooves.  I listened to various people, riders and farriers, and researched everything from cytecs to plastic shoes to glue-on, but at the end of the day it was the increasingly good reports of barefoot trimming and hoof conditioning that led me to want to try what seemed like a very logical and natural way. So we gave it a go, along with hoofboots.  Frank was 15 the year the year we  took off his metal shoes;  I doubt that he'd ever been unshod as he started life as a racehorse, then jumper, then show hack and now pleasure.  He has always been in work apart from the odd 2 - 3 week let up, so I suppose that says something for his soundness and constitution.  It took a good few months to transition him, Greg diligently trimming and me using easy boot bares.  Now nearly two years down the track, I couldn't be more impressed with with the changes to the quality and resilience of his hooves.  The wall thickness has increased and he has grown a slight concavity to his soles and they are TUFF.  When Frank was shod I had him on hoof supplements hoping to hasten the growth of the hooves, and though it did help a bit, it was nothing to the extent that going bare has.  I started Frank in Bares, and now am using Epics, simply because of ease of application.  Greg and I own a saddlery and believe us when we say we've seen shoeing fads come and go.  I am more than ever convinced that in this day and age, when there is access to a range of boots from a company that is committed as Easycare is to research and development, there will soon be no need to ever drive nails into horses hooves!  I hope that with widespread acceptance of boots, that the discipline of Dressage will come to accept them as shoe alternatives and not horse boots which are now disallowed for competition.  By the way, Karen, could you mention to research department that the exposed screws on the outside of the Epics catch on the horses fetlocks and draw blood!  Is there some way they can be recessed perhaps?  Thanks Easycare for the opportunity to be part of such a committed team.   Regards, Anne

Hello from central Texas

My name is Joel Means, and I live in Dripping Springs, Texas.

I am a natural hoofcare provider and a teacher of Natural Horsemanship. I'm a big fan of the Easyboot product line, as they are a integral part of bringing a lot of these horses out of shoes comfortably.

I'm excited about being part of the Easyboot Team, and about learning and sharing ideas with y'all!

Joel

Greetings from Northeastern California!

My name is Sally Hugg and I live near the Feather River Canyon in Butte County. I am a professional natural hoof care provider and boot fitter. The best part of my job is introducing horse owners to the advantages of hoof boots. Even people who are skeptical at first become fans of riding in boots. Examples of the comments that I get are "My horse just floats with those pads!", "I can boot my horse in just a few minutes", and "Why didn't I do this sooner?"

EasyCare boots are a big part of my practice when it comes to treating founder and navicular cases. It is so gratifying to watch a horse that could barely walk go trotting off in the pasture. The look in the horses' eyes tells me how much happier they are to be moving again, sometimes for the first time in years.

I'm looking forward to an exciting year with Team Easyboot and the new products that are being developed. I'll be out on the trails with my big TB "Robo Cop" wearing his EasyC are boots in 2008!

Hello from Northern California

My name is Tracy Browne, and I live in Greenwood, CA, right up the hill from the river crossing on the Tevis Trail.  My barefoot horses train on some of the most challenging trails, in boots.  My husband and I are endurance riders.  We went to Death Valley for the holidays and rode a couple of 50s and a LD.  I am always looking for cool boots!  I am also a natural hoof trimmer, and help my clients try to find the right boot for their horse and their situation.  I have a blog, http://hoofhelp.blogspot.com/ that I keep updated on a regular basis about what I am up to, and how to help your horses hooves.  My favorite place to ride is in the Desolation Wilderness and it is very rocky and lots of granite slabs.  This summer my husband and I plan to ride the Tahoe Rim trail, as well as do some more multiday endurance rides.  My personal riding horse is a mustang that I adopted from the BLM, her name is Feather and she is coming 7.  However, I have 4 other straight Spanish Arabians including 2 youngsters that I am starting.    They keep me busy!  I also am a Level 3 Parelli student and am always interested in learning more about horse psychology and behavior.

I am excited to be on Team Easyboot!

Hello From Big Sky Country, Montana

I am honored to be asked to join Team Easyboot and look forward to helping others in my area.  I am proud to say my horses have been barefoot for almost 3 years and doing great.  We've used Easyboots for those 3 years and have never considered going back to shoes.  I trim my own horses and enjoy many trail rides on my Appaloosa and Paint Horse.  Easy Boots have made going barefoot a way of life for me and my horses.  We look forward to helping with improvements and overall use of the boots in the future! 

HAPPY TRAILS!

Dawn Merrill