Re: Easy boots

["Robyn Levash" <questarabians@inreach.com>]

I have occasionally used Easy boots to help my older guy transistion to
barefoot during  re-conditioning him . Nope, didn't have to foam them on
(he's got big round feet tho). They were not so tight that I couldn't get
them on or off without using my own hands (and I am not that strong). They
were snug, but not suffocating the foot if you know what I mean. They seemed
to work very well,  (although that heel strap and potential rubbing worries
me over a lot of miles---I have noticed heel band indentation (not rubbing)
on the heel bulbs area after a ride but guess that can't be helped), and
never had a problem with them falling off no matter the speed, distance
(have done up to 35-40 miles in them on a training ride), rocks, terrian, or
small water crossings. Maybe I was just lucky or the EZ boots liked his
particular feet shape dunno? I haven't tried them on my other horses
barefoot horses --- so can't say if they would have similar results. But,
I'd say to the barefooters that EZ boots just may be  a viable source of
hoof protection. So try them before you rule them out.
Now all the EZ boot Co. has to do is invent a low jack alarm system for the
rider for when  they start to fall off, so we as riders don't have to sweat
so much about losing them. :))))
Robyn
----- Original Message -----
From: <guest@endurance.net>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2001 7:31 AM
Subject: RC: Old Macs & Swiss Boots


> K S SWIGART   katswig@earthlink.net
>
> Tracey Ritter said:
>
> > Good point, but why expend precious time and
> > energy of making something fit when there
> > are other products on the market that funtion
> > just as well (if not better) and are easier to
> > apply and remove?  Options are a good thing!
>
> Because those "other products" have their draw-
> backs too (some of which require you to expend
> both precious time and lots of money).
>
> So far, in my investigations, I have not yet
> found anything that works better here in
> the dry hard footing that describes most
> of the endurance rides that I go to than
> EasyBoots foamed on over steel shoes.
>
> And one of the nice things about EasyBoots
> is that they have been on the market for over
> 20 years, and the peoeple that make them are
> endurance riders themselves.  Horse have done
> probably in the hundreds of thousands of miles
> of endurance competition in EasyBoots.  This
> is a great body of knowledge and experience to
> draw upon.  And Garrett Ford is helpful, attentive
> to endurance rider's concerns (not only because
> he is an endurance rider himself), in possession
> of tons of information, knows a lot about the
> situations (and types of horse's feet and/or
> conformation) for which EasyBoots are suitable
> and those for which they are not suitable.
>
> I am currently training in Old Mac boots.  And so
> far, for the horse and the situation that I am using
> then in, they are showing some distinct advantages
> over EasyBoots (but they have some disadvantages
> too, and I have atleast one report from somebody who
> tried them on his horse that they are indicated in
> causing this particular horse to get muscle cramping
> in the hindquarters).  If my training with them continues
> to go smoothly over the next two weeks, I MAY decide
> to try using them for competition at the Grand Canyon
> ride next month (maybe they will keep my horse from
> running me into a tree :)).  However, I may also decide
> that I haven't yet used them enough (nor has anybody
> else) and go the EasyBoots over steel shoes" route.
> I have found the people at Old Macs to be equally as
> willing to help as Garrett Ford, but they certainly don't
> have as much information about how the boots work on
> endurance horses in competition (I hope to be able to
> provide them with it).
>
> So by comparison, the time and trouble of EasyBoots
> (and the availability AT a ride of assistance from
> other people who have used them extensively) is
> significantly less than it is for Old Macs (and probably
> for most of the "other products" that Tracey speaks
> of).
>
> _I_ am willing to put in the time and trouble with the
> Old Macs because I think that after I have worked
> the kinks out that they will probably work better for
> my horse(s?) in my situation.  But I may be wrong about
> this (since I have not yet worked all the kinks out).  I
> hope not.
>
> For people who don't want to go to all the trouble (and
> expense) of trying some of the new products that may
> be better in some ways, EasyBoots will be far less
> trouble...and, as I said, there will be lots of very
> experienced people who can help.
>
> And if _I_ could use EasyBoots without foaming them on
> (which I cannot because of the shape of my horse's feet),
> I wouldn't bother with the time and the expense of the
> Old Macs....well...maybe I would, because I have NEVER
> felt my horse move so well as she does in Old Macs (not
> even barefoot)...except in the mud...they don't work so great
> for her in the mud.
>
> kat
> Orange County, Calif.
>
>
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