EZ boots Q

["Sarah McIntosh" <smcintos@rapidnet.net>]

Hi guys!

I need some help from all you EZ boot users out there....

I have used ez boots a lot with a previous horse (non arab) and had no
troubles for many many miles.
I have pulled front shoes on my girls (both Arabs) and went for a ride with
front boots on Saffy the other day.  All did not go as planned.  I cut the
boots down to the line, and when I put them on, did not put them with
extreme tightness, just hand tight, not step on them tight.  Saf travels
with very close tolerances between fronts and backs.  Quite often she clips
the front toe on the back toe when she moves out.  With shoes this is not a
problem, and she doesn't pull shoes, just ticks them.  We went about 2 miles
just walking and trotting so far so good.  Then she started moving out  a
bit, and bam, tripped as she stepped on the back of one of the boots.
Yanked the boot off, and we stopped and p/u the boot.  Put back on once,
tripped again 30 feet later, tied boot onto saddle.  Left other boot on.
About a 1;/4 mile later, cruised thru a little cantering stretch, on the
left lead and BAM, tripped over the left boot, yanked it off at a canter,
luckily for me she didn't fall on her face.  Went and p/u boot #2 , tied it
on saddle and rode home, she didn't flinch the rest of the ride, she has
really hard feet.

Should I cut the backs of the boots down to the ground?

I am concerned about her injuring herself by stepping on the boots and
tearing a tendon or susp ligament or something.  I am also concerned about
her landing on her face,and me getting injured at the same time.  This is
not a clumsy horse, and I have had her almost 3 years, so she has a really
good base now.

What do y'all think?

Sarah McIntosh & Saffy (75 miles) & Tawny (no miles)
Abbotsford, BC
Canada