Water helps and it is true, the more you use them, the easier it gets.  
I've got blobs of foam still on the bottom of the boot...makes no 
difference.  No need to have a perfect clean boot at the end of the 
ride.
Re: my suggestion of funds for rides, guess this sport isn't up to it.  
Been told it was a very bad idea although no one convinced me why. Only 
Roger positively wrote to the list. If "I" ever had the sources to run 
for office or whatever, it is something "I" would still push.  Like any 
other fund put up by members to help out those who exhibit and prove 
need, it give us human beings an opportunity to help each other and 
take some of the competitive edge out of the sport.  Human beings tend 
to make small things bigger than they are, I'm not convinced it has to 
be such a big, complicated, laborious task.
Happy Holidays to all. Enjoy.
Kimberly (&Mystery the Morab)