If You Think Peripheral Loading Is

A High Carb Diet For Athletes:

Think Again

Natalia Magnicalballi and dancers of Ballet Arizona. Photo^© Rosalie O’Connor.

I’m fascinated by the mechanics of the foot. Take the photo above and imagine the forces exerted on the foot while it is on pointe. The career of a ballerina is usually over before she is 40 and a lot of it has to do with the kind of pressure her feet and ankles are subjected to. And her feet are ruined in the process.

The effects of a steel shoe are also interesting – especially when you think about how much pressure is placed onto the hoof wall. When you load weight onto the perimeter of the foot, you stress the mechanics of the foot and you prevent blood flow, much like the ballerina standing on pointe. Without blood, there is less growth and less capacity for shock absorption.

We’ve all had horses who seem sore when they trot down the road. I wonder how much of it is due to the compromised mechanics of the foot. Compare this to a Geisha whose feet are bound to prevent expansion and proper growth. One thing is sure: my horses have never felt as good as they do now they are barefoot.

Far on a training ride last weekend. He feels sound and happy.

The video below from Swedish Hoof School

is not for the faint of heart, but it is definitely worth seeing. I guarantee it will make you think.

I recently put Far back to work after a ten-week layoff following Tevis. It was his first rest in two years and I think he is better for it. I am surprised that the shape and structure of his feet have changed very little since Tevis. His heels still seem a little high and they are still a little contracted. It is interesting that his feet have not evolved as much as Redford’s. I suspect much of it is due to the lack of work.

You can see that Far’s heels are still a little high by the line above the boot.

Far’s front left foot: there is still room for improvement.

If you keep off the peripheral loading your horse might be better for it.

Keep up the bootlegging!

Kevin

Submitted by Duncan McLaughlin

Submitted by Amanda Washington

Submitted by Erika Morup

Submitted by Frances Hughes

Submitted by Miriam Rezine

Dian and Christoph from Global Endurance

October 14^th was the day for the biggest endurance event in North America the North American Endurance Championship. Serving at the same time as the pre ride for the 2010 World Equestrian Games and World Championship, this was a prestigious and important race. Riders needed to qualify to enter and needed an invitation to attend. The USA was represented by 5 Teams of 6 riders each, one team for each time zone, with the exception of the Pacific time zone, which was allowed two teams. Christoph Schork, who co-owns the Global Endurance Training Center with Dian Woodward, was invited to represent the Mountain Zone. Riders from 23 countries all over the world were also invited to enter either the 100 mile Championship race or the 75 mile Kentucky Cup race. Riders from North America were not allowed to enter the Kentucky Cup race.

On October 7^th, Christoph left sunny Moab Utah with 5 horses to start his 1600 mile drive to Kentucky.  Upon entering Missouri the torrential rain forced a full day layover in Warrenton. Within a 36 hour period, Missouri received between 8 and 10 inches of rain, countless roads being flooded and closed as a result. Once the rain eased a little, we continued the journey. It is important to arrive early after a long trailer haul, to give the horses several days to recover from the travelling stress. This gave Christoph ample time to equip his horses with Easyboot Glue-On boots, that were studded, especially manufactured by EasyCare, Inc, for conditions like we would encounter in Kentucky: Lots of wet grass with mud everywhere.

A close up shot of the studs.

The boots were glued on with Vettec Adhere at the hoof wall and Goober Glue for the sole of the hoof. Because of the wet conditions, Christoph was applying the boots in a dry barn, taking especially good care of drying the hoof walls thoroughly with a heat gun.

Easyboots in place before the mud.

The morning of the race, the rain pelted the riders relentlessly. 40 degrees temps and rain without end. The trails were flooded and mudded over in no time. Christoph started the 100 mile race on TC Mounshine, a horse already now qualified for the WEC next year. Other GETC horses entered were:

DWA Express, ridden by Nikolay Melbard from Russia

Stars Aflame, ridden by Leo Steinbruch from Brasil

DWA Millennium, leased to a rider from Japan. She did not start because of the conditions.

.Salty did also not start, because the rider from France was a no show.

The rain intensified and the conditions were so bad, that Ride Management decided to shorten the course for the well being of the horse from 100 mile to 75 mile. A very smart decision.

Heading out on another muddy loop.

In the end, Christoph ended up in 10^th place for the Championship race, 9^th among the North American riders. The Mountain Zone Team won the Bronze Medal, Third Place in the Team Championship. Among the Mountain Zone Team riders was Doug Swingley from Montana, also riding his horse with Easyboot Glue-on studded boots. Stars Aflame ended up in 8^th place in the Kentucky Cup race, first American horse. The horses ahead of her were flown in from the UAE. She also wore studded Glue-ons. Another Top Ten rider with Glue ons was also Farzad Faryadi, riding for the East Zone.

Miriam Rezine in the Kentucky Mud.

The studded Easyboot Glue-Ons really made a difference. Where other riders were slipping, the studs gave the necessary traction for the horses. What an excellent idea to add the studs to the glue ons. We also had some Gloves equipped with studs and carried them on our saddles, in case we would loose a boot. We thought that the relentless rain might loosen a boot. We did not need to worry. The boots held extremely well, we did not loose any boots. The Vettec Adhere really works well to keep these boots on the hooves, no matter what the ambient conditions. As long as we follow the recommended glue on procedure, the boots stay on.

Only 6 horses of all the starters had their hooves equipped with EasyCare Glue-On boots, and 4 ended up in Top Ten position. In a race with a completion rate of only 40% and 50 % respectively and a really tough competition and very difficult footing conditions, that is an incredible result for the glue ons. The glue on boots again provided results that speak for themselves.

Christoph and TC Mounshine on the way to a 10th place finish.

Dian Woodward & Christoph Schork

www.globalendurance.com

The majesty of Moab.

Moab has long been used as a location for films, TV programs and commercials: many of John Wayne’s movies were filmed there. You can see some of Moab’s majestic vistas in Rio Grande; The Comancheros; Cheyenne Autumn; The Greatest Story Ever Told; Once Upon a Time in the West; Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade; and Thelma & Louise. Moab was also used as a backdrop for images in the Marlboro Man campaign.

Looking east towards the La Sal Mountains.  Utahs’s second highest mountain range with six peaks rising above 12,000 feet.

The third annual Moab Canyonlands Endurance Ride was hosted very capably last weekend by Sheri Griffith and her plucky team of volunteers.  A winter storm kept many of us away for the first day of the three day ride, bringing the number of riders on the first day down from the 135 who had pre-registered to less than 100.

Stunning trails.

Redford crossing some of the Slickrock.

I confess I cringed for the first five miles on Day 2. There was more deep sand than I had anticipated and I did not know if Redford would get rubbed by a build-up of the powdery sand in the gaiters. I stopped on the trail at about five miles and pulled back all four gaiters to check for abrasion: there was none.

I used these four Gloves for the two 50 mile races. They are only just getting broken in.

This was my second time to use Easyboot Gloves at a race: this time I used them as they were designed to be used. I have been trying out the Easyboot Glue-Ons at all the other races and they have worked so well for me that I was hesitant to try anything else. I rode Redford 100 miles over two days in the Gloves and the variety of trail conditions were a great test. We did many miles of deep sandy wash trails, Slickrock and gravel roads. The boots worked really well – there was practically no rubbing by the 100^th mile, and the boots hardly look like they have been used.

As Julia Lynn pointed out during our 19 hours in the saddle together over the two days, endurance is like several sports all in one. Not everyone has the same goal; some of the riders are out there to savor the miles and use every hour allotted to complete the course. I was one such rider this weekend: the scenery deserved all the attention it could get. I enjoyed being witness to some stories from some of the high mileage riders at the back of the pack.

Carol and Robyn Wadey.

MR Ladybird’s Easyboots.

Carol Wadey and daughter Robyn drove three days from their home town of Edson, Alberta, Canada to attend the event. Carol rode her 20-year old Spanish Mustang mare, MR Ladybird. She rode all three days in Original Easyboots. “I just love them” said Carol, “I only use Gloves when there is mud. The rest of the time I just use regular Easyboots and I never have a problem.” Carol and Robyn looked quite the part in their witch costumes.

Kerry Redente and Bountyful Prince.

There was Kerry Redente riding her gelding, Bountyful Prince, to become the 2009 National High Mileage Champion. She is well clear of the 1,800 mile mark with him for this year alone. You’ve seen Kerry’s smiling face in some of the EasyCare publications.

Carla Richardson knows how to crack a joke.

I had the pleasure of riding several hilarious miles with Carla Richardson on Day 3. She is definitely one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. Carla is originally from Texas and now lives in Delta Colorado.

Carla completed her first 50 mile race in 2008 and was immediately hooked. She and her gelding, SS Kharady Khid, have completed 1,430 miles together in 2009. “I had noticed so many endurance riders using glue-ons, and I was intrigued. After Color Country I went over to Christoph's and he put on Glue-Ons. I've used them on every ride since then, except for Virgin Rim when I used Gloves. My tough little energizer bunny Khid did beautifully in the Gloves, even through the clay, mud and volcanic rocks of the Rim ride. He didn't get any rubs at all.”

Dave Rabe and White Cloud.

Dave Rabe was out there too with White Cloud who looks like he will take second place in the National High Mileage standings. White Cloud has more than 1,400 miles this year, all of them in Easyboot Glue-Ons. Dave will probably clear 46,000 career miles before the year is over and is one of the most gracious people you could ever hope to meet on the trail.

Mari Ural at the start of Day 2.

And there was Mari Ural, who is about to cross the 20,000 career mile marker. Mari was there with her gelding Psyches Quest. She used Gloves all three days and her horse looked fantastic.

There are some good lessons to be learned at the back of the pack. And if you’re looking for ease of use, the Gloves could not be simpler to use.

Keep up the boot legging!

Kevin

Christina Kramlich Bowie and Zeal ride through Forest Hill during the 2009 Tevis Cup. The horse is booted but super hard to tell!

Rebecca Wyatt and Cherokee. We love the bond in this photo.

Erika Morup booting a horse. Erika is a professional trimmer and rides her own horses in Easyboots.

The Easyboot Facebook Photo Contest for week #2 is underway.  We are looking for a photo that shows the perfect hoof.

Christoph Schork and Garrett Ford watch the best condition judging after day #1.  Christoph and Power Ball were first place.  Garrett and Cyclone were fifth place and Cyclone received Best Condition.

A severe winter storm and cold temperatures made travel to the base camp slow and dangerous.  There were many riders counting on EasyCare's help to apply Easyboot Glue-Ons and Easyboot Gloves before the event.  The only problem was the cold temps and light snow.  Despite the conditions and lack of light we made sure all the riders were taken care of before the event.  We were concerned about gluing shells in the freezing temps but decided to use the temps as a great research and development opportunity.  We applied 20 Easyboot Glue-On shells with Vettec Adhere in the dark and cold on Thursday night.

Applying Easyboot Glue-Ons in the dark.  Temps were below freezing.

Applying Easyboot Gloves in the dark. 

Despite the tough application conditions all the Easyboots performed well.  On the first day of the event the first five horses across the line were in Easyboots.  Christoph Schork was first place, Miriam Rezine was second place, Dian Woodward was fourth place and Garrett Ford was fifth place.  GE Cyclone was awarded Best Condition.  Cyclone was one point away from high vet score (good thing we didn't get it because we would have won a pair of Renegade boots.  That would have been ironic).

Christoph Schork and Power Ball take first place in Easyboot Glue-Ons.

The four lead horses at the 30 mile point.  All the riders are in Easyboot products.

GE Cyclone and Easyboot Gloves get another Best Condition.

The second and third day of the event were much the same as day one.  Christoph won day two and day three.  Tennessee Mahoney won Best Condition and high vet score on day two. 

I'll post more about how we applied the Easyboot Glue-Ons in the cold and snow.  All boots that were applied in the cold performed well and did not come off.  I'm actually surprised how well they worked given the conditions that we faced.  We continue to learn!

Thank you to all the riders in Easyboots.  Thanks for the support and helping EasyCare make better products. 

If You Guys Only You Knew…

Five Things You Should Know If You Are Thinking of Pulling Shoes

Rocky. Photo © Merri Melde.

When I decided to make the transition to barefoot I made a commitment to stick with it for six months. As that date approaches, there are five things that stick out as some of the most important lessons along the way. It has not all been wine and roses: two of the five horses at our place went through some sore weeks. Both cases were due to human error.

Rocky’s sole.

1. The role of the sole

Rocky was the first to get tender: we were merrily soaking his feet every couple of days and then carving out his false sole with a farrier’s knife. We thought we were going to accelerate the process of exfoliation and make the transition faster. Obviously that was the worst thing we could have done: he went from being sound to being tender footed. We quickly changed our strategy and it took him a couple of weeks to be pain free.

Redford’s sole.

2. Even professionals can make mistakes

Redford was the horse who seemed to be suffering the most from the effect of shoes: his hoof walls were separating from white line disease. The first few weeks with him barefoot were mostly problem free. He was moving around fine without boots, but he was a little sore in the heel area which prevented him from landing heel first. I had his feet trimmed a couple of days before I was supposed to leave for a ride. The trimmer left most of the false sole and trimmed the hoof wall down below the level of the sole.

By the time I got home that evening Red could hardly walk: he was really sore. I had another trimmer come and give me a second opinion a few days later: it was decided there was too much sole and it was creating pressure. It was as if he was walking on snow balling up under his feet. The second trimmer brought the sole down to the level of the hoof wall and Red was instantly much more comfortable. He was sound again within a couple of days.

Maintaining a mustang roll.

3. Add hoof maintenance into your schedule

Take a rasp to your horse’s feet once a week – especially if you are working them. Help prevent the hoof wall chipping away by keeping a nice mustang roll around the base of the foot. Regular rasping will also help bring the toe back and can offset a flare if the hoof seems predisposed to flaring.

Pick the feet out regularly: horses can get thrush even in the driest of climates.

Riding Far last weekend with Gloves on the front and barefoot in the back.

4. Ride without boots

Find a trail with soft footing where you can take your horse and ride without boots. It really seemed to speed up the adjustment period for the two tender-footed horses when we started riding them a few miles each week completely barefoot.

Riding the Tonto.

5. Ride with boots

I have had practically no rubbing problems with gaiters over five months of a heavy riding schedule. But a friend of mine took a horse on a 50 a couple of weeks ago and used Gloves for the first time and the horse got rubbed from the gaitors in the pastern area. I suspect this could have been avoided if the horse had been ridden a few times to get used to the gaiters.

Rain – his first ride outside the roundpen took place last weekend.

Success awaits

I took these short videos of the horses at our place yesterday morning after the first cool night of the year. None of the horses were warmed up before filming and they were all worked over the weekend. You decide if going barefoot has been a success for us: I’m off to Moab Utah with a couple of them.

Keep up the bootlegging!

Kevin

Here is how to participate and enter a great photo.

1.  Join Facebook if you are not already a Facebook member.
2.  Become a fan of Easyboot on Facebook.
3.  Upload your photo in the Easyboot Facebook fan photos section.
4.  We will announce the week #1 winner on Friday 10/30/09.
5.  If you don't win in week #1 submit another good photo the following week.

I've added one of my favorite horse photos below.  Lisa Ford and Flash in Durango, Co.  I love the blur, the action in the photo and the colors.  And the best part "The focus in on the horse".

Although hoof boots and natural hoof care have been around for years, both concepts are really starting to gain momentum.  EasyCare is excited about the future. 

Over the past couple months we have collected the hoof boots turned in under the exchange program and we will E-Bay the entire pile of boots to the highest bidder.  The pile contains Cavallo Horse Boots, Marquis Horse Boots, Horse Sneakers, Davis Horse Boots, Renegade Hoof Boots, Bosana Horse Boots, Swiss Horse Boots, etc. 

Many boots are in new condition, many in slightly used condition and many in a more used condition.  Sizes are in all ranges but are primarily the more popular sizes. Check out more details and place a bid at the hoof boot E-Bay auction.  The Cavallo boots alone have a $1800 retail value.  This is a smoking opportunity for the right person. 

I'm often asked to comment on other hoof boot styles made by different manufacturers.  To be honest I like all the other brands and believe all the boot manufacturers are proving the same concept and we are all spreading the same message.  Hoof boots sales are currently a blip compared to iron shoe sales but we continue to close the gap.  We are all making each other better and the competition between the hoof boot manufacturers is the only thing that continues to make hoof boots improve. 

Cavallo Horse Boots.  The pink pair are pretty cool.

Marquis Horse Boots.  One pair painted Red,

Swiss Horse Boots.  Some have toe slots.

Horse Sneakers.  Check out the Flames.

Renegade Hoof Boots.  Strap on boots and Glue-on shells.  Many of the glue-on shells are in new condition, never used.  We also got back several of the strap on front units only.  Not sure why just the front?

Castle Plastics

Make Your Horse Lame

Rocky in the rocks on a training ride last Sunday at Indian Springs.

Why do some people easily make the leap from shod to barefoot while others struggle?

• It’s not because their horse feels no pain.
• It’s not because they ‘know people’.
• It’s not even because they’re lucky.

It’s because they’re not scared of making their horse lame.

And when they make that leap, they no longer have to focus on short-term fixes that keep their horse flirting with soundness. They focus instead on long-term strategies that make their horse healthier.

Clydea and Rusty enjoying a brief pause at the Verde River during the training ride.

The shocking part

I’ve been picking up my horses’ feet every day for the last few months and squeezing their heel bulbs between my thumb and forefinger. I’m actually pinching myself to make sure what I am seeing is real. It is astounding to see how much the heel area moves from the simple pressure squeezing it.

Imagine the forces on that foot at a trot or canter as the foot falls to the ground. Better yet: imagine what happens when a steel shoe is added into the mechanics. The video below shows some of those effects very well. But there are so many more, as Teskey points out here in a 2007 interview and here in a presentation he made more recently.

Watch the video. Better yet: cut to the chase by watching closely what happens at the 10 second point and then again at the 12 second point. The rest of the clip becomes redundant.

Listen up

There is more to this than just pulling the shoes and slapping on a set of boots. Success will require you to evaluate diet, environment and activity, just as it would if you were making changes in your own lifestyle.

Rocky in a set of Gloves.

The cool part

Barefoot success may be well within reach. Take these five steps.

1. Keep off the sugar. Starches release an enzyme in the intestine that can cause the lamina in the hoof to become soft and separate from the hoof wall. Feed high fiber hay and supplements, but keep off the carbs like grain and molasses. Stay away from grain crops like wheat, oat barley and rye.
2. Keep the herd a herd. If possible, don’t keep your horse in solitary confinement. It’s better for their head with a buddy.
3. Keep your horse moving. There is nothing better for hoof growth than the flow of blood through the highly vascular hoof created by constant movement in an outdoor environment. Avoid life in the stall if you can and use boots as needed for exercise.
4. Trim the hooves. Bring in a professional hoof care practitioner who specializes in barefoot trimming. Learn for yourself how to do a little regular hoof maintenance (if I can, you definitely can).
5. Be consistent. Stay committed and don’t stray the path. Be patient.

The moral

You will become a better horseperson and your horse will likely enjoy a happier life and a longer career, not matter what their job.

You might make some mistakes along the way. But even the most sensitive footed horses can trot down the trail with the heavenly cadence of an even beat. I have five horses at my place who make a good case in support of barefoot.

The view from the trail at Indian Springs: a good place to pause and reflect.

The end

Do what you think is the right thing but don’t underestimate what a new discovery might mean for you. Take comfort in the knowledge and technology advancements that help us keep the inside of a horse in harmony with the outside of a horse.

So go ahead: pull the shoes and see if you make your horse lame. The boots can help you ease the transition if you need them and they will also help you go down the trail. You’ll be shocked: I was.

Keep up the boot legging!

Kevin

Blog World Expo in Vegas was pretty amazing.  EasyCare is doing many things right but we have some huge opportunities in front of us.  It's exciting when you are blown away by the work ahead and the possibilities!  Expect some progressive changes from EasyCare in the near future.

EasyCare has done a great job with social media in the past and we have big plans and goals for 2010.  For a small niche company, EasyCare webstats and blog stats are super strong and continue to grow. 

Use Compete.com to look at how www.easycareinc.com compares to others in the hoof boot world, equine industry and outside the equine world.  Make sure you compare www.easycareinc.com to the "Real Leader" in the hoof boot world.  Easy to see who the leader is! 

Not bad for a small company in the horse boot industry.  Can't wait to see the progress in another year.

EasyCare will do some fun stuff with both the Easyboot Facebook and Twitter pages.  If you're a hoof boot user it will be worth the time!

Farzad Faradi and Hot Desert Knight Placed 8th, Christoph Schork and TC Moonshine finished 10th and Jeremy Reynolds and Sir Smith finished in the top five.  Sir Smith would eventually be pulled at the finish.

Christoph Schork and Moon tromp through the rain.  The Easyboots and studs provided nice grip in the challenging footing.

I spoke to Christoph Schork last night on the phone.  He responded with the following "It was one of the most difficult endurance events I've ever done.  The mud and footing was 6 to 8 inches deep on most parts of the trail.  Conditions were very tough and horses really had to work in the mud and slop.  Very few horses would have finished if it was not reduced from 100 miles to 75 miles"

The Kentucky Cup rounds out an incredible endurance season for barefoot horses, hoof boots and Easyboots.  What a year, top tens and huge success at Tevis, First Place and BC at the AERC 100 mile National Championship and three top ten finishes at the USEF Kentucky Cup. 

The recent success of the Easyboot Glue-On line used with Goober Glue as a packing has caused some negative feedback and scuttlebutt in some boot users not using EasyCare products.  I don't agree with the negative feedback and believe people who are applying boots long term without packing are doing their horses a huge disservice. They will be using a packing in due time. 

Over the last couple days I've taken a close look at what my horses naturally have packed in their feet and I'm amazed at how closely the natural packing mimics the Goober Glue and Vettec Equi Pak products we apply in the Easyboot products.  It's hard to argue that these packing materials are not meant to support the hoof, sole and bottom of the hoof as nature obviously has intended.

The big advantage and difference between the natural hoof packing that most horses feet are packed in daily and the Goober Glue/Equi Pak products that we recommend to reduce peripheral loading is that the Goober Glue and Equi Pak products are much more forgiving and provide a great deal of cushion.  In addition as the materials set, extra material quickly exits the back of the shell eliminating any potential sole pressure. 

Take a look at the photos below.  In my opinion it is hard to argue that the hoof is designed to carry a packing.  The packing is intended to eliminate peripheral loading.

Cyclone's front foot packed by nature. 

Nature's packing removed.  The natural packing takes an exact impression of the hoof just like Goober Glue and Equi Pak. 

Flash's hoof packed by nature. 

The natural packing removed. 

Goober Glue in a Easyboot Glue-On after removal.  It takes an exact mold of the horses bare hoof just like nature's packing.

Applying Goober Glue before installing an Easyboot Glue-On.  Looks just like a hoof with the natural packing.

Horses that are in sandy areas or dry areas don't get a packing that sticks in the hoof like the photos above, but the hoof is packed with sand or loose material everytime the hoof touches the ground.  These packing materials are what the hoof needs and the  way nature has intended.

Suspending the hoof and sole in an iron shoe eliminates the hoof working as intended (peripheral loading).  Suspending the hoof in a hoof boot for long periods without packing has the same effect.  The great thing about hoof boots is they are usually used for hours at a time and the horse is barefoot (without peripheral loading) the remaining hours of a day.  Packing becomes very important when glue-on boots are used for several days at a time. 

"Champion, whether at home, work, community or baseball - is the ability to take our performance to a whole different - and better - level when it counts most."

Part Easyboot Glove, part football helmet, part snow board binding and part Crocs. 

The snow has arrived in the mountains above Durango and its time to head south to Tucson.  It's been a fantastic summer of hoof boot research and design.  In Tucson we will firm up all the new designs, implement hoof boot improvements, design the 2010 catalog and finalize the marketing direction for the upcoming year.

I've been using the mountains of Colorado for hoof boot research and development for the last 5 years.  The mild summer temps, changes in elevation, water crossing, mud and miles of trail have contributed to the Easyboot Epic, Easyboot Bare, Easyboot Grip, Easyboot Glove and Easyboot Glue-On designs.  The summer months in Colorado and the time spent on a horse have proven to be invaluable to product development.

Packing for Tucson is always hard as my R&D selection of boots grows over the summer.  FedEx makes daily deliveries and my horse stalls quickly fill with hoof boots.  All these boots are now being packed and will end up in the R&D room in Tucson.

I'm not sure what will make the 2010 EasyCare hoof boot line up yet.  Our 2009 product selection was our best yet and the equine accomplishments in EasyCare hoof boots in the 2009 season alone are staggering.  Many of the 2009 products will be improved going into 2010.  We do have a cool new hoof boot design that is pretty trick that will be launched after a couple more tweaks.  

I took a walk around the place today to take a look at what we are leaving for the warmer temps of Arizona.  Hate leaving this beautiful place but Tucson and the Sonoran Desert have a beauty of their own.

I picked up my new mare, Belesema Replika, over Labor Day weekend at the Old Selam Endurance Ride up in Idaho City. Special thanks to Kim Johnson of Belesemo Arabians for allowing me this amazing opportunity. I had ridden my gelding, PF Fast Eddy, on day one of Old Selam, happily glued into his Glove shells with Goober Glue as the adhesive. Eddy flew through the course, up and down the mountain trails, over the rocks, on top of the pavement- it was awesome! I let him go faster than usual because I had planned the spend day two of the ride either riding Replika or volunteering. Replika did day one with her old owner, and about halfway through the ride, she pulled a shoe- along with a huge chunk of her inside hoof wall. She finished the ride with a regular old-style Easyboot, completing as fit to continue.

Due to the pulled shoe, we decided to do a trail ride the next day. Yikes! Replika was about a grade three lame on the left front, the foot which was shoeless, in an Easyboot and missing a large portion of itself. We went back to the trailer and I proceeded to pull the remaining three shoes. Her front feet were extremely short and very flat, her back feet were an odd shape of high-heeled clubbiness. I did some minor trimming on the hinds, taking off a bit of heel which immediately softened the angle and made them more "normal." Thankfully, she had a good depth of sole with lots of concavity. We took Replika home and put her in a pair of boots in the front. She was extremely footsore barefoot. The next day I fitted her for glue-ons and three days later she had front boots glued on with Goober Glue as the adhesive and smeared into the sulci for frog support. She was quite sore on the foot that she pulled her shoe off, which is fairly normal considering all of the soft tissue damage that can occur in that situation. Every day she got better and better. I pulled the boots off every week for a day or so, and put them back on. Our horses are on 180 acres in the dry desert foothills, and are constantly on the move. She didn't have the foot to sustain anything being worn off. After two boot changes, she was 100% sound and had an awesome toe flip to show for!

At the beginning of week three, I decided to take Replika to the Owyhee Canyonlands 5-day ride. I was eager to ride her and knew she would be quiet in camp if one day was all we did. I glued on a new set of shells, still using the GG as a packing and as the main adhesive. I wouldn't have it any other way- that stuff rocks! I packed up bringing a lot of entertainment for my days spent sitting around camp. Little did I know....

I saddled up for day 1 of Canyonlands. We were to do Wildhorse Butte- one of my very most favorite rides. This ride has amazing footing, awesome washes to fly through and gorgeous views down by the river. I knew she would be good for this ride as there are literally about ten rocks on the whole trail. She was awesome and finished the ride like it was ten miles. I thought, what the heck, we'll do day two, and then she can rest.

Day two was fairly miserable considering the first loop was 30 miles of ROCK. I don't mean rock like the kind you can pick through and not hit, I mean the kind that is EVERYWHERE! A friend and I rode together, both on barefoot, booted horses. We rode very conservatively, taking our time through the rocks and taking care of our horses. I thought this would be the end of our journey, no way would she hold up over all those rocks and be fit to continue, let alone go on for another day! This little, tough, amazing mare surprised me as she just kept going- carefully picking her way through the rocks, never taking a bad step. She finished in great shape and with the kind encouragement from my friends, we decided to start another day.

Now day three was the kind of day where you wonder why you put yourself and your horse through the sport! It's also the kind of day that after you safely finish, and you and your faithful horse are tucked in for the night, you realize why you do it. Rock, more rock, long climbs out of three canyons and more rock. 'Nuff said. Both Replika and I were tired after this ride. She was beginning to show the signs of leg weariness, and I think the rock got to her at the end as she was being very careful not to step on any, which made for slow going. However, her completion exam received all A's and she trotted out with lots of impulsion and was very sound. At dinner that night, several-time Tevis finisher told me; "If you can do that ride, you can do Tevis! Today was perfect Tevis conditioning." Needless to say, we took the next day off.

Replika ate and drank more than my monster-sized gelding ever has. This mare really takes care of herself. She looked great the next morning, and spent the day happily snoozing in the sun. I decided to go again the last day, which would be a repeat of the Wildhorse ride. Unfortunately Replika developed a very nasty case of scratches overnight, which made for a sore spot on both her left front and hind pasterns. She kept trucking, however, and again, finished the ride in fantastic form. Three weeks out of shoes, we went four days and 205 miles! This mare is amazing!!!! However, we couldn't have done it without the use of boots to ease the transition. She is now comfortably barefoot cruising around the pasture after growing enough foot to protect herself, and will spend the rest of the fall trail riding and doing whatever else her princess self wants to do.

I have been incredibly impressed, relieved and thankful for the Easyboot Glue-On shells, Gloves and the Goober Glue which I have been using exclusively since July. Thank you Garrett for setting us up and allowing us to test some of the new products! It was this very ride last year, that I lost all four boots within five miles of the start using another brand of boot and Adhere as the adhesive. I know many are using Adhere successfully, but it's just not for me. The success of gluing with Adhere depends on the storage, age and condition of the Adhere, considering the same person can out on several sets of boots, using the same process and still have problems. I can use Goober Glue without worrying about getting any on the sole and causing pressure points, or causing pressure and discomfort in the heels. I love the fact that you can apply the boots at a leisurely pace and can use the same material for extra protection in the sole. My husband, who is an equine veterinarian, loves the frog support that the Goober Glue offers when applied as a sole packing. If I had to glue boots with Adhere one more time, I think I might have been husbandless at this point! Nothing causes a good fight like that of applying boots with a substance that cures in .02 seconds, for an important ride, on an impatient gelding. Ahhh, it's a good thing to relax!

So that's my story of our transition to barefoot. Of course one can argue that a booted horse really isn't "barefoot," but for all intents and purposes, my horse is much better off with rubber boots than steel shoes and pads. Thank you for allowing us this option!

In the famous words of Kevin- "Keep up the boot-legging!"

Amanda Washington
SW Idaho

One of the challenging things about the Kentucky venue is the miles and miles of grass.  Many of the sections will be slick and slippery for all the horses despite the use of iron shoes or hoof boots. 

Several of the top US riders including Christoph Schork, Jeremy Reynolds, Heather Reynolds, Tennessee Mahoney and Farzad Faryadi will be racing the 100 mile event in Easyboots. 

The slippery grass conditions call for extra traction.  Expect to see iron shoes caulked or studded.  I've just shipped several pairs of Easyboot Glue-Ons and Easyboot Gloves to the Kentucky venue.  I've called in the expertise of our Swiss EasyCare distributor to stud the boots with a unique stud and system developed for the grass and slippery conditions found in Switzerland.  Sibylle Krieg of HoofGroove has a great deal of experience with studs and has been providing horses traction with her stud system for years.

The two photos above show booted horses in action.  Both photos are of Swiss horses using the HoofGroove studs in demanding events with lots of change of direction in slippery grass.

The studs are a unique design that provides grip but not excessive grip.  HoofGroove has also fabricated a unique machine to counter sink the head of the stud so not pressure is put on the hoof in any area.

I'm really impressed with the studded boots and plan to discuss adding the studs to the EasyCare line.

Here are a few photos of the unique studs developed and installed by the HoofGroove team. 

The inside photo shows how the studs are recessed. 

Bottom view showing traction.  Good traction but not excessive.  It's important to not have excessive traction over the 100 mile event. 

Another view of a studded shell. 

*Major* User Error

We went up to compete in the Man Against Horse Endurance Race this weekend. If there is one ride that boots should be on every horse, this is it. And there were scores of booted horses competing.

Man Against Horse is one of only a few races I am aware of in which the equine and human races are held consecutively. Interestingly, there is no Ride And Tie component. The first Man Against Horse race took place in 1983 and was conceived by Prescott, AZ residents Gheral Brownlow and Steve Rafters. Gheral was a runner and owned a store in town. Steve was a cowboy who worked for the Prescott Police Department and enjoyed riding horses. Rumor has it that they decided to put on the race while at one of the taverns on Whiskey Row in Prescott.

It is an unforgiving trail.

Ron Barrett, a local runner and endurance rider, became ride manager in 1988 and moved the ride from its original location at Whitehorse Lake to its current location at the base of Mingus Mountain in Prescott Valley, AZ. All proceeds and donations from the event go to support food banks in the area. Over the years, more than $100,000 has been given to feed the hungry.

Our preparation for the event went seamlessly – we arrived at base camp in good time on Friday and helped Kelli Bourgeois and her horse, Gunner, get set up in Glue-Ons on the fronts and Gloves in the back. Kelli pulled the shoes on her horse this summer and is really pleased with the changes in Gunner’s feet. This was Gunner’s first competition in boots after his traditional Arizona summer lay-off, and Kelli went on to finish in 15^th place in the 50.

Rusty prepares Gunner’s feet for Glue-Ons.

A light rasping on the hoof wall will provide the glue some tooth to adhere to.

Gunner is good to go. The boots worked perfectly.

I got this note from Kelly on Monday:

“Just wanted to thank you again for the boots and for gluing them on. Gunner did great and I'm really quite happy!!  His legs look great and I took him for a short walk yesterday and he was happy and chipper - next 50 mile ride, I'll just plan on glue-ons all around - I really felt safe and confident knowing those boots weren't going anywhere while climbing over all of the rocks. Greg & I took them off yesterday and it wasn't too bad. Used the big screwdriver and they came off nicely. All of the glue inside the boots came right out and I'm pretty sure they could be reused one more time. One boot ended up with a TINY little hole from the screwdriver, but I think if the whole boot was glued on, it shouldn't really hurt the integrity of it.”

Kelli crosses the finish line with Gunner and her riding buddy, Greg Rose on Hot Lips.

Rusty and I had a catastrophic wardrobe malfunction: victims of our own equipment experiment gone awry. In the week prior, Rusty has tested using silicone mixed with a little water applied to the sole of Rocky’s feet. He then put on Gloves over top and rode in a variety of terrains at a variety of speeds. The silicone set up nicely that weekend: it stayed in place and Rusty simply put on the Gloves when he rode, and removed them when he was finished.

There is really no need for additional protection under the Gloves, but we were intrigued by the idea of adding some additional cushion for an infamously rocky competition.

Once we were installed at Base Camp, we mixed the silicone with a little water and applied it to the base of the front feet using a spatula. We covered the foot base of the foot in saran wrap to keep the silicone from attaching itself to anything, and left the horses overnight in an old discarded set of Glue-On shells to let the silicone set up.

Applying silicone to the sole with a spatula.

The sole is covered with saran wrap and an old boot is used to keep the hoof protected while the silicone sets up.

When we pulled the saran wrap off the feet to apply the Gloves the next morning, the silicone had not set up. With only a few minutes before the start of the race, we decided to just put on the Gloves anyway and set off.

Setting off at the start of the race. Photo by Ashley Wingert

It is a beautiful sight to see runners and riders leaving in the early morning light. The long line of competitors stretched out across the open country like a like a string of worker ants leaving the nest. Those first few miles are very exciting while the order evolves and the riders and horses find their places. Runners yield to horses and horses yield to runners with a satisfying display of mutual respect.

Redford and me in the early part of the day.

Spot the trail!

My first Glove oozed off at about four miles as soon as we hit the first rock. To my horror, I discovered the silicone was smeared all around the sole, hoof and heel bulb and had taken on the properties of Vaseline. I wiped the boots and hooves as best I could, but everything was now well lubricated – shiny and smooth and slick. The boots would work their way off countless times all the way to the first vet check at 16 miles. I managed to borrow some denatured alcohol from a friend and attempted to restore the feet and boots to their natural state, but alas, it was too late. The ride is one big 50 mile loop, so there was no opportunity to get back to the trailer and change our strategy.

The perfect ride for boots.

We would inch our way to the 38 mile mark, but time was most definitely against us and after 10.5 hours on the trail, Rusty and I got pulled for being Over Time. There was just no way we could finish the last 12 miles in 90 minutes with an average speed of 3.8 mph.

We would climb up to over 7,000 feet. The views were stunning.

It was a good lesson to learn: the Gloves work just fine without any additional sole packing. It turned out to be a day full of humor and an opportunity for me to practice my Zen Master side.

Starting back down the mountain.

Keep up the boot legging (but don’t lubricate the inside of the boots)!

Kevin

I started to get more involved in endurance this season and contacted a couple dressage instructors to improve my equitation.  As a heavyweight rider I knew that a more balanced rider would only help my horse in 50 and 100 mile events.  Time restraints with family, career and others things got in the way and I have yet to take a dressage lesson.  It's on the list and will happen eventually but over the summer months I stumbled on several exercises that have really improved my balance and equitation.

I believe that trail running is the best thing you can do to help your equitation.  Trail running  strengthens your core, heightens proprioception, improves your balance and helps maintain optimal weight.  In addition it allows you to feel what your horse is feeling and see things from your horse's view.  Run up hills, run down hills, run in rocks, run when you're tired, continue running when your gut has shut down.  Trail running will change the way you ride and compete with your horse.

For some reason everyone has an excuse for why they can't run.  I personally think most of the excuses against running are made up excuses and that's a whole different subject.  If you can't run (or have an excuse why you can't run) then get out and hike.

Lisa and Roxy running through the Flying Monkey Forest.  Add a backpack or weight and you really appreciate what your horse does for you. 

Duncan McLaughlin and I run Engineer Peak outside Durango.  Uphill to 13,000 feet.  Makes you ride your horse up hills differently. 

Although trail running has been my personal release and core exercise over the years, this summer Lisa and I added two additional fun balance exercises that have helped our equitation and mulitisport activities.  The slackline has been the most challenging and has provided the most bang for the buck.  The slackline is a piece of 1 inch webbing that is strung between two trees or objects.  The goal is to walk across the slackline.  As you progress tricks are added.

The slackline is the best balance exercise I've ever done.  It's improves your balance rapidly, builds your core and gets the heart rate up a bit also.  All my horse friends that visited over the summer were drawn to it.  Awesome equestrian exercise. Get one at www.slackline.com. 

Lisa shows a successful crossing of the slackline

Lisa on the slackline.

Rusty Toth giving the slackline a try

In addition to the slackline we recently added a new toy to the balance exercises.  I purchased a unicycle a couple weeks back and have been learning how to ride it.  It requires allot of core and balance.  It's also a perfect tool to help equitation.

Alyxx and I race around the driveway.  Big wheel vs small wheels.

Over the summer months and 2009 endurance season there have been several people or events that have reminded me about equitation and how important it is for each of us to improve our fitness, balance and core strength.  You see some beautiful riders out there and you see allot of riders who could benefit from lessons and better balance.  I personally would like to become a better balanced rider and believe it would be a huge benefit to the horses I ride.  I'll continue the trail running, slackline and unicycle until I can connect with the dressage instructor.