Thursday, January 01, 1998

Easy Boots

Four more hints on using easyboots:

1- Be careful if using the little strap that comes with the boot to hold it on to the horses leg. (like an idiot strap on old snow skis) I have heard of horses who lose the boot, then go berserk when the loose boot is flopping around attached to their legs.

2- To put them on quickly, loop a piece of sturdy string around the little heel strap of the boot before you set the toe in. Then use the string to pull the heel strap up over the back of the hoof. This is a lot easier than trying to fight with that little strap, especially when the horse is moving around. When the boot is on, pull the string out and stick it in your pocket. Make sure the string is strong enough to not break!

3- If your horse needs a wedge pad to correct a low heel, (like Warpaint) the Easyboot people provide a nice 1,2,or 3 degree wedge pad that slips inside the easyboot to correct the hoof angle. You have to order them for each size easyboot. IE- 1 or 2 degree pad for size 2 boot, etc.

4- Get the easyboots sized and tried on at home when you are getting your horses shod, not during the ride. They will most likely need to be trimmed, and the length of the heel strap needs to be adjusted. (with screws and a screw driver). Use locktite on those little screws, or they can come loose, and that easy boot is not staying on for anything.

We have not yet tried the easyfoam, but we have some, and I hear it works well. We have used easyboots a lot, and they have saved at least 3 or 4 rides on Judy`s horse. Nick Warhol

My tack room looks like an equine shoe store! I have four boots each in at least three different sizes....

I find that it is easier if I trim the back of the boot down first. Some of my friends prefer to have their farriers fit the easy boots to their horses. I have found a little trick when putting them on (it`s probably in the instructions, but I`ll tell you anyway), ; use a good strong string about two foot long, and loop it thru the strap in the back of the boot. Put the boot on, and once you have it where you want it, pull the string (it will be doubled around the strap) up and pull that strap up over the back of the horses heal. I learned that from another ER at a ride last year, and since I have been doing that I have never lost a boot! (even in the mud)

Also, beware - if you horse is low in the heel (this happened to me, unfortunately), you need to pay extra careful attention to the back of the bulb on the heel to make sure the easy boot strap doesn`t rub too much, otherwise the horses foot could abscess. I have one horse that I can`t use easy boots on for more than two hours at a time or else this happens. I have another horse who can go days and hundreds of miles in them without any problems.

Are you interested in purchasing Easy Boots at the best price? I have been ordering them for around $24 each. If anybody knows someplace I can get them for less than that I`d like to find out. I`d be happy to let anybody who wants the information on where I get mine from, just E-Mail me at: ZHBF15A@prodigy.com

You have to measure across the horses foot...WITH SHOES ON if you plan to put the Easyboots on over shoes. Measure from side to side. The sizes are as follows:
2 3/4" to 3 1/4" Pony Size
3 1/4" to 3 7/8" OOO
3 7/8" to 4 1/4" OO
4 1/2" to 4 7/8" O
4 7/8" to 5 1/4" 1
5 1/4" to 5 3/4" 2
5 3/4" to 6 1/4" 3

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