HoofPros owner Pat Burton
HoofPros in Burleson, Texas is our May dealer of the month because of their dedication to helping others understand hoof health, care and booting. HoofPros offers a variety of classes for horse owners in the summer and fall covering topics including: Introduction to Horse Care and Hoof Care & Management for the Horse Owner. Their free fall clinic and open house, Boot and Re-Boot, taught by HoofPro’s owner Pat Burton, will teach fitting, using, and repairing hoof boots.
Pat says the hoof boot industry definitely has a lot of potential. “People are showing their support in the most literal way, by approaching us without solicitation: with questions, openness, and with purchases,” says Pat.
While HoofPros officially became an EasyCare dealer in May of 2008, the practice has been in existence since 1979. During the shop’s original establishment in Crowley, TX, Pat received his certification with the AFA in 1985. In 1994 HoofPros moved into its current location in Burleson, Texas, located next to Burleson Equine Hospital.
Pat attributes HoofPro’s success to working as a team with both horse owners and vets. “We’ve participated in many laminitic recoveries which otherwise would not have been possible without the care and diligence of the horse owner,” Pat says. “By keeping an open mind, we’re able to benefit from continuing education not only from other hoof care practitioners, but also nutritionists, trainers, riders, agriculturalists, etc. Anyone interested in, participating with, and enjoying the horse is involved in the practice of managing and we like to hear their opinions.
With access to the internet, everyone can acquire information on hoof maintenance. This access is helping owners become more confident and equipped to serve as custodians to their animals. Booting is empowering in a similar way. People can “shoe” their own horses.”
HoofPros sells a large variety of the EasyCare boot line, including Boas, Old Mac’s, Easyboot Epics, Easyboot RX and Easyboot Gloves. When asked what their best selling EasyCare boot is Pat says, “We’ve noticed that our clients favor certain EasyCare models based on the type of activities they participate in. Trail riders like the Epics, and now with the new release, the Gloves are a hot item; Dressage Riders like the Old Macs; and pleasure riders like Boas.
One would think that as practitioners by embracing this trend we are fostering our own extinction. But although there are oodles of resources, they are scattered and sometimes very difficult to find. By providing a discerning focus across the wide bandwidth of information, we become really vital by offering guidance and tacit knowledge based on years of quantified experience.
HoofPros strives to disseminate information and experience not only to its book of clients, but also to a national body of horse owners and practitioners. Pat currently has over 80 days of clinics, shows and seminars scheduled in 17 states and in Canada for the year of 2009. “We also offer as many links as we can that have good coherent content on our website, www.HoofPros.com. We look forward to using the website to host a number of case studies we’ve documented, including many horses that have benefited from EasyCare boots.”
For questions about clinics, class dates, hoof care maintenance, and horse care management, visit www.hoofpros.com, email info@hoofpros.com, or call 817-295-4999.
