My wife Brenda and I added “Pete”, a 16 year old Appy, to our family in November, 2008. He had probably been in shoes all his life as evidenced by his small hooves. They were really contracted at the heal as well as the walls.

Within a week of getting Pete home he dropped a shoe and that allowed us to get started on his transition to barefoot. We contacted Leslie Carrig at High Desert Hoof Care,  and she pulled the remaining shoes off Pete’s hooves. She commented on how small his hooves were and how it was going to be a long process to get his hooves anywhere near normal.

Pete was very tender, especially in the front feet, so Leslie fitted Pete with a pair of EasyCare Old Mac’s G2’s. She is a master fitter and has a truck load or all types of EasyCare hoof boots on her truck with her. When she left Pete was sporting the new Old Mac’s G2’s with Comfort Pads inside and was walking nicely.

During this past 10 months, Leslie has come to our house every 4 weeks to trim and check on Pete (and our other 2 horses). Pete’s hooves are now spreading and have almost grown all new hoof. We ride in Easyboot Epics with Comfort Pads now and we are looking forward to Fall and Winter riding.

By this time next year Pete should have grown out an all new hoof again, and with the help of EasyCare we will ride anywhere and on any terrain you throw at us.

Thanks, EasyCare and High Desert Hoof Care!

The photo is Pete and I at Washoe Lake in Nevada. Pete is wearing his EasyBoot Epics.

Don Tucker