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September 2010 :: Hauptner | Zurich, Switzerland

EasyCare — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:01:23 +0000

Our dealer of the month for September 2010 comes to us all the way from Europe. Hauptner Instruments is a mail order company located in Zurich, Swizerland, which delivers EasyCare products to hoof care professionals and private horse owners throughout Switzerland and surrounding areas.

Their catalog is printed in both German and French, and Haupner publishes and distributes 200,000 copies per year. They are proud carriers of the Easyboot product line, which we has seen great success over the last several years. Based in large part on the sales of the Easyboot line, Haupner has built a large and very loyal customer base. Their customers love Easyboots, and consider them a great value.

Hauptner started in the 1960s as a company that sold veterinary instruments. Over the years, the demand for agricultural and equestrian products grew steadily, and in the 1980s they began to broaden their range of products. As time went by, their focus shifted more toward equestrian products, which is what they primarily sell and distribute today.

Hauptner takes pride in establishing long-term relationships with suppliers and producers of high quality equine products from around the world. Their partnership with EasyCare has helped both companies grow and prosper over the years.

http://www.hauptner.ch

info@hauptner.ch

From Garrett’s Desk – RoFlexs Portable Corral

EasyCare — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 23:26:07 +0000

As EasyCare moves into 2011 we will be upgrading and improving many boots in our hoof boot line. In addition we are looking to introduce some new products that are related to the hoof, lower leg and hoof care maintenance. The goal is to provide our dealers and customers more products within our industry niche.

Outside our niche of hoof boots and natural hoof care we find that our customer base loves the outdoors and does a fair bit of camping with their equines. One of the products we are looking to add in this area is the RoFlexs portable corral. The RoFlexs portable horse corral is quick to set up, lightweight and easy to transport. It is a true portable corral that takes minutes to set up and take down. No struggle, no fuss. We feel it will be a nice compliment to our HiTie system.

As we move forward to complete the 2011 product line we are looking for feedback. What equine products are you looking for? What type of boot changes and improvements would you like to see? What do you think of the RoFlexs portable corral? Chime in with your thoughts over on our Facebook Page

What Is Normal?

EasyCare — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 17:16:18 +0000

Thermography provides you with a non-invasive, objective reading of the circulatory and inflammatory status of your horse by measuring heat. In conjunction with EasyCare, I am using thermographic techniques to investigate any differences in the heat distribution through the hoof and lower limb of horses using different hoof protection protocols (barefoot, booted and shod). As it will be a while before we finish collecting and collating that data, I thought you might be interested in viewing a few images in the interim.

Dorsal view of a near fore hoof belonging to a well performed barefoot endurance horse. The middle image is a thermograph of the hoof prior to a half hour of barefoot (unbooted), low-intensity exercise on a sand surface. The third image is a themograph of the same hoof immediately on cessation of exercise.

These images reflect what we generally find with all well-trimmed barefoot horses. If you examine the pre-exercise image in the middle, notice:

The band of heat (red and yellow) at the coronary band is thin and does not extend down the hoof;
There is a thin cold band (navy) at the bottom edge of the hoof where the wall contacts the ground; and
The majority of the hoof capsule is of moderate temperature (green and light blue).

Looking at the third, post-exercise image, we notice the entire hoof capsule has increased temperature. As the temperature scale for the two images is the same (16-31degrees C), the colours in the post-exercise hoof look ‘hotter’ but the heat pattern - thin band of heat at coronary band, thin band of cold near ground, majority of the hoof capsule warm – remains the same.

The same two thermographic images as above but with the temperature scale adjusted upward in the second, post-exercise thermograph, to compensate for the increase in temperature to due work. It is apparent just how similar the pre and post-exercise heat patterns are in a well trimmed barefoot horse.

It is probably becoming obvious to you that although it is very difficult to directly compare the feet of different horses, doing different things, in different locations on different days, it is possible to determine statistical trends in both

changes in actual temperature; and
changes in temperature patterns (or not) across the hoof.

Solar view of the same hoof with pre and post-exercise thermographs. Just for your interest, note that the collateral sulci by the frog (white and red), along with the coronary bands, and the skin around the eyes, nose and anus are always the hottest areas detected: this is not inflammation at the sulci and does not indicated impacted bars or other such nonsense.

Dorsal view of a near fore hoof belonging to a shod western pleasure show horse. The middle image is a thermograph of the hoof prior to an half hour of low-intensity exercise on a sand surface. The third image is a themograph of the same hoof immediately on cessation of exercise.

As noted, it is not possible to directly compare the thermographs of different horses in differerent location on different days. For example, the temperature scale here (25-35degrees C) is different to the barefoot horse at top (16-31degrees C). However, it is possible to compare patterns of heat across the hoof and changes to those heat patterns with work.

This shod hoof shows an extended hoof capsule, at least by barefoot standards and by the standards of shod horses competing in more athletic events (3-day eventing, endurance riding, etc), though not by show horse standards. Both the farrier and the trainer of this horse considered this a well-shod hoof. Looking at the middle, pre-exercise thermograph, notice:

The band of heat (pink and red) at the coronary band extends down to encompass well over half the hoof capsule;
There is a thick cold band (blue) from the bottom edge of the hoof, extending up and over the level of the nail clenches;
The band of warm hoof (yellow and green) is very thin, merely a transition zone between the hot hoof above and the cold hoof below; and
The nails are conducting heat. Where the nail clenches are in the cold (blue) portion of the foot they are warmer (green dots), where they are in the warm (green) portion of the foot they are colder (blue).

Although you may consider this a more extreme example, this is the heat pattern we observe in the majority of shod horses.

Looking at the third, post-exercise image, we notice the entire hoof capsule has not only increased temperature but the heat pattern has also changed radically: the entire hoof has become as hot as the coronary band (usually the coronary band is one of the hottest areas detected by thermography and much warmer than other hoof components). As you can see, no amount of image manipulation or temperature scale adjustment will produce a post-exercise image similar to the pre-exercise one.

Later in the year I look forward to sharing with you the results concerning the effects of different hoof protection protocols during more strenuous exercise, in the form of 50 mile rides. Stay tuned.

August 2010 :: Making History, Booted Horse Wins the Haggin Cup

EasyCare — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:48:31 +0000

In this issue

From Garrett's Desk
Duncan McLaughlin: Posture & Performance
EasyCare Event Attendance: Boot Fitting, Advice and Gluing
Customer Photo of the Month
Dealer of the Month
Ride Tevis for Free!

Easyboot Horse Wins the Haggin Cup at Tevis 2010

EasyCare — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:00:51 +0000

Tuesday July 27, 2010 | Auburn, CA

Garrett Ford rode The Fury to an impressive eighth place finish at the 2010 edition of the Tevis 100 mile race on July 24. He was accompanied by his wife, Lisa Ford, who rode Cyclone to the ninth place finish. The Fury and Cyclone were two of 34 horses who were competing in the Tevis race as part of the Ride Tevis for Free contest sponsored by EasyCare.

The Fury also won the coveted Haggin Cup. The Haggin Cup award is intended to recognize exceptional sportsmanship and horsemanship as demonstrated by the superior condition of the contestant’s horse during and at the completion of the ride. In other endurance events, the award tends to be based almost solely on the “best condition” judging held after the Ride and focuses on the criteria of “fit to go on.”

“I think of The Fury as the horse of a lifetime,” said Ford. “He is eight years old and I knew when I rode him for the first time last year that there was something special about this horse. When we got into the Foresthill vet check at 75 miles, he still had so much to give. As we set out on the last leg of the race, I decided to unleash The Fury!”

John Crandell III, who took first place at the event, rode the last six miles from Lower Quarry to the Auburn Fairgrounds in 64 minutes. Garrett and Lisa Ford traveled the same distance in 47 minutes, jumping from 16th and 17th respectively to 8th and 9th place.

Haggin Cup judging observations of contestants and their mounts are made throughout the ride, beginning with the initial check-in and subsequent veterinary checks by members of the veterinary examining and Cup Committees. Findings are documented by the veterinarians and made available to Cup Committee members.

Fury’s Haggin Cup win is of particular note because he is the first barefoot horse in the 54 years of the race to win the award. Garrett trains and competes The Fury in Easyboot Gloves and uses Easyboot Glue-Ons for only a few races: the 2010 edition of Tevis was one of them. 21 of the horses competing in the EasyCare Ride Tevis for Free contest went on to cross the finish line in Auburn – including the last place horses, Cira and Sonny ridden by Kathie Ford and Kathy Sherman. Six of those horses finished in the top 20 positions.

Also worthy of note is the 62% completion rate of the horses competing in the Ride Tevis for Free Contest: the overall race had 182 horses start and 93 horses complete – a completion rate of 51%.

It was a red letter day for Easyboots and for the natural hoof care movement at large.

For more information on the Tevis Cup, please click here. For more information on Easyboots, please see the EasyCare website at http://easycareinc.com and the EasyCare blog at http://blog.easycareinc.com. For all additional questions, please contact Kevin Myers, Director of Marketing at kmyers@easycareinc.com.

Customer Photo of the Month: Catherine Mackay and Tia

kevin — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 19:24:40 +0000

“It was very cold that day,” says Catherine. I live near Edinburgh in Scotland and this is a picture of me and Tia (complete with Old Mac’s) on the beach at John Muir Country Park at Dunbar in East Lothian.

Tia is a 16.2hh Irish Sports Horse that I’ve owned for seven years. She had a few years of intermittent forelimb lameness, caused by a tendon injury, sidebone and non-specific heel pain. I became tired of the huge expense of the remedial shoes that seemed to be doing very little for her and decided as I was able to ride so infrequently that I’d forget the shoes and use boots for the occasions that I could ride. Best thing I ever did! She became progressively more sound without the shoes (although did need her old macs for hard or stoney going) and is now competing in TREC on a regular basis and doing pretty well!! We also enjoy hacking (beach is best!) and low level endurance riding and are hoping to progress to some 30km competitive rides in the near future.

The Old Mac’s never budge at all and I’ve been through deep water, including swimming in the sea, hock deep bogs, steep up and down hills, a bit of jumping and travelling at all paces! I’ll never go back to shoes with her or any other horse! Thanks Easycare.

From Garrett’s Desk | Making History

kevin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:35:59 +0000

There are countless equestrian sports available to horse enthusiasts and different types of competitions within each discipline. From dressage to eventing, to cutting, to reining, to jumping, to driving and endurance to name a few. Each sport is exciting, competitive and invariably has its own event of significance within the discipline: like the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event for eventing, The Kentucky Derby for Thoroughbred racing and the Tevis Cup for endurance racing. These historical events define the sport segment. It’s where horsemen and horsewomen take their horses to measure them against the best.

The Tevis Cup 100-mile horse race is unquestionably one of the most difficult equine events in the world. It has a deep tradition and its 55 year history defines the sport of endurance racing. The challenging trail stretches from North Lake Tahoe in California to Auburn, California. Riders and equines climb over Emigrant Pass at nearly 9,000 feet; traverse canyons with swinging bridges and ride in temperatures that often climb over 100 degrees. Average completion rates run in the 50% range year after year after year.

Garrett and The Fury traverse the Granite Chief Wilderness

The winning horse and rider team is presented with the “ Tevis Cup”. Winning ride times average 15 hours and the course record of 10:46 was set by Boyd Zontelli on Ruchcreek Hans. The list of Tevis Cup winners reads like a legends of the sport list and is an award that most endurance riders can hardly imagine.

Although many look at the Tevis Cup as the ultimate achievement in endurance racing, others argue that the Haggin Cup is more prestigious. Dr. Richard Barsaleau, a veterinarian who joined the race in 1961, was instrumental in creating this distinction, which he saw as an objective award that would recognize horsemanship, conditioning and respect for the health of the mounts. But it would also honor great performance. Starting in 1964 the top ten horses would be judged for the Haggin Cup. In her book, “The Tevis Cup: To Finish is to Win,” author Marnye Langer wrote: “Many people, especially noted horsemen, have come to regard the Haggin Cup as the most prestigious honor one can earn, and the award remains unique in both the sport of endurance and other equestrian pursuits as well.”

Garrett accepts the Haggin Cup Award at the Auburn Fairgrounds

Over the 55 year history of the Tevis Cup the majority of finishing and entering horses were fitted with steel iron horse shoes: horses required shoes to finish the grueling course. In 1970 Dr. Neel Glass developed the Easyboot and rode the Tevis Cup five years later to show the world that his alternative hoof protection could complete the event. Neel successfully completed the 1975 Tevis Cup and gave horse people everywhere an alternative means of hoof protection. Neel’s Easyboot invention was quickly adopted as the “spare tire” for the horse. Trail riders, endurance riders and equine owners across the world in all disciplines now carry a spare in case they ever lose a horseshoe.

Just as the Tevis Trail has changed over the years, so too has technology and the equipment used to compete at the event. Saddles have become lighter and more flexible; feed and electrolytes have improved and hoof care has evolved dramatically. Steel shoes are now seen next to urethane shoes and next to advanced versions of Dr Glass’ original Easyboot.

The Fords Junior at the Finish Line

Natural hoof care and booting the endurance horse for tough events is growing faster than any other type of hoof protection. What was once thought to be impossible is now common practice for the barefoot horse fitted with Easyboots. The 2010 event had at least 34 horses officially start in Easyboots and 20 horses finish: a 59% completion rate. In 2009 the event had 20 horses start the event in Easyboots and 15 horses finish: a 75% completion rate. Comparing the finish rates of the barefoot booted horse to the average overall finish rate of 50% suggests that barefoot booted horses are here to stay and that their numbers can only increase.

Garrett shows The Fury for the Haggin Cup

The Haggin Cup has been won in the past by horses wearing Easyboots over iron shoes. Sandy Brown and Ruby (The Wonder Mule) took home the Haggin Cup in 1998. Heather Reynolds and Crystal’s Charm repeated with Easyboots in 1999.

The Haggin Cup, however, has eluded the barefoot horse until now. The 2010 Haggin Cup makes history for the barefoot horse. The Fury raced five 2010 endurance events leading up to the Tevis Cup in Easyboot Gloves, recording two Best Condition awards along the way. Easyboot Glue-Ons were selected to protect Fury’s bare feet during the 2010 Tevis event and to help the barefoot horse make history.

An intimate look at the Haggin Cup Award: More Than the Cup

The 2010 awarding of the Haggin Cup to a barefoot horse marks a historic point in endurance racing and technological advancements. One of the most difficult and demanding equine events in the world was just completed by 20 barefoot equines and the most prestigious award in endurance racing was just won by a barefoot horse. It marks a significant change and proves that if an endurance horse can complete the toughest event in boots, so can most horse owners complete their back-country trails and equine pursuits successfully.

Congratulations to The Fury for making history and establishing change. Thank you Dr. Neel Glass for inventing the Easyboot and giving horses and equestrians a choice!

Click here to see The Fury showing for the Haggin Cup.

Rusty Toth: Completing Tevis & Big Horn 100 in Easyboots

kevin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:25:43 +0000

Two Historic 100’s.

I am extremely honored to be one of two riders in the country to have completed both the Big Horn 100 and Western States Tevis 100 in 2010, only two weeks apart. Dave Rabe was the other rider and to have accomplished these 100’s in the company of such an amazing horseman and AERC Hall of Fame rider is humbling beyond compare.

Both Dave and I rode these 100’s in EasyCare Glue-On boots.

In May 2009 I made the leap to pull the shoes on all our horses. The transformation in the their health, sure-footedness and evolution of my own life with horses has been outstanding.

I had always ridden in Original Easyboots over shoes when needed and been happy with the results. I have known for sometime that barefoot seemed like a much better option for the horses but was never confident enough with the products on the market to make the leap. Then I saw the Glove and everything changed. I loved that it fit so snugly around the hoof: not too big and no slapping the ground as they moved along; no extra hardware, cables or buckles to deal with.

To say change is easy would be ridiculous, as most of us know. Any change takes time and an openness to explore new things, gain knew knowledge and start from the beginning. Just taking the shoes off is not enough. I encourage you to embrace this process. The benefits will pay off larger than you can imagine.

I started trimming my own horses about a year ago, adjusted the diet and now have strong horses with tough feet and ride in boots that that I love. The year has brought me two horses, strong, sound and eager. This could not have happened without EasyCare and their guidance, support and boots. It brought us to Big Horn and Tevis.

Big Horn 100 was not as a hard a ride as Tevis for me. The footing on Big Horn is wonderful, the views are stunning, the wild flowers are endless and if your horse can handle the huge climb up and remain at elevation for most of the event, you will likely have a great day. I don’t think Tevis has as large a single climb as Big Horn. But Tevis is relentless in its elevation change and the first canyon is definitely steeper than anything you will encounter at Big Horn. Tevis has some wonderful places to really move out, but it is also a rocky trail and requires a horse that is stable on its feet and has no issues with hard ground.

Both these rides should be on all endurance riders’ bucket lists: a must-do. Both offer trails that are breathtaking, challenging, fulfilling and life-changing. I encourage you to get your boots on and ride two of the countries most historic and honored trails – it can be done!

Two 100’s, two buckles in two weeks on two horses! Rock on and happy trails.

Rusty Toth

August 2010:: Linda Cowles

EasyCare — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:11:27 +0000

Hoof Care Practitioner Linda Cowles of Santa Rosa California has been selected as EasyCare’s August Dealer of the month. After over 25 years in the high tech business world she was ready for a change. In 2002 she bought a new tack business and then began trimming a year later. Linda found she enjoyed trimming so much that she sold the successful tack business to focus on barefoot rehab.

Linda is no stranger to the EasyCare product line. “I pre-date the Easyboot Epic!” she says. “When I first got started, I used the old style Easyboots, and was delighted when the Boa boots came out. The Glove’s simplicity and reliability has made barefoot a good option for mainstream riders in all disciplines,” says Linda. She currently stocks the Easyboot Glove, Epic, Bare, Edge, RX, Old Mac’s and EasySoakers. “The Gloves are everyone’s favorite right now. They are so easy and reliable. I sell quite a few RX and Old Mac boots for rehab and turnout too,” she says.

When asked what she attributes her success to, Linda is quick to give her horses all the credit. After all it was her horses that led her in search of a more practical means to protect their bare hooves. Linda feels that it’s important to understand the role that diet plays in helping develop robust feet with healthy frogs. She also feels it’s important to have boot solutions for any occasion. “I have a good trim, but would be lost if I ignored diet and booting,” she says. Linda is also very thankful to have the support of friends and colleagues such as Dr. Kerry Ridgway, body worker and acupressure guru Diana Thompson and Pete Ramey through the years. “Pete is a dear friend and mentor from the early days, steering me towards a ‘less is more’ trim approach while hammering in the message that most trimming problems start with a diet problem,” she says. Linda also goes out of her way to educate herself and share her knowledge with others on forums, her website and articles she has written for regional and special interest magazines. She also uses shows like Horse Expo to open up the opportunity to educate mainstream horse owners on barefoot hoof care.

Through the years she has seen her share of circumstances that have stayed with her. She finds it very rewarding to heal horses and educate their owners. “I have so many truly wonderful experiences, many documented on my website Healthy Hoof. My clients’ horses love me; what could be better than having a devoted equine fan club?” Linda’s most memorable hoof boot success story was that of an 18 year old Akhal Teke gelding Azure whose fate had already been decided- a grave dug and a backhoe waiting to bury him. Thankfully, the owner took a chance and allowed Linda to work her magic. Azure went on to be ridden and ponied on the tough Tevis trails. She says he would never have made it through this without boots. Click here to learn more about Azure’s journey.

“Boots are taking barefoot into traditional territory these days,” says Linda. “I expect to see the development of new boots that offer a hidden profile and improved traction for markets like Dressage, Hunter/Jumper and Eventing. Western riders are very open to boots and barefoot, and that same hidden-profile boot with improved traction will be popular with Western competitors,” she says.

Linda currently has 200-250 horses on a 5 to 6 week trim cycle under her care. She says she continues to pull the shoes of two to three horses a month. Thankfully most of those horses are never re-shod.

Linda serves the greater San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. Allow her to help you with your hoof care needs. Give her a call at 707-548-9960 or email her at healthyhoof@comcast.net. Her new website www.wholehorsehealth.com will be launching later this month as well. Be sure to check it out!

July 2010 :: Soft Country Feet, The Secret to Hoof Growth, It’s Tevis Time

EasyCare — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:29:35 +0000

In this issue

From Garrett's Desk
Duncan McLaughlin: Posture & Performance
EasyCare Event Attendance: Boot Fitting, Advice and Gluing
Customer Photo of the Month
Dealer of the Month
Ride Tevis for Free!