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

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!

Retail Dealers

Sundowner of California, Auburn, CA (530-887-9502)

Southern Star Feeds, Brunswick, GA (912-261-8484)

Horse’ n Around Ranch, Hereford, AZ (520-266-0236)

Scottsdale Farrier Supply, Phoenix, AZ (602-867-4400)

Bennie’s Western Store, Inc., Artesia, NM (575-746-2540)

G & F Carriages, Bloomington, CA (909-820-4600)

Radiant Horse.com, Mesa, AZ (602-509-1830)

Hoof Care Practitioners

Mariposa Equine Balance, Trenton, OH (937-572-9009)

Kelly Mount, Perris, CA (951-940-9731)

Trails to Success, Bluffdale, UT (801-739-5643)

Natural Equine Hoof Care, Longmont, CO (720-201-0969)

Mark Lubin Natural Hoof Care, Roseville, CA (916-783-4504)

Having trouble finding a dealer or hoof care practitioner in your area? Look no further than our dealer locator. Just type in your zip code and a list of businesses in your area will pop up.

Interested in becoming an EasyCare Dealer? Visit our Dealer Corner to learn about the requirements and application process.

Don Vick picture here with foundation bred QH 'Chief Red Boots' who came to live with them in 2001.

Don Vick, owner of Hoof N Boots, has been selected as our June Dealer of the Month.  Located in Nashville North Carolina, Don has been running his successful trimming business for over four years.  It was their foundered donkey who led him down the path of becoming a trimmer just five years ago.  Once he found the right person to help he began studying hoof care and trimming and was hooked.

Hoof-N-Boots has been caring a portion of the EasyCare product line for a little over two years.  Currently they carry the Easyboot Edge, Easyboot Epic, Old Mac’s, EasySoaker, and the Easyboot Rx.  Don’s favorite boot- the Easyboot Epic continues to be his best seller.

When asked what he thinks contributes to his successful business Don says, “Stock boots, if you ain’t got’em, you can’t sell ‘em.  If I have used boots on hand, I allow my customers a ‘try before you buy.’  I don’t push clients to purchase boots.  I feel they need to be positive about what they purchase so they will be happy.”  Keeping current stock came in handy when Don was at a recent clinic where a nine year old mare with thin soles was being treated.  He says the clinician trimmed her but there were no signs of improvement.  Don immediately went to his truck, grabbed a pair of Easyboot Epics and Comfort Pads and asked if he could try the boots on this horse.  Once outfitted in the Epics with Comfort Pads the mare was 100% better.  The owner was so pleased they bought the boots and pads on the spot.

Don feels education is another key to being a successful trimmer.  This heavy equipment operator turned trimmer has attended barefoot hoof care clinics in different states in addition to recently graduating from Equine Soundness.  He says it took a lot of studying but was worth every minute.  He also keeps his clients on a regular schedule.  “I treat and trim every horse no different that I would my own,” he says.

He feels the hoof boot industry has become a lot more competitive in price and quality through the years and expects to see continued growth.  “I think it would be economically forced to grow, due to the fact that it is more cost effective.  I would rather see it grow by choice.”

“Being able to help other owners that have ended up in a founder situation or one similar to what we experienced, and being able to help others prevent problems before they arise is very rewarding.  If I only trimmed for money I would quit tomorrow,” he says.

If you are in the Nashville, North Carolina area, allow Don Vick of Hoof N Boots to help you with your hoof care needs.  Give him a call at (252) 205-4583 or drop him an email at donvick99@yahoo.com.

Candy is an experienced rider, as well as a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist and Equine Podiatrist. Her riding has taken her to both endurance and competitive trail riding competitions over the past 30 years. She is certainly no stranger to hoof boots either. Her knowledge of horses and riding has led her to be highly selective in the products she offers to her customers. Action Rider Tack sells quality products at a reasonable price. They cater to both competitive and pleasure riders. They carry the full EasyCare product line and have found that the Easyboot Glove leads the pack as the top hoof boot seller. “The Glove is by far my favorite boot to date. I love the small profile, the ease of putting on the boots and how comfortably my horses move out in the boots,” Candy says.

The Action Rider Tack team attributes their success to the service they provide to their customers. They spend hours talking to customers on the phone and on site at events, helping them with their decisions or issues. Candy feels that the hoof boot industry has changed tremendously since she was first introduced to it. It is slowly making inroads into every riding discipline and as awareness grows, so does barefoot hoof care. There are far more options available today than there were when she took her own horses barefoot seven years ago. “Thanks to EasyCare’s R&D there are eight additional boot models that have been introduced in the past six years. In my opinion, the introduction of the Boa Boot in 2004 really enabled many riders to feel they could allow their horses to go barefoot.” As better hoof boots hit the market, more and more horses are transitioned from a life of iron shoes. This continual cycle leads the barefoot industry to grow and spread.

Their many years in business has allowed Candy and the rest of the Action Rider Tack team to experience many special moments, most of which revolve around helping riders transition their horses to barefoot. “So many times a horse would be so lame that he could barely walk and then that excited thank you call would come to report the horse is happy and running around in his new boots,” she says. “Many of our customers have called us after their purchases to let us know how much they appreciated our personalized efforts in serving their horse needs. We hope to have the opportunity to do just that for each and every customer we encounter.”

Candy and the rest of the Action Rider Tack team are continually searching and testing new and better products. If you’re in the Pacific Northwest and need some hoof care assistance, look no further than to Candy and her team of excellent reps. They are just a phone call away.

Contact them at 877-865-2467, email them at info@actionridertack.com or visit their website:  www.actionridertack.com.

Sally has been an EasyCare Dealer since 2006 and currently carries the Easyboot Epic and Easyboot Glove.  “Gloves are my overwhelming best seller,” she says.

Sally is no stranger to hoof boots.  As a matter a fact she was one of the original Easyboot Epic Testers.  She has seen a lot of changes since then.  “Boot use has gone from obscure to commonplace for recreational riders, and now endurance and competitive riders are using the Glove.  I believe that boot use is only in its beginning stages and will see a much greater acceptance as boots continue to evolve and improve,” she says.  Sally also feels that the natural hoof care industry has been gaining momentum for the last few years and that it is already one of the fastest growing segments of the equine industry in the USA today.

There are many keys to being a successful trimmer.  Sally feels it’s important to look at the whole horse, not the just the feet, and to be a keen observer of how horses move.   Her most rewarding experience as a trimmer was when she aided in saving a foundered therapy horse that was scheduled for euthanasia.  The Easyboot Epics were instrumental in getting him back on his feet.  “Seeing lame horses moving pain free, with the light back in their eyes because their feet don’t hurt is the best part of my job,” she says.

Sally is one busy lady.  On top of her full list of horses she trims regularly, she also teaches anatomy clinics and mentorships for students.  Sally is a founding member of Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners and currently serves on the board of directors and is also chairman of the education committee.  In addition she has a supplement she sells called California Trace.  Initially formulated for her own horses, she began supplying it to her customers when she started her hoof care business in 2006.  “The idea was simple,” she says.  “Supply the elements most commonly deficient in the diet without adding unnecessary ingredients.”  It was sold by word of mouth at first but sales have steadily increased every year.  Last year she was able to make improvements to the product and even found a mill to make it exactly the ways she wanted.  The supplement is currently supplied through hoof care practitioners and is also available on the website.  Visit www.californiatrace.com to learn more about it and pick up your own supply.  Sally plans to introduce a new product formulated just for performance horses too.  Look for it to be available later this year.  She says, “It’s gratifying to know that I am helping horses grow strong hooves from the inside out.”

If you’re in the Northern California area and need some hoof care assistance, or just need someone to help answer your questions, Sally is just a phone call away.  Contact her at 530-534-4844 or email her at barehoof@gmail.com.   She’ll be glad to help you with your hoof care needs.

Ets Weal is mainly a mail order business taking orders through their website www.sosabots.com but they recently moved to a large facility that can accommodate customer visits.  Now they have the ability to provide insight to customers and answer their questions both over the phone and in person.  Isabelle says that customers sometimes prefer to come by in person to discuss their needs and look at the boots before they buy.  These helpful visits are by appointment only so be sure to call and schedule an appointment if you want to come in and talk to this friendly staff.  “We are always happy to have the opportunity to talk directly with our customers and to spend as long as necessary helping them with their hoof related problems.  We believe that is why people continue to come back to us time and time again,” says Isabelle.

Ets Weal began selling EasyCare products in 2005 and they currently carry the full EasyCare boot line, however both the Easyboot and Easyboot Bare are special order items.  The Easyboot Epic, Easyboot Rx and Old Mac’s G2 are their best sellers.  Isabelle’s personal favorite is the Old Mac’s G2.  “It’s easy to adjust and put on, and impossible to lose.  The horses feel very secure in them, and can go through mud and water with no problems.  The boots don’t slip and have never caused any chafing,” says Isabelle.

Isabelle feels that the barefoot industry is improving every year, and continues to produce better boots.  She feels that EasyCare products help complete the search for the perfect boot.  Having been in business for 16 years has given them the opportunity to really see changes in the hoof boot world.  They feel that in France especially the change has been more recent.  People have become more aware of the benefits of leaving their horses unshod and they have found that the interest in hoof boots continues to grow rapidly.

Come meet Isabelle and the gang of Ets Weal at the annual Equita Lyon in October., where they will have a stand that provides them with the opportunity to meet hundreds of their faithful customers and new ones too.  They will spend an entire week advising people and listening to their experiences.  “It keeps us in touch with the outside world and gives riders the opportunity to see what we have to offer,” says Isabelle.  They also look forward to attending Equirando this July for the first time.  Thousands of trail riders will gather there – some having ridden their horses nearly 500 miles just to get there.  Isabelle says they will also have a small team of barefoot riders using hoof boots to prove to everyone just how good EasyCare boots are.  “We will be able to demonstrate the different styles and uses and give on the spot advice.  I think it will be a perfect way to spread the word about hoof boots to a largely new market.  Just look for the ‘Ets Weal’ banner!” She says.

Can’t make it to any of the upcoming events?  That’s ok.  Just give Ets Weal a call at 04 74 88 79 03, check out their website at www.sosabots.com or drop Isabelle an email at isabelle.bathias@gmail.com.  They’d be pleased to help you with your booting needs!

Lucy admits she was a bit skeptical at first.  It wasn’t until one of her own horses began having trouble that she began down the road of experimenting with keeping her own horses barefoot.  The difference she saw in just 9 months was enough for her.  She was so impressed that she pulled the shoes off her other horse as well and never looked back!  “Hoof boots continue to grow in popularity at an amazing rate each year, but there has been a growing need for a UK knowledge base,” says Lucy.

While the company is still in the early days of business, they are no stranger to hoof boots and the needs of the barefoot horse.  Trelawne currently carries the full line of EasyCare hoof boots, but find that the Easyboot Glove and Old Mac’s G2 are the most popular.  “Gloves are without a doubt one of the most (if not the most) innovative boots out there.  It is certainly my favorite.  It is so lightweight, neat and simple;  just like a horses hoof!” says Lucy.

Trelawne Equine has been selling and advising customers about hoof boots for years and they aim to provide product support and education to help better understanding of the possibilities of barefoot riding and natural horse care. They can even help you find a dealer in your area.  Having the entire EasyCare line in stock allows them to ship product to their UK retailers within 24 hours when necessary.

Do you need help finding a dealer in the UK?  Do you have questions about hoof boots and they benefits they can provide both you and your equine friends?  Contact Trelawne and allow Charlie and Lucy to help you find what works best for you!

Trelawne Equine

0844 257 8585

http://www.trelawneequine.co.uk/

Horse's Dacor owners Michael and Julia Elias

Horses Dacor of Dewey Arizona has been selected as EasyCare’s January Dealer of the Month.  What began in the 80’s as a traveling store to meet the tack needs of fellow endurance riders has evolved into so much more.  Owners Michael and Julia Elias purchased the store from Corry Clinton 4 years ago and are proud carriers and users of EasyCare products.

From the full EasyCare boot line to Stowaway products, they have it all.  “We carry almost every product manufactured by EasyCare and probably sell as many of the various hoof boots as we sell of the stowaway products,” says Julia.  “We also sell a large number of hoof boots internationally to our European customers.”

Michael and Julia have been riding endurance for 12 years.  So chances are you’ve seen them on the trail! They feel that getting to know their customers out on the trail and at endurance events help contribute to their success.  “We’re out there doing the sport with them,” says Julia.  Michael and Julia try the products, see what works, and share their experiences with their customers so they can benefit from both their failures and successes.  They call themselves old fashioned because they most often choose to boot up their 11 horses in the original style Easyboot.  They like the versatility of being able to use it alone or over a shoe as needed, find them easy to put on and make adjustments with the different cable configurations.  They are however, experimenting with the Easyboot Glove and are loving it.

“We see the barefoot industry as a rapidly growing success story.  It amazes us that there are so many intelligent and innovative people trying new materials, new designs, and new styles of hoof protection,” says Julia.  They have high hopes for the future and look forward to what is in store.

Let Horses Dacor assist you with your equine needs!  Visit their website at www.horsesdacor.com, email them at horsesdacor@commspeed.net or give them a call at 800-707-1458.  Of course if you bump into them at a ride or on the trail, be sure to say hello!

Jerry with mare Lena.

Jerry Huntsinger, owner of JC Farrier Service, has been selected as our December Dealer of the Month.  Located in Battle Ground Washington, Jerry has been trimming for nearly 14 years.  “My grandfather got me started.  He did his own farrier work and I was always in the way, so he put me to work!”

Huntsinger initially started out as a traditional farrier.  It was only a matter of time before he began researching better methods.  “I knew there was something better; I just wasn’t sure how to get there,” says Jerry.  He was already familiar with EasyCare and the product line.  He began to read about Pete Ramey’s success, and the rest, Jerry says, is history.

JC Farrier Service carries the full EasyCare hoof boot line as well as the comfort pad line.  The Easyboot Glove now replaces the Easyboot Epic as his top selling hoof boot.

He personally owns 9 barefoot horses that are frequently booted up in the Easyboot Glove- his boot of choice.  “The Glove has shown that it can be used in many different areas.  We spend most of our time working horses in different arenas.  We also compete with our horses in Cowboy Mounted Shooting, using boots.  This is a high-speed sport with a lot of fast turns; traction is everything.  The Gloves have no issues!”

It’s nice to be able to have discussions with people that can point out a whole new realm of ideas.  Jerry credits his success to a variety of people.   Pete Ramey, Dr. Bowker, the folks at the School of Natural Hoof Care in Jacksonville, Oregon and Dr. Mackie Hartwig have all contributed in one aspect or another.  “Dr. Hartwig changed everything in my mind about horses on the inside. He helped me see that horses need more than just a great trim.  Diet is a huge factor,” he says.  He also thinks that keeping an open mind, as well as the people around him, both help make him a successful trimmer.  “We are all learning and have a long way to go.  Not one person has all the answers.  I love the fact that I can go out each day and make a difference in horses’ lives.  Watching them get better every day is a huge reward.”

Jerry and Padre with rescuers and care takers Butch & Sheila Reynolds and Lori Harris.

Jerry’s job is full of many rewarding experiences.  It’s hard to pick out just one.  But he has had his fair share of feel good experiences in the field.  He provides the farrier care for the Clark County Executive Horse Council and was recently called onto help a horse in desperate need of some TLC.  Padre was found standing in a pasture with little food and absolutely no hoof care.  Once the horse was rescued, Jerry received a desperate call from Clark County.  Sensing the urgency, Huntsinger juggled his schedule so he could get to Padre right away.  Upon arrival he saw shoes overgrown by the hoof, abscesses, and separation.  That makes for one ouchy horse!  Jerry pushed up his sleeves and got to work trimming Padre’s hooves.  “He showed great appreciation to have the pressure taken away.  Padre almost fell asleep standing there he was so comfortable!”  Once trimmed and treated, Padre was outfitted in a pair of Easyboot Edges.  Padre still has a long way to go down recovery road but he is improving every day.  Click here to read more about Padre and see his progress.

With an average of 500 horses to work on each month, Jerry has a full plate.  He consistently strives to further educate himself so that he can provide the best care possible to his clients and their horses.

If you’re in the Pacific North West, allow JC Farrier Service to help you with your hoof care needs.  Visit their website at www.jchoofrehabnw.com, drop Jerry an email at jcfarrier@hotmail.com or give him a call at 360-687-4698.  Jerry would be glad to help you with your equine needs!