easy boots

[jodiTowne]

Has anyone used easy boots in the winter fot traction. Are they enough to grip hard packed, plowed sufaces??? Or should i get the additional traction available? Need to go a little ways on somewhat slick surfaces before I hit the groomed trails.

[GeorgeGuns]

Easy boots are supposed to have excellent traction even without the studs. Keep in mind though that the more worn the bottom is, the less traction you may have. If its just a small area you need to get by, why not dismount and make it easier for the horse? I just don't like the idea of studs on anything on the bottom of a hoof, shoes or boots, too much torque.
Your very best traciton, if you are not going on bad ground, is actually a very bare hoof!

[jodiTowne]

Coreen, I will probably walk him to the start of the trails, but even this past weekend he slipped pretty good on our walk going barefoot (not riding). There is a steep hill we have to go up and with his arthritis I hate to have him misstep...ouch. Thanks, I'll walk him with the plain easy boot and see what happens. They are not worn at all.

Another question I forgot to ask....anything work well to keep snow from sticking to the bottom of the foot? It seems the combo of snow and stall pellets balls up real well on his feet and with a laminitis history I don't like it. The end of the barn is his shelter and is open 24/7 and he constantly has ice balls on the bottom of his hooves. Tried cooking spray with little effect. Vaseline may have been better. Any other "magic" formulas????

[GeorgeGuns]

Another question I forgot to ask....anything work well to keep snow from sticking to the bottom of the foot? It seems the combo of snow and stall pellets balls up real well on his feet and with a laminitis history I don't like it.

Folks don't laugh me out of here, but snowballs may actually help here. There is a product called the "Founder Recovery System" made by the Hoof Armor guy. Its a plastics matierial, nontoxic, you melt it down, let it partially cool, and then mold it to the bottom of the hoof, avoiding the hoof walls so that the sole has the support it needs to help get that coffin bone back up where it belongs. We used on on the pref'd founder mare I see, and boy oh boy did she feel 300% better immediately!

Of course she is on a strictly monitored stall/exercise program. For pastured horses, there are two things that prevent snow balls: frequent trimming so the wall never gets a chance to be long enough to entrap the stuff, and my favorite stuff to apply is either Rain Maker or Vita Hoof. Anything greasy will work. Teetering around, poor guy, that doesn't really help his old bones.

You can get studs for easy boots, but talk to the folks at Easycare first. It may not be worth it if you only have short sections to navigate.