Epic boots

[Minouri]

Oh, I wish I had video taped Scooter's first time with his new Epic boots on. Now there would be a commerical for the product.....If this lady and her drama queen horse can use them, anyone can.

The adventure starts with me putting them on. I've never used boots before. I must say that Scooter was so patient. I put one on him...checked the directions....adjusted it. I was on my knees at his feet studying the situation while he just stood there looking down at me like I was crazy. I swear he was looking at the manual with me each time I checked it. I had a lead line on him, but no one held him. He didn't budge.

Then when the boots were securely on I started to walk him. We were all laughing like crazy. First he did some high stepping....like he could get his feet out of them. Then he spent some serious time looking down at them and studying them. Then he came over and gave me one of his "Look what I've done to myself...can you help me get these off" hugs followed by a deep sad sigh like the condition was likely terminal.

I tacked him up and five minutes into the ride you'd never know he had them on. We rode around the backyard and I kept getting off to check if they were still tight. No sign of rubbing or slipping. I think we're good to go!

I can't wait to try them on the rocky trails near my house. I bet Scooter will be glad he has them then!

[Laura S]

That is cute! Did you get all 4 boots, or just 2 for the front? I need to get some too for my mare.

[Terri]

That is funny Ruth, I do notice my guys have a lot more "action" in the legs when they are wearing them.

[Minouri]

I only bought the front two. Not sure if most people get four? I thought 2 was about right since most horses I know get shod only in the front.

Terri, that will be interesting to watch for :)

[TrueStepPaso]

Yeah...the front two are fine, Ruthie. He won't need the hinds...

I'm glad Scooter, um, er, liked them.... :lol:

Oh, and start out slow, in case the heel strap does rub....it shouldn't, but ya never know. Sometimes they do, so Easycare has a page on their website exlpaining how to remove them. Soooo....start out with a smallish trail ride, and then gradually progress.

Happy trails! :D

[jodiTowne]

Glad you had a good experience with them. I am using the bare model and they are working well. She gaits well in them, better with boots on all four I think. If you ride in a sandy, gravelly area you can fill in any gaps between boots/hoofs with plumbers putty (not sure if that occurs on the epic model). Works well.

[jodiTowne]

Hmmmm....where is my avatar? :?:

[Minouri]

Abbie,

I'll be going on short farm rides for a while while my classes finish up. I am beefing up Scooter, though, for when I do have time to travel and meet all of you for longer rides :)

[Jane Hurl]

Learning time:

Somebody needs to explain to me why you only put boots (or, apparently, shoes) on the front feet. Don't the back feet get sore as well?

[Heidi]

Learning time:
Somebody needs to explain to me why you only put boots (or, apparently, shoes) on the front feet. Don't the back feet get sore as well?
Here's my guess...
The horse carries more weight (+ rider) over the forehand than behind...?

[Minouri]

My understanding has been that the horse carried more weight on the front end (unless it's "balanced"through dressage or another discipline). I just read an article, however, that said that Pasos carry more of their weight on their hind end...thus allowing them to carry more weight. Not sure how much of that is true, but it was on a Paso website.

Almost every trail rider I know shoes only the front. People who ride on the roads a lot tend to shoe front and back.

I've personally never even thought of shoeing the back since I've boarded at so many barns where it was not allowed. Horses with 4 shoes were considered more dangerous for the other horses.

Of course, those places also wouldn't take drafts.

Interesting question, though.

[Cindy]

The practice of putting shoes on the front only came about by boarding farms who did not want shoes on the hind of pastured horses in case they kicked the other horses.

[Terry Wallace]

The horse carries more weight (+ rider) over the forehand

Good guess Heidi... very accurate. Here in the west, horses are more likely to become sore on the front feet, and hence the front shoes.
Decomposed granite here "rasps" away hoof fairly quickly.

I shoe all four unless it is a correction thing going on for the front.... or a ring bone, or something that needs support.

Back in the day... cowboys would shoe only on the rear hooves... this was because the horse would stop & work better off the rear....if the front feet were "tender". I don't see that much anymore.... What I see often..is horses with front shoes and hooves longer in the front than on the rear because of this practice...which is not a good situation either.

I sure will slap some easy boots on the front for really rocky trails if my horse is not shod... to keep those hooves from chipping and to protect the soles from larger rocks....

[motorgypsy]

Thanks so much! Have to try them.