Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic

Holding a Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic on Monday December 7 from 9 to 5 in Greenwood, CA. Cost is $175 and is a requirement for the PHCP training program. We have more space available for attendees.....

ALso:

Looking for a Well Behaved Demo Horse

For:

-Free Shoe Removal
-Free Set-Up Barefoot Trim
-Free Boot Fitting

I will be teaching a clinic on shoe removal and boot fitting and I
need a well behaved demo horse.

Monday, December 7 around 10am - must be located on Divide or able to
trailer to Cool, Cronin, or Greenwood.

This is a good opportunity to try barefoot for the winter... or forever :-)

Please let me know if you have a good horse for this clinic!! Either
2 shoes or 4, doesn't matter.

Contact Tracy Browne at tracy@hoofhelp.com or 530-885-5847.

Wanted: Demo Horse

Wanted:

Demo Horse

FREE

· Shoe Removal

· Boot Fit (boots not included)

· Barefoot Set Up Trim

Clinic for Pacific Hoof Care Professionals

Saturday, October 31, 10:00 am

Must be located on the Georgetown Divide,

or trailer to Cool Olmstead Loop

Contact Tracy Browne at 530-885-5847

tracy@hoofhelp.com

Boot Fitting and Shoe Removal Clinic

We will be having about boot fitting and shoe removal clinic here in Greenwood on August 15 and November 7. Please let me know if you would like to attend. Cost is $175. Covers all the major hoof boots on the market, how to fit them, put them on, in what scenarios to use them, padding, modifications to the boots, fixing boots, etc. Lots of hands on with the horses.

9:00 – 9:30 Introductions, coffee, breakfast, etc

9:30 – Shoe Removal Video and showing the technique – the “Secret”

**Or a live horse shoe removal if I can arrange it**

10:00 – Why boots? In what situations? Without specific boot types yet.

10:30 – Specific Hoof boots

Overview

Show the boot

Pass it around

Advantages

Disadvantages

Which hoof shape

When to use it

What type of riding

How to fit it

Boots Covered – Gloves, Edge, Epics, Bares, Boas, Renegades, Simple Boots, Old Macs Original and G2, Delta Boots, Swiss, EasySoakers, Easyboots and Soft Rides

12:30 - 1:30 Lunch – bring your own or go out

1:30 – Padding system

Thick Pads, Thin Pad, Dome Pads, Comfort Pad System, Shocktamers, Equithane, Gel Pads --- How to use them, in what situations

2:15 – Easy Foam and Equithane info

When to do it, Technique

2:45 – Horse Demo – How to put the boots on

3:00 – Pull out all of the boots and put them on the horses

Find which boot fits each horse the best

4:00 – Wrap up and discussion

EasyBoot Gloves and the Fit Kit

I have my fit kit for the Easyboot Gloves and my horses are ready to roll in their correctly fitted boots. Of course the trails are very slick from all of the rain, so haven't had a chance to go out yet with the new boots. The Fit Kit was so helpful. When I measured my horses' hooves, the size that I measured the hoof would fit into was too big. So I put the fit kit shells on and was able to figure out what size works best for each hoof. Interesting, and convenient, all 4 of my riding horses wear a 1.5 on their front hooves. I put a 1 on their back hooves, which looked good on everyone, but I also tried a 0.5, and that looked even better on 2 of the horses. It is so nice to have the shells to try on, and the half sizes really give you a tight, flush, correct fit to the hoof. I am anxious to ride in these more and see if the gaiters rub or not on the pasterns. From my initial test, I really liked this boot, and was blown away with the simplicity, traction, and flushness. They seem to be performing well in long distance events.

Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic

On February 7 and March 15, I am holding a Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic in Greenwood, CA starting at 9:00 am. It is an introduction to booting, you will have a chance to learn how to fit each boot on the market correctly. There is a boot fitting "lab" in which you will have to correctly fit hoof boots on 4 horses.

Also, I am looking for a live "demo" horse that would like his shoes removed for free. It is easier to teach shoe removal if we actually do it!!

Contact me if you are interested in the clinic, open to the public, this is a very unique opportunity to learn how to correctly boot a horse.

Cost - $175 to PHCP Members, $200 all others.

Slowly Getting Back To Trimming

I am slowly starting to trim again. I am trying to stick to one or two horses a day. That seems to be comfortable for my back. I am also fitting hoof boots for non-trimming customers now. I carry all of the Easycare boots and Renegades and some of the Cavallos/Delta boots. Also I am consulting on horse's whose owners do their own trimming or if you are thinking about going barefoot but not sure.... Email me if I can help you out!

Testing New Hoof Boots

I have been playing with the Easyboot Gloves and love them! I truly believe this IS the hoofboot of our dreams - well - if your horse is comfortable in gaiters. Which 3 of mine aren't and out of 4 riding horses, not great odds.... gaiters still cause some rubs on the thinner skinned horses, like my Arabians. But the boot itself is so slick, easy to put on, has great traction, fits like a glove, is very flush to the hoof, and stays on (this is huge)! I can't wait to get more sizes so that I can try them on Feather, I think she'll really like them.

Boot Fitting And Shoe Removal Clinic

A Boot Fitting and Shoe Removal clinic will be on:
Saturday December 6 at 9:00 am - 4:30 ish
at
3047 Irene Lane
Greenwood CA 95635

Cost is $175 for PHCP students, $250 for non-PHCP students (all are
welcome)

Please bring a chair, a lunch, and warm clothes. Be prepared to work
with horses - you will be fitting boots.

This is a clinic aimed at beginner - intermediate boot fitters.
Although some advanced techniques will be discussed, the aim of this
clinic is to familiarize students with all of the boots on the market
and how to fit them correctly.

Sunday morning from 9:00 - 12:00 will be an advanced boot fitting
clinic. We will demonstrate Equithane, Foaming for competition,
foaming for a custom fit, Heat Fitting, and Swiss Boot design. The
cost of this clinic is $150.

I will need 4 people to sign up for each clinic in order to hold it.
The maximum number of students will be 10 to make sure that people get
enough hands on experience with the horses.

Mentorship opportunities are available Friday and Monday.

Tent camping available on site. For "better" accommodations, look in
Georgetown or Auburn.

We will not have time to go out to lunch, so make sure you pack
something (perhaps even a potluck item to share).

To secure your spot in the clinic, please email me at
tracy@... and paypal money to tracy@... or send a
check.

For anyone staying Saturday night, a complementary "Yoga for Hoof
Trimmers" class will be taught at 5:30.

Epics v. Renegades

I had another question in email regarding Epics/Bares versus Renegades. This may be a topic I should avoid writing about, but I find myself going through this conversation every time I fit a horse for boots. So I thought I would write it up for your help in fitting boots.

It depends on the fit of the boots and the shape of the hoof. If a horse "needs" a pad (i.e. pathological hooves, laminitis, navicular, just out of shoes, bad thrush, etc.), then definitely go with the Epics/Bares. If the gaiter on the Epics/Bares rub, then go with the Renegades. For hind hooves, I recommend Epics or, preferably, Bares.

The Renegades are really easy to put on, for the casual trail rider or an arthritic person, I recommend the Renegades. The Renegades have great traction too, but they come in limited sizes, and I find are harder to fit on big-boned horses. I love them for Arabians for sure! They seem to fit perfectly every time. I struggle with the fit on bigger boned horses, or horses with pathological, flared hooves.

Any horse that is sensitive and prone to rubbing, go with the Renegades.

Also depends on mileage. The Renegades last about 500 miles and the Epics will go about 1000 miles or more.

Your horse will tell you. Many people own both the Renegades and Epics/Bares and switch them out. Both the horses and riders have a preference, but it is usually based on fit - which boot fits the best will affect the way your horse moves.

You have to put them on correctly as well. This is very important for any boot!!!

Best to work with an experience boot fitter to identify what boot is best for your horse and how to install the boot properly. Their experience is worth it because you will save a lot of time, money, and energy on fitting boots.

Just my experience .... what do I do for my own personal horses? I own both for each horse and it just depends what I am doing and where I am going. I have success with both brands. However, I do have 2 gaiter challenged horses that if I want to use Epics/Bares, I have to wrap them with duct tape or use a sock, and that leads to more labor, so I typically stick with the Renegades on those two sensitives girls.

Gluing vs. Gaiters

Another question: "As long as you're on the hoof boot subject, please tell me about gluing the hoof boot onto the hoof vs. using a gaiter. Is there a reason one would be preferred over the other at any given time? I've noticed the gluing is more common on the endurance rides. What about conditioning rides? How difficult is it to remove the hoof boot with the glue?"

My answer:

The reason I foam on my boots for multidays is two-fold -

1. I don't want to wake up earlier to put the boots on (especially when my horse is ready to go!!) and take the boots off every night. I put them on the day before, and do not have to worry about them all week.

2. Anything above the hairline has the potential to rub, so by foaming on the boots, you eliminate all possibilities of rubbing. This is particularly important over lots of miles and lots of days.

For conditioning, I use gaiter boots. I usually just use front boots, and put them on before the ride, and then pop them off after the ride. This gives me flexibility to use all the different hoof boots on the market....

A foamed on boot can be difficult to remove, you need to loosen it with a screw driver, then pry it off. And then pull your foam out of the boot.

Karen Chaton's blog has detailed instructions on how to foam, and how to remove the boots. Here is a link, search on foam: http://easycareinc.typepad.com/karen/

A downside to foaming is that thrush grows in that anaerobic environment, so make sure you clean the hooves, and try a piece of gauze in the frog with a thrush medication on there (Natalie Herman's trick).

Another down side is that once they are one, they are on - this has been a problem at 3 different rides for me. I have foamed on Easyboots, but then it rains. The Easyboots don't do great in mud, but the Grips do. I would have liked to pull off the Easyboots and put on the Grips, but I didn't because it is a bit of a process to remove them.

Bottom line - Gaiters for training, foam for multidays, and your choice for the one or two day rides!!

Comfort Pads

I got a question in email: When should I use pads? How would I know if I should use them on my horse?

I thought I would post my answer.


"Always!!! On every horse! No questions, they can do no harm.

The real reason, to prevent peripheral loading of the hoof wall. If your hoof wall is raised above the sole, and is put into a flat boot, there is no way for the hoof wall to sink into the hard rubber of the boot. Therefore, it is just as good as using a rim shoe - the sole and frog and bars are not getting the impact because the hoof wall is not sinking into the boot, like it would on dirt naturally. If you put the pad inside the boot, then the hoof wall can sink into the foam, and the sole, bars, and frog will get stimulation from the pad. It is also more shock absorbing, and creates a perfect insole for a better fit of the boots. I have also found that horses that have very sore heel areas because of thrush or under developed digital cushions move out superbly in comfort pads.

I don't use Epics/Bares without comfort pads. I personally like the thick flat pads, but some prefer the thin flat pads whereas others like the Dome shaped pads. Play around with them, I love the effects that pads have. Navicular horses benefit greatly from the frog support pads, and this comes in a system that owners can play around with.

For $8 a set, your horse receives so much benefit, that it is a no-brainer to use them.

Check out Pete Ramey and Dr. Bob Bowker's work on blood perfusion and how much greater the blood goes into the hoof when you introduce a pad into the boot."

I love comfort pads. These can be ordered directly from Easycare's website, or I carry them with my all the time. www.easycareinc.com

Barefoot Horse Wins 100

I got this in an email discussion group today:

A barefoot horse owned by Tom & Rita Swift and ridden by Lisa Williams won the Biltmore 100, with no boots. The 3rd and 4th finishers (Jeremy & Heather Reynolds) wore Renegade boots.

This is great news!!

Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic

I am offering another Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic on Sunday, May 11, starting at 9:00 ending around 4:30. Please contact me if you would like to come and learn about how to properly fit and choose hoof boots for your horse. tracy@hoofhelp.com

Boots Too Small

I have been checking every horse's boot fit. I have noticed quite a few horses that OUT GREW their boots!! Their heel areas have opened up, de-contracted, and the digital cushion has increased in size! This is great news for the horses. Only problem - boots are too small on these horses and their owners have to get a new set of boots. This seems to be happening in horses that are under 1 year out of shoes. Please don't try to scrunch your horse's hoof into the boots - I just saw a really bad heel bruise and rub the other day that was ugly. In some cases, I am taking back the smaller set of boots for credit towards a new set - if the boots have been used very lightly and I think I can resell them. If the tread is worn down, I am not taking them back, best to keep them for hind hooves, or sell them used on eBay. Whenever I sell boots after a shoe pull off, I will tell everyone that your horse may outgrow these boots in the next year, and be prepared for that.

Radio Interview

I'll be on the radio tomorrow morning from 8 to 9am on a segment called "Horse Talk". I'll be talking about hoof boots and the natural hoof trim. The radio station is out of Georgetown, KFOK, http://kfok.org/. If you go to the web site, you can here me live over the internet anywhere you are. Cathy Rohm will be interviewing me, she has won the Tevis Cup and Haggin Cup. Call in and ask questions! 530-333-4300

Nevada Derby

Logan and I just came back from the Nevada Derby 50 outside of Reno, NV. We both completed the 50. Logan rode Jake, Stuart Porter's mustang that finished Tevis a few years back. Annie got kicked in the barn the other day by Princess in the gaskin, and she was still sore. We had a blast - Jake and Feather were a perfect match! Same speed, same desire to eat and drink contantly on the trail. What wonderful horses we had. We saw a big horned sheep run accross the trail in front of us, and lots of stud piles from the wild horses in the area, but no sites of the horses. Jake is a perfect gentleman - we put the Freeform saddle on him for the first time for the ride and he loved it. Moved out great in it with no back issues at all. We are somehow managing to get holes at the stitching area of the new elastic gaiters on our boots unfortunately, and we are not pulling the gaiters too tight at all. It wasn't a problem during the ride, but when we pulled the boots off that had new gaiters (I am talking right out of the package), there were holes by the velcro. Can't re-use them, that is for sure. Jake had 4 Bares on, and Feather had Bare bottoms with Up buckle closures. I like the gaiters right before they put the elastic on them - those gaiters are still holding up and we are getting a lot of miles out of them. Will post photos when I get my scanner to work again.

Boot Fitting And Shoe Removal Clinic

The clinic was a success! We had 6 people from the PHCP - Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners - out to the ranch to learn about correctly pulling shoes, why to boot horses, what hoof boots are on the market, advantages, disadvantages, comfort pads, customization, repairs, foaming, equithaning, etc. We discussed most all the major brands on the market, including the Easycare boots, Renegades, Simple Boots/Deltas, Soft Rides, etc. I had a diverse audience from someone who had not put a boot on a horse's hoof to advanced trimmers that boot horses daily. It looked like some people went home overwhelmed while others were satisfied. All in all, a great day!!

Boots Rubbing

If you even experience boot rubbing on the Epics or any Easycare product, put duct tape over the area on the boot. I actually like to put about 3 layers of duct tape. For example, some folks get rubbing on the front of the hoof by the dog bone connector. Cover that area with duct tape inside the boot. That should help!

Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic

I am offering a Booting and Shoe Removal Clinic for the PHCP - Pacific Hoof Care Practitioners - on March 30th at my house in Greenwood, CA. The cost is $175 for the day. The following is the outline of what we will be covering. This is geared towards professionals, but if you would like to learn more, and there are spots available, please come.

9:00 – 9:30 Introductions, coffee, breakfast, etc
9:30 – Why boots? In what situations? Without specific boot types yet.
10:00 – Shoe Removal Video and showing the technique – the “Secret”
10:30 – Specific Hoof boots
Overview
Show the boot
Pass it around
Advantages
Disadvantages
Which hoof shape
When to use it
What type of riding
How to fit it
Boots Covered – Epics, Bares, Boas, Renegades, Simple Boots, Old Macs Original and G2, Delta Boots, Swiss, EasySoakers, Easyboots and Soft Rides
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch – bring your own or go out
1:30 – Padding system
Thick Pads, Thin Pad, Dome Pads, Comfort Pad System, Shocktamers, Equithane, Gel Pads
How to use them, in what situations
2:15 – Easy Foam and Equithane info
When to do it
Technique
2:45 – Out to the Horses
Demo on showing how to foam on a boot
3:00 – Pull out all of the boots and put them on the horses
Find which boot fits each horse the best
4:30 – Wrap up and discussion

Death Valley

Logan and I had a blast!! We both finished 2 50 mile rides and one 25 mile ride for 125 miles total in 3 days. This was quite a feat - Logan had never ridden a 50 before, and he really enjoyed himself, and Feather had only done 1 50 previous. The girls look like they have been standing in the pasture for days and haven't done a thing. That is awesome, and what I think endurance is all about. We finished our 50s with a ride time of about 8 and a half hours. The terrain was so rocky - volcanic rock - mixed with areas of sand that we could move out on - but the majority was rock.

We foamed on Easyboots in the front and foamed Bares with no gators on the backs. Feather lost one hind boot, so I had to replace it with a regular Bare for the rides. A buckle sheared off on a front boot, so we had to pull the whole buckle and cable off the boot and ride with no hardware, but surprisingly, that boot stayed on the whole week. Annie lost both of her front foamed on boots, so she ended up with regular Epics with pads for the rides on her fronts. Also a bungee broke on her hind boot, so we just unscrewed it but the Easyfoam kept the boot adhered to the hoof well. I think I had trouble with the foam because it was really cold here when I foamed them and I don't think the foam set up properly. Next time, I will make sure that I bring the foam inside to warm it and mix it and probably work with the horses in a warm garage instead of a cold barn.

I really liked the atmosphere of the multi-days - it was geared towards finishing slower, with a horse that is ready to go the next day, not racing your horse too fast. We really liked it! I think we may need to get a new trailer with living quarters if we are going to do more of these type of rides. Oh, there were wild burros on the trail! Lots of burro poop and hoof prints. I saw a band of wild horses as we were driving home. A kit fox stole our dog food one night - he even stole the cans! The horses backs looked fabulous with their Freeform saddles with Haf pads. Highly recommend them!! We learned so much about our horses this week, and I was so proud to see Logan and Annie be successful!

Some photos that Karen Chaton took are here - we are in the front of the series and the back of the series:
http://sunriseranchrides.com/DVE/DeathValley2007.html

My favorite is this one:
http://sunriseranchrides.com/DVE/Pages/max_Day4_028.html

and this one:
http://sunriseranchrides.com/DVE/Pages/max_Day4_036.html