[KiwiGal77]

Hi there,
I am considering buying a full set of these boots for my recently converted barefoot TB, he is very tender at the moment and needs boots. I currently have Old Mac G2s on the front but don't like them coming above the coronet.
Has anyone used these boots or know anyone who has? Any comments about them would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

[kitten_Val]

I have pair for each of my horses. I started with Easyboot bare, then tried Epic (didn't like that one much - lots of concerns with wires) and then upgraded to Edge this year. I think they are nice, and they fit my qh perfectly (she has "easyboot" foot shape - oval), but they are really good on my round hoof paint too. They are below the band, easy to apply and stay really good in mud because of the gator. I tried cavallo and old macks and they didn't fit nearly as good.

And btw the cheapest place to buy them is valleyvet.com. Or you can upgrade your old macs directly at the easyboot website.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Thanks for the comments. I am in New Zealand so unfortuantely can't get them nice and cheap or exchange :-(.

Have you found any bad points to them yet? Does the Worm Clamp system seem relatively tough and stable so it won't break after a month? Do the horses move nice and freely in them?

I will be riding over hilly gravel tracks (not very extreme) and through forrests. Also doing dressage in sand and course arena sand/rubber arena's - do you think these surfaces would give the boots any trouble?

Thanks heaps

 

[kitten_Val]

Frankly I don't know about the clamp system. It does look tough, but I used them for just about 2 weeks before all that awful weather hit and I didn't go to the trails since that. I used Bares for like 6 months thru all different terrains and they were in great shape still. However I'm afraid you may get sand in boots if you use them in arena extensively. At least I had this issue with Epics.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Yea I don't think there is a boot on the market (except perhaps gloves) that wouldn't get some sand in. The Old Macs are pretty bad at getting things in, wouldn't think the Edge's would be too bad because they are supposed to be quite a close fit and have that padded tongue

 

[kitten_Val]

The tightest one was Epics in fact. Because of that wire system it was really tight at the top. I think Edge is little looser (and Bares are even looser because you can't really adjust them). But I still think they should be better tight-wise then old macks.

 

[JustRide181]

Depending on the shape of your horse's hooves - I would skip the edges and go for the Gloves.

We had problems with the edges "tongues" pulling out under the worm clamp - they are also pretty heavy.

The gloves are fantastic if your horse is reasonably close to the right hoof shape - and you have to be able to maintain between trims, as they do need to fit very well. Better for a more transitioned foot, but if your general shape isn't too far from it, then worth a go.


PS - LOVE your country! I am hoping to come back on my honeymoon in 2011 Had a wonderful visit in 2008 and did tons of riding - completely by accident, we rode at 3 different commercial horse trekking companies, both north and south island, and they ALL were barefoot! The gal we stayed with in Whangarei had barefoot horses, but we rode with her on her neighbor's horses for a few days, they were the only ones (backyard ponies) that were NOT barefoot! One of the commercial gigs was just starting out with barefoot, in Paihia, so it was really fun to talk feet even being halfway across the world!

 

[RedHawk]

I have a pair of edges and my only complaint would be that the gator has torn a couple of times, but that's easy fixed as you just buy a new one from the website.
The worm clamp is good and tough, never had any issues with it nor with the tongue, and the boot stays secure on the hoof, even on a 4 hr trail ride. The edges do get some dirt and sand in there, but not much.
I don't think they are that heavy, my horse has never shown any discomfort, in fact up until recently he traveled better in the boots, now his feet have toughened up he travels pretty much the same, unless on large gravel, so I just use them on long rides/ trail rides.
The benefit the edges have over the bares and the gloves is that you can put foam pads in them. If your horse is sore/tender or landing toe-first definitely put him in boots that can have pads in them. Pads will make him comfortable and get him landing heel-first which strengthens the internal structures of the hoof (quoting my trimmer here), I have seen this with my own horse, also a TB.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Thanks for the replies

Don't think he could have gloves yet, his feet are still chipping quite a bit and are a tad uneven in shape due to healing from several abscess holes. Although it is awfully tempting still!! We also don't have the fit kits here yet, so it's a bit of guess work with the sizing.
But in saying that they are cheaper, so could always sell them and buy more if his feet change shape in a couple of months .... ooo super tempting! lol
Good to hear you had such a good holiday here in NZ! It really is a beautiful country and I'm glad you got to see the best of it's beauty from onboard a nice barefoot horse!

 

[kitten_Val]

With gloves you have to be very careful. My qh hoof shape seems to be closest to the ideal measurements they post on site. So I was very excited. But when I ordered the fit kit (Easyboot lets you order 3 sizes boot to try for free (just S&H) - the closest size +/- 1) neither boot was good. The measured one was too small on bottom (she was in mid of her trimming period) and the bigger one was too loose on top. While the idea is great IMO the hoofs should be really perfect for them to stay on in bad riding (like mud, streams and so on). Also I'm little concern with the fact hoof is growing between the trims. So if you measure right after the trim it'll be too small before the next trim.

BTW, Edges are lighter and nicer looking then Bares from my experience.

 

[KiwiGal77]

I get my horse trimmed at a max of every 4 weeks, and my trimmer is at my grazing yard at least once a week anyway to do other peoples horses so she would easily be able to do a quick rasping if the hoof started to get a bit big or out of shape. I would measure straight after a trim and fit them max a week after a trim (sooner the better), and then keep the hoof that shape with very regular trimming.

Apparently the Power Strap you can get for them is really recommended and can make fitting a bit more forgiving by closing up gaps at the top and making a tighter fit - did you try this? I read from the easycare website that the Gloves are going to start coming with the power strap pre-installed, so they must think it is something that definately should be used anyway.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Should also say that unfortunately we don't have the fitn kit here in NZ, or the power strap. I have asked our NZ dealer if they would let me return the gloves and swap for another size if I had to, waiting for a reply.

 

[kitten_Val]

4 weeks! Wow! That's pretty often. I go with 8 weeks and it's even too little in winter (farrier coming in week, but they didn't grow much). May be because of the weather difference between us and NZ?

 

[KiwiGal77]

Yea probably, the ground here is probably a lot softer so the feet won't be wearing down naturally as much as if he was living on firmer/rougher ground. He has also just been a paddock horse since his shoes came off 3months ago so again the grass isn't helping at all with wearing the hoof down. Since he is still transitioning I want to keep his feet as nice as possible to avoid imbalances and chipping. when he is back in work again and his feet are healthier then I will be able to get trims done every 6-weeks, but until then I'm happy getting them done regularly as it's not expensive.

I have decided to go with the Edges. As much as I would love the gloves, I don't think they will fit him for long - his feet are just changing too much at the moment and chipping etc. Have been reading on other forums about the Edges and people seem really happy with them.

Will be measuring his feet tomorrow! :-D (and hopefully they will fit lol)

 

[kitten_Val]

Let us know the experience when you'll start using them! I'm very curious about the arena experience (because I was thinking about may be using them when jumping).

 

[Vidaloco]

You can trim the top away on any of the Easyboots. I still use my original epics, never had any problems with the cables (yet). I've only used them maybe 6-8 times though. Mine came slightly up onto the coronet so my farrier, who fitted them, just trimmed off a bit on the top. Just an FYI if you get your boots and they touch the coronet.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Thanks for the tip Vidaloco

His feet were a bit rounder than we had thought, his fronts are as wide as they are long - and that's with the pathetic wall he currently has, so will get even wider when that thickens up! (Trimmer recons they are going to be beautiful feet once this new horn grows down more, it looks very healthy and strong!)

His hinds are just going to fit width wise into the Edges, so will go ahead and buy a pair. My trimmer said there is a little more width we could take off by making a bit more of a mustang roll if we have to, so fingers crossed!!

Looks like I will have to wait until they bring out the 'wide' version of the easyboots that apparently they are working on at the moment for his front, but his Old Macs still fit him so they will do for now.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Well I got my Edges ... have only used them once but so far I really like them! easy to put on and tighten and the horse moved really well in them. Only used them briefly in the indoor sand arena at walk, will be taking him up the hill in the next couple of days so that will be their first proper test.

Love the design though

 

[Vidaloco]

Great! let us know how you do outside of the arena.

 

[KiwiGal77]

Horse decded to test their stickability today ... Lunging in an indoor sand arena at trot: he decided there was a boogey monster in the corner, proceeded to spook but tripped himself up and completely skidding out on his back end, scrambled to feet and tried to take off at canter bucking ... (Edges were on hinds)

They stayed on perfectly :-D lol. Still very happy with them, have lunged him in them in the arena and also taken him up the hill - no complaints so far.