Easy Boot Users - Cant pull up heel strap. What am I doing wrong?

[Lifting_Chickk]

[QUOTE=GallopingGrape;3615705]
Ah ha! I cut the heel strap out and - voila - they went on much easier and no strap mark on the frog, no stretching needed. We went well in them, will gait and canter. Thanks everyone! He still searches for the soft side of the rode, so I will get rear boots as well. Auventera Two why do you believe in the 6mm cusion? Just curious, I want my horse as comfortable as possible.[/QUOTE]

Excellent! Not to speak for Auventera Two, but it is my understanding that the 6mm (or even better, the 12mm if it will fit) comfort pad allows the hoof to function normally, as if the horse was walking on soft ground.

Without the comfort pad the floor of the boot is hard and flat. Only the hoof walls and perhaps the back of the frog make contact with the bottom of the boot. The hoof experiences peripheral loading of the walls which inhibits the hoof mechanism.

The circulation in the hoof is optimal if the loading is shared by the entire sole and frog. The comfort pads also help to dissipate shock, which is great for your horse’s skeletal structures.

Think insoles for horses.

I love them and I really think my mare does too.

[Auventera_Two]

Yep, exactly what Daatje said

Also, the theory that I believe regarding hoof growth and stimulation indicates that periods of firm, steady, consistent pressure over the entire solar surface of the hoof promotes even greater, stronger correct growth. I have seen unbelievable improvement in hooves that are regularly worked in boots wtih EVA pads inside. I tell people that boots aren’t just for “protecting the horse from rocks.” Every time you do a 2 or 3 hour trail ride in pads, that is 2 or 3 hours of corium stimulating pressure to grow more hoof depth.

[GallopingGrape]

Then I assume you would think these were good for arthritic and navicular horses as well? I have a creeky, arthritic, horse at home with navicular… the cushion sounds wonderful for him.

[Auventera_Two]

Oh YES! Absolutely! I trim a horse with navicular disease who does long multiday trail rides in her boots/pads. A year ago, she was a “lost cause.” My own creeky old goats love their boots and pads!

Antoher pad I can highly suggest is the Thinline. They are $7 or so a pair, plus shipping. Order them directly off Thinline’s website. These pads are EXCELLENT for arthritis or navicular horses! Just cut them to fit your boots. They last a long time, and horses really really go well in them.

[tpup]

Aventura, what are “EVA” pads? Are they the ones from Easycare?

Which ones would be the thinnest? My horse’s boots are quite snug. He has a moderate nav. change in his left front…I bet he would be alot more comfy in the pads. This is all great info!

[Auventera_Two]

Yep, EVA is a type of foam, and several companies market them but honestly, the ones from Easycare are the best. I’ve tried other cheaper EVA pads and they squish down totally flat in one use. Also there’s one particular brand out there I’ve tried (can’t remember the name) that doesn’t have a sealing, or coating on the pad and they tear up really badly after a use or two.

The Easycare pads come in a 6mm or a 12mm thickness. 6mm is the thinnest. I always go for the 12mm because the 6mm just don’t provide “that” much cushion. But you can use 6mm if your boots are already a really tight fit.

Easycare also makes a really cool “pad system” that has different densities of pads and you can mix and match frog support and solar support so the frog can be firmer and the sole softer, or vice versa, etc. Tons of great options. You can call the company or go on their website and check out all their pad options.

[matryoshka]

Good info A2. How many miles do these pads usually last? The comfort pads from Easycare didn’t last long a few years ago when I tried them. I switched to leather pads when I think pads will help. Also, Butch would step on his heels worse in pads, so he went with either leather pads or sans pads.

[Auventera_Two]

The last 4 or so years I have gotten a whole season out of one set of pads. But I imagine each horse would be different. I don’t know how many miles that is, but quite a bit!

One of my clients has been using the same pads in her Easyboots for 2 full years, and she rides every weekend, and sometimes once during the week also.

[saratoga]

I’ve used both the 6 mm and 12 mm Easy care pads and they are both squashed pretty flat after only a few long rides. I used new ones on a 50 a few weeks ago and they were probably down to 1 mm at the end. I still use them though, just for extra protection, but I doubt they do much. I sure wish I could find pads that last longer and have more substance to them…

[BarbeyGirl]

@Bogie;3614052

Love that idea! I’m going to put a link to it on my blog!

Hey, thanks. It really does work quite well.

[BarbeyGirl]

@Auventera Two;3617717

The last 4 or so years I have gotten a whole season out of one set of pads. But I imagine each horse would be different. I don’t know how many miles that is, but quite a bit!

One of my clients has been using the same pads in her Easyboots for 2 full years, and she rides every weekend, and sometimes once during the week also.

Any idea how well the pads would hold up in sandy conditions? Aaruba’s boots fit correctly so they don’t get a lot of grit inside, but what little they do is really, well, gritty! Seems like it would grind the pad to shreds pretty quickly…

[Huntertwo]

Question

Are you guys referring to the strap in this link. It is the picture right below the video.

http://www.easycareinc.com/Our_Boots/easyboot_epics/epics_fitting.aspx

[Auventera_Two]

@BarbeyGirl;3619253

Any idea how well the pads would hold up in sandy conditions? Aaruba’s boots fit correctly so they don’t get a lot of grit inside, but what little they do is really, well, gritty! Seems like it would grind the pad to shreds pretty quickly…

This is a very sandy area and after every ride there is probably a tablespoon of sand inside each boot. Never had a problem with the pads.

[Auventera_Two]

@saratoga;3618602

I’ve used both the 6 mm and 12 mm Easy care pads and they are both squashed pretty flat after only a few long rides. I used new ones on a 50 a few weeks ago and they were probably down to 1 mm at the end. I still use them though, just for extra protection, but I doubt they do much. I sure wish I could find pads that last longer and have more substance to them…

Do your horses have flat feet? The flatter the feet, the flatter the pads are squished, but they do rebound to a large degree before the next ride. The more concavity your horse’s feet have, the longer the pads last.

I have never had pads squished that flat after just one ride. Like I said, most of my pads last a full season, or two full seasons.

It might have to do with your horse’s hoof conformation.

[tpup]

GGrape - I rode today and put my boots on like I always have (not using the pull strap) - Guess what?? My horse had a strap mark - little lines going across the back of frog (not on the heel, but the widest part of frog) on the right boot - the one that is tighter than the left. The left frog was fine. I am going to try the pull strap next time. He rode “okay” - not horrible but at times short strided in the front. I may just cut the strap out of the right since his right hoof is bigger than the left - more spread out - he still fits size 2 on both but one hoof is right at the upper limit of the size 2 boot.

I had a disposable camera with me and took some pics - I’ll post them when they get developed. We took some trail pics

[Huntertwo]

@Huntertwo;3621727

Are you guys referring to the strap in this link. It is the picture right below the video.

http://www.easycareinc.com/Our_Boots/easyboot_epics/epics_fitting.aspx

Anyone???

[tpup]

Huntertwo…the strap we are referring to is inside the boot, on the back bottom of the inside of the boot. It has ridges in it and kind of “hugs” the back of the hoof, but it is not meant to be “stepped on” and it also cannot go very far up the heel bulbs or it may rub. The black strap that the user is using in the video (the long one that looks like a thin belt) is an “assist” or helper strap. You loop that through the heel strap we are talking about to help pull the boot on. I hope that helps!

[GallopingGrape]

tpup… you gotta love our stoic ponies, who will ride where you point them… all the while, trotting around with uncomfortable stuff in their shoes!!! I’m glad you noticed it and have fixed it! I felt so bad when I saw those marks. My guy wouldn’t rack or gait at all… and I was pushing and pushing him… uuugh… poor fella’s tootsies hurt! Cut the strap out and would love to see the pictures!!