Haven’t had a problem with mud and creek crossings and epics here in Pa. Of course if horse panics and flails almost any boot or shoe may get pulled off by a foot standing on it. Old Macs also stay on but can rub more IME.
[QUOTE=Shadow14;3208832]
How can mud suck a shoe off??? There is little for the mud to get a hold of with a shoe?? Could it not be that the foot was slowed down enough that the shoe was stepped off???[/QUOTE]
I’ve seen it happen more than once. If you have a loose nail (or two) the mud can move the shoe around. And then it forms sort of this sucking vacumn that can pop a shoe right off. And I’ve seen metal shoes torn off that did alot of foot damage when they came off (not sure if that happens with boots).
I agree with A2 – why do these choices have to get so personal? I am now investigating the boot situation and not sure what I will choose (boots or shoes) for which horse, but either way it’s nice to have options.
There are SOOOO many ways to “skin a cat…” why not explore some of the many choices we have out there?
[QUOTE=Kyzteke;3209417]
I agree with A2 – why do these choices have to get so personal? ?[/QUOTE]
How is wondering how muck sucks a shoe off getting personal?? Do you own the muck that is causing the problem???
thanks for the kind replies.
guess when i’m able i’ll try the epics and see how it goes. i went to the scene of the crime today and found the 2 missing boots up the road. now i know thats what spooked her so.
[QUOTE=Auventera Two;3208393]
Shoes - no shoes - boots - no boots…it’s a decision that each owner makes for each horse on an individual basis. PERIOD. I can NOT for the life of me figure out why people have to turn it into a fight with name calling. This horse owner can try other boots if she wants, or she can go back to shoes. It’s really NOT a dramatic situation.[/QUOTE]
I cannot understand the need for “BUA compatriots and foolishness” talk. It’s just a decision to make. That’s it. And whatever she decides I’m sure will be just fine for her situation.
That being the case I hope she’ll also speak to an attorney. Sounds like a good product liability case to me. She’s hurt because of boots. wouldn’t have happened with shoes. Period.
Why is it that anytime someone makes a different decision than you do, they are a fool/uneducated/idiot/BUA, etc. But if they choose shoes they are “smarter.”
Because getting her horse shod is in the best interest of her horse. (Not to mention her own personal safety) Thats what it’s really all about. You see many choices and options. Horse shoers only see one. The best. Anything less than the best is not good enough for the OPs horse or any other horse.
I wish the moderators could pare this crap out of these boards. It completely ruins the forums.
On this we can agree. How about a 3 day time out for anybody who posts a link to a BUA site?
Problem is I think the mods enjoy the entertainment too much.
[edit]
I recommend shoeing and get a bunch of grief. You need to sit down and behave yourself. Don’t make me go get Mr Stovall!
George
Mud/muck pulling shoes and boots off.
Often the reason both shoes and boots get pulled off in mud is that trying to pull a foot from the mud slows the hoof down, so a hind foot can easily catch it. It’s usually the hind foot that pulls the boot or the shoe off. Ever see “sprung” shoes on a trail or stuck in mud? That’s from a hind foot catching it.
My horse can be clutzy and needs a very short breakover. Anything that keeps his front foot on the ground a little longer (such as the mud at the edge of the streame) could result in a pulled boot or ripped gaiter. My horse has gone through several gaiters this way.
I recently tried Bares because I liked the tread. Ripped the darn gaiter in the second ride. I think the bungee stretched during the stride and allowed the boot to stay down a little longer than it should. Ripped gaiter. :mad:
Fortunatly, you can order the upclips from Easycare and install them instead of the bungee. That is what I’m going to do. I prefer the upclip to the regular Epic clip anyway. You don’t need a hoofpick to loosen it, and you don’t have to step on the clip to close it. Right now I only have the upclips on my horse’s hind boots because one of his front boots was old and had rivets. I have to combind two different sized boots to make them short enough for Butch’s feet.
Wow. I’m glad to know that about the bares. I’ve been going back and forth about which type of boots to get. Anyone know how easy/hard it is to pull the gaiters off of the epics? I’d like to be able to remove them if I decide to do a CTR… and not have to buy a whole additional set of regular easy boots.
I love the Bares and use them on my Paso Fino. They did not work on my Arab because she would hit the back of her front hooves with the rear boots. She went much better with shoes. The Epics drove me crazy with those clips that kept coming unclipped and while they never came off, the clicking noise was very annoying. I’ll stick with the Bares – and once adjusted properly they are pretty easy to put on and take off. I’ve been through mud with them with no problems. Basically, I use what works for whatever horse I’m riding. My Paso would need pads with his shoes as most of the roads I condition on are gravelly and he has ouchy feet. I’d rather leave him barefoot in his pasture and boot him when riding than have him in shoes and pads 24/7. So … as with everything else concerning horse – not one size fits all. You have to experiment and see what works best.
I’m trying the Renegades next …:winkgrin:
gypsymare, you can take the gaiters off of Epics, but the screws might be too long. It would be easier to buy the Easyboots and then order gaters online. I still recommend the Upclips!
Mud Sucks! Especially the gooey clay we have here. I’ve had my wellies sucked off, lost nailed-on shoes, etc.
Maybe for your horse, another brand would be better. I currently prefer the Hoof Wings. The people are good to work with, too. www.horsesneaker.com
Mud sucks!! However, boots are a liability in this regard for SURE! This would not have happened if your horse had been correctly shod. I hope that you heal well, your horse is fine and that you find your way to a good farrier! :yes:
To each his own …
… and whatever works …
Two of my favorite phrases whose truth I’ve learned over and over again during the time that I’ve been around horses, and particularly in endurance riding.
I was just thinking last night how glad I was for my easy boots (the “old” style). One of our horses managed to wrangle off a shoe screwing around in the pasture. I grabbed up one of my lovely RED easyboots, cleaned off his foot, popped that easy boot on (practicepracticepractice) and tacked him up for a ride. The boot stayed on for creek crossings, rocks, mud and a wahoo gallop up our hill.
We’ve got three horses who have roundish feet and work well in easyboots. Sure, we have to prep the boots and fit them, but geez, easy boots have gotten us through more than one endurance ride when we’ve thrown a shoe, and I’ve conditioned in them as a spare tire more than once. I’ve also used them as impromptu “pads” for a horse with owie soles for two loops of a 100 a couple of years ago. He cruised through the rocks with so much more confidence and comfort.
The poor kid who lost his shoe yesterday is going to go to a fancy shmancy dressage clinic wearing his red spare tire on Friday. 
–Patti
JHUshoer20… [edit] Just what we need another frivolous lawsuit because a horse didn’t do what is was supposed to do. The horse should sue the owner for putting it in that position. [edit]
For about 5 cents each, you can put cotter pins in the Epics clips and they won’t come loose or click. You can order them in packs of 10 from Easycare, or you can just buy them at a hardware or farm supply store.
[QUOTE=rmh;3210780]
JHUshoer20… what an idt. Just what we need another frivolous lawsuit because a horse didn’t do what is was supposed to do. The horse should sue the owner for putting it in that position. How DB.[/QUOTE]
A personal injury sustained due to the marketing of a trash product you think frivolous? In your opinion how (besides having the horse properly shod) could this have been prevented?
I’m sure if she sues she’ll get a settlement. If the case is without merit as you think she’d lose nothing by pursuing her legal rights.
George
I’ve seen horses flip over that stepped on shoes while galloping XC and I’ve seen them rip chunks of hoof wall off and cause injury that took months to heal as well as suspensory injuries. I’ve seen shoes pulled in mud a great deal and have had my share of frustrations over the years with pulled shoes and getting farriers out to put them back on…not to mention hours once spent walking a pasture looking for a fancy bar shoe that my horse pulled just walking around the pasture. I’ve seen bell boots cause wrecks also. This is the first time I’ve heard of hoof boots causing a big problem for anyone but I suppose that anytime you put something on your horses legs and feet, you run that risk regardless of what form it takes.
Two nights ago I did a 12 mile ride and while maneuvering between a gate and a little drop off with water at the bottom, my horse spooked and hung my leg up on the gate. She bolted and I couldn’t stop her because I was trying to save my leg from being ripped out of the socket. I did get loose and was relatively unharmed though I have a sore hip and back now. The gate was only about 10 feet from the highway and she was on the other side of the road before she stopped. I wasn’t asking her to stop because my reins were loose and I was in shock from the leg hang up. If there had been a car coming, we both would have been seriously injured, or killed. The speed limit is 55 and cars go 70. Should I sue the land owner because it was his gate? We have permission to ride there. This is why landowners are so terrified to grand trail access to riders - all this talk of sueing people blind. It’s really disturbing.
Accidents happen around horses. Your girth can break during a full gallop. Your horse can slip and fall. Your bridle can fall apart and you have no control. Equipment fails. Shoes get pulled. Horses step off boots. It happens.
What about the few horses in history who have slipped and went over a cliff on the Tevis trail? Could the shoe manufacturers be sued because if the horse had more traction, he wouldn’t have gone over the cliff? 
Accidents happen around horses. That’s just the way it is.
AT, glad you’re OK, that incident sounds as scarey as mine.
Yes, good point Vickie. Let’s sue a farrier if your horse flips over while galloping because he stepped on a shoe and the person ended up in the hospital…I’m being facetious but I agree with Vickie…crap happens and in this scenario, the OP doesn’t even know if the boots were why her horse bolted or not. I’m awfully sorry she got hurt and glad it wasn’t worse.
One suggestion for boot users…desensitize your horses to the possibility that they might come loose, hang from the gaiter and bang on their leg. The first time that happens should not be on the side of a highway but in a safe round pen or in a stall where your horse can learn that it’s not going to hurt them.
A reminder that the thread title is “lost faith in easyboots” not “seeking legal advice on accident.” Stay on topic. 
Thanks,
Mod 1
