In this issue:

1. :: The Dao of Hoof Care-thoughts on the shoes vs. barefoot debate
2. :: Win a $75 Gift Certificate
3. :: Equethy "Rebooted"
4. :: Postures of Pain: How to know when your horse has hoof problems
5. :: Do You Have a Donkey or Mule?
6. :: What Does this Mean?

This issue of the newsletter contains two great articles—both written by Australian natives. The first is by Dr. Christine King, a holistic vet who practices in Washington, U.S. Her article is about the important role the hoof plays in a horse's sensory perception.

The second article was written by an equine bodyworker who specializes in myotherapy and transitioning horses to barefoot. Her article is about how foot pain affects body posture.

We hope that both articles will help you understand why so many people have chosen to go barefoot, and have used boots and pads for a smoother transition. We also hope they will give you a little ammunition, if you are trying convince someone else they should try barefoot and booting!

*Note: If you use Outlook 2007, you may have a formatting issue with this newsletter. Our apologies. Our service provider knows about the problem and is working on it.

The Dao of Hoof Care-thoughts on the shoes vs. barefoot debate

by Dr. Christine King

This article is inspired by a barefoot dressage horse I saw recently. I'm all for horses going barefoot, if they can comfortably live and work without shoes. I'm not adamantly opposed to shoeing horses, though, as are some of the more extreme barefoot advocates. Rather, I prefer to take the middle road-the Dao (or Tao)-when it comes to hoof care.

I won't bore you with a long dissertation on the pros and cons of shoeing horses. If you have any interest in this topic, no doubt you've read articles on this subject already. Instead, I want to focus on one particular aspect of the structure and function of the horse's foot that doesn't usually make it into the debate: the sensory functions of the hoof.

The hoof as a sensory structure
We're used to thinking of the horse's hoof as a hard, insensitive outer shell which encases and protects the coffin bone (also called the pedal bone, the distal phalanx, the third phalanx, or simply P3). In fact, vets and farriers often use the term "hoof capsule" when discussing the boot-like structure which comprises the contiguous hoof wall, sole, frog, and heel bulbs. This term, while useful in its way, emphasizes the hoof's role as an inert outer casing. The sensory capacity of the hoof imposes itself upon our notice only when the horse steps on a rock, gets a foot abscess, is "quicked" by an errant shoe nail, or otherwise becomes footsore.

(Read more...)

Win a $75 Gift Certificate!

Just enter your photo

If you have a quality high resolution photo of your performance horse in EasyCare hoof boots, we want to hear from you!

We need photos of barrel racers, cow horses, hunters, jumpers, etc. If we use your photo in any of our printed media or promotions in the next six months we will send you a gift certificate good for $75 worth of EasyCare product.

Photos must be at least 300 dpi and must not be copyrighted. If you have previously submitted photos, please resubmit for this promotion.*

Domestic and International shipping will also be included with this offer for one order. Shipping on additional orders will be the customer's responsibility.

Send your photos to marketing@easycareinc.com with subject line "Promo photo."

*Photos must be at least 300 dpi and 4 inches by 5 inches in physical dimensions. File formats accepted: .jpg, .tif, .psd and all camera RAW files.

Equethy "Rebooted"

EasyCare's (International) Dealer of the Month

Even if you don't reside in Australia, you can learn something from owners Mike and Crisann Ware. One visit to their website at www.equethy.com tells you how dedicated they are to helping people and horses. They not only sell the full EasyCare boot line, but they have developed an Equine Podiatry Diploma. They also offer vet clinics, booting tips, trimming seminars and one-on-one help. In addition, they regularly write and post informative articles pertaining to holistic care as it relates to soundness.

Chrisann is an equine myofunctional therapist and Mike is Equethy's hoof care practitioner, manager and publicist. They have been dealers for two years.

Mike, Chrisann and Andrew Bowe and are the developers of the Equine Podiotherapy Diploma. The anatomy portion is taught by Professor Robert Bowker, the practical trimming & rehab modules by Andrew and Mike. Says Chrisann, "We are rather pleased with the course as we believe it is one of the best of its kind featuring barefoot rehabilitation yet developed."

Postures of Pain: How to know when your horse has hoof problems

by Chrisann Ware, Equine Myofunctional Therapist, UHHGM

Many horse owners know instinctively that their horses are "not quite right. They ask their farrier who says "well he doesn't have great feet but just keep him shod and he will be OK."

So naturally the owner dismisses the hoof as a source of problems and moves on in their search.... and on.... and on.....and the horse is seen by a parade of people. All the time getting slowly worse.

(Read more...)

"Tell your woes to your saddle bow and ride away singing."

I've always loved this quote. It hangs on a big sign over a barn at a local Arabian Farm in Tucson. It sounds so romantic. But, what the heck is a saddle bow? I searched the internet and the closest thing I found was a location near the fork (or swell) of a western saddle. Now that's not very romantic or imaginative, is it? We'll give you 50 bucks if you can come up with a better answer (fact or fiction.)

Email your answer to marketing@easycareinc.com.

Do You Have a Donkey or Mule?

If so, we would love to hear from you. We are working on an upcoming issue featuring barefoot and booted donkeys and mules.

Please submit your name and non-copyrighted photos to: admin@easycareinc.com, with "mules" or "donkeys" in the subject line.

If you have any questions about our products feel free to call our friendly staff at 1-800-447-8836, e-mail: questions@easycareinc.com or visit our website at easycareinc.com.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter! Please let us know if you have any ideas or suggestions on how to make it better.
See you on the trail,

The Staff at EasyCare
EasyCare, Inc.
email: admin@easycareinc.com
phone: 800-447-8836
web: easycareinc.com