< back to testimonials

After my trusty farrier had joined the service to go to Iraq, my horses feet were in the care of local farriers who never had any formal training. The results could have been tragic.

Sonny is my beloved retired western pleasure horse who has owned me for over 20 years. One morning in the fall of 2007, I went to turn him out and I discovered he could not move an inch. He was completely lame. His two front feet were so hot they felt like they were on fire. I called the vet to come right away, gave him a tab of bute, and began soaking his feet in cool water. The vet attempted to do a little trimming to see what she could find, but said Sonny had so many things going on. He really needed an expert farrier; not a good option in my very rural area. Due to so many improper trimmings, and probably with the contribution of sugars in his diet of senior feed, Sonny had accumulated a multitude of various hoof problems that came to a head and took its toll, putting him in a laminitic state. I was very worried that Sonny would enter into a long, cold winter with a case of severe founder, and at his age of 24, that was not an option.

I resorted to the internet for more help. Through a Google Search, I was able to learn about Pete Ramey and Gene Ovnicek barefoot trimming techinques and the use of Easyboots for foundering horses. Through a link from EasyCare Inc., I was able to contact a farrier who followed these methods a couple of hours away who was willing to come help Sonny that very next day. She was not aggresive in her efforts and explained that Sonny could be stablized with barefoot trimming. She was very confident that she could help him and assured me he would be fine. She put Sonny on a trim schedule of four week intervals, told me to continue soaking the feet daily in cool water, replace his grain with something that did not contain high levels of sugar, and order Old Mac G2 hoof boots. The boots arrived two days after the trim. After soaking Sonny's feet that morning, I put the boots on him and he began to walk up and down the barn isle on his own. He was instantly able to walk as if nothing was wrong with him. Before I knew it, he headed for his pasture, picked up a trot, let off a couple of bucks and cantered around the field. Sonny could get around wonderfully while wearing the boots. I took them off at night while he was in his stall which was heavily bedded with shavings. Eventually, with the continued trimming methods of Pete Ramey and Gene Ovnicek techinques, Sonny no longer had to wear his boots at all after just two more trims.

Today, Sonny is now 25 and we are on a six week barefoot trimming schedule, along with the other horses in the barn. His feet have never been better and he feels great thanks to Easy Care Inc. Pete Ramey, Gene Ovnicek, and Nora.

~ Marty Garrison