And here's another one........

This time how to fit an Easyboot Glove. A bit impromptu as we were just heading out for a ride - but we had the camera so.........

So what size boots do I need?

We find that quite often people are unsure of how to measure their horse's feet for boots.

Here we hope to she some light on the best way to approach measuring.

And remember it's important to measure ALL the feet that you need boots for - as it isn't uncommon for horses to have feet that are different sizes!!

Fitting boots

Lots of people say that having to put boots on their horse is difficult and takes too long before a ride.

So in response we have produced a video that shows just how long it takes to fit an Easyboot Epic!

Some thoughts on booting.......

A little of what we do....

It's that time of year again!........

Yes, the grass is growing!
You only have to scan any of the horse related forums in March/April to see posts such as 'My horse is footy' 'He's suddenly sore walking over stones'

If your horse isn't quite right at this time of year 90% of the time it is due to new, high sugar, grass coming through, giving your horse a bout of low grade laminitis (LGL).

If your horse is barefoot you are in an enviable position as the symptoms show up as LGL long before the full blown laminitic episodes seen in shod horses.

So what are the symptoms?

Generally a loss of 'rock crunching' performance. The horse becomes careful or 'footy' on surfaces such as gravelly roads or stones. He may also be unwilling to go out, where previously he was enthusiastic. He may seek the grass verge rather than the road. He just won't feel quite right.

What to do?  It is important to reduce the amount of grass that the horse receives. This can be done by bringing the horse into a yard or dry lot or bare paddock for a period and feeding hay or haylage. Some people have success using grazing muzzles and others bring their horse in during the day and turn out at night when the grass sugars built up during the day are synthesised. Obviously any sweet/high sugar feeds are removed from the diet as are molassed licks and treats.

The key here is that you do something.  The alternative may be a bout of laminitis, which is very painful and distressing to both horse and owner.

But how do you stop??....

I wish I had a pound for every time I was asked this question - I would be rich.

It usually comes when we are out hacking in a halter or rope hackamore. Usually on meeting a rider on a horse coming in the other direction. Said horse is usually in a 'big' bit with fashionable tight noseband and equally fashionable tight martingale, often attached to fashionable breastplate.

My answer is always - the same way I stop with a bit.

Pulling back with both reins attached to to a horses mouth isn't going to stop a pulling horse.

We need to rethink how we look at the reins. Forget that they are attached to the horses face and, instead, realise that they are connected to the horses feet AND if we have control of the horses feet we have control of the horse - simples-

So, we need to learn how to use one rein to move one foot. More on that another time.......

Oh, and by the way, I'm not against bits - I do use them - the most comfortable one I can find for each horse, with no noseband or martingale or special reins.