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At 10:22 AM 8/21/2006, you wrote:
> When I trotted her out for the vet, she said my mare brings her hind 
> legs inwards a little when she trots and it seemed it was the screws 
> on the boots catching her fetlock. Do the boots change a horse's way 
> of going? I guess if she is barefoot normally, she doesn't really 
> have anything to catch herself with...
Hi Lysane,
It depends on the horse -- if she is traveling close already then the 
amount the boot sticks out could be causing interference.  Often with 
more time in the boots the horses will learn to stop hitting 
themselves.  If she is specifically hitting the screw, put a couple 
of layers of duct tape over it and that might help.  You could also 
use ankle boots for the time being.

>  Would using a cotter pin end some of that struggle with trying to 
> get the wire just right? Or is there a trick to getting the buckle 
> to go down when it is tight? I don't want to break the buckle either.

I never got along well with the cotter pins ;).  There are several 
ways to adjust the cables.  Here is a link that has photos showing 
most of the 
ways: 
http://easycareinc.typepad.com/karen/2006/06/cable_adjustmen.html 
Getting the cable adjusted as tight as possible while still allowing 
the cable to go in the bottom groove on the buckle has worked best 
for me -- I think the way the cable is tensioned that way helps to 
hold it down, and reduces cable fray.  The easiest way to get the 
buckle back up is with a pointy ended hoofpick, just slip the pointed 
end under the bottom of the buckle and pop it up.  It's a lot easier 
than using a flathead screwdriver or regular hoofpick.

I've been experimenting with other ways to keep regular Easyboots on 
a formerly Easyboot Challenged horse (that would be Chief) and have 
been doing really well keeping them on him.  He previously couldn't 
keep regular Easyboots on even if they were foamed on, or over shoes 
for that matter, and now I've been keeping four boots on him with no 
shoes underneath, and haven't had a single one come off.  I've even 
turned him out in them and had him in the muddy pasture and they 
still haven't come off.  Yay :)

Karen


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