Re: Easyboot shock absorption

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-11-01 17:15:19 EST, guest@endurance.net writes:

<< The vet said it was from riding on hard ground.  My farrier says trotting
on hard ground can cause laminitis.  I wonder if any tests or experiments have
been done to determine how well Easyboots cushion. >>

Hi, Patti--

I don't know of any formal tests about the cushioning capabilities of
Easyboots (maybe someone else does) but have certainly seen good results with
them at rides in dealing with minor bruises and generally tender feet.

With regards to the statements made by your veterinarian and farrier, I would
like to say that ANY activity done without proper conditioning to that
particular activity can cause damage.  If one must ride on hard ground (and as
one will encounter a certain amount of it at rides, one should likely seek out
a certain amount of hard ground in training), one must work up to it
gradually, starting out by WALKING on hard surfaces at regular intervals and
gradually building up the distances.  Bone takes several months to
condition--in fact, for the first 4 to 6 weeks of training, bone actually
becomes WEAKER as it demineralizes in preparation for remodeling, and then
spends another 4 to 6 weeks just getting back to its former strength before
surpassing the original strength and becoming stronger.  Hence one is just
back to par with bone at 3 months into a good conditioning program, despite
the fact that all the other systems are fit and rarin' to go.  So--keep that
in mind with hard surface training, don't forget to utilize the WALK, and
build up to hard surfaces gradually.

Heidi Smith, DVM--Sagehill Arabians (Oregon)