Friday, February 20, 2009

Easy Boot Gloves- Round Two..

Round 2- Easy Boot Glove

Based on the measurements I took of JB’s feet prior to ordering the Fit Kit from Easy Care, he calculated out to approx 117 mm. (4 5/8 for the fronts and 4 ½ on the hinds). A size 1.5 Fit kit should have been the ticket. Included in that kit are size 1, size 1.5 and size 2 boot to give the best possible fit.

Thursday night was fit kit night at Acer Farm. Since I wanted the best possible fit , and JB was due for his two week touch up with the rasp anyways, Tom gave him a pedicure before slipping on the ruby slippers . I knew the 2 was definitely out just looking at it. The 1.5 also proved to be too big so last chance was the 1.0. Much to my disappointment, it was also too big for the Peanut. The good news was that the shape of JB’s feet seemed to work well with the glove. We just had to get a smaller size boot.

I wondered how could these be so off in the size when we carefully measured? I know JB has small feet but I never imagined they were this small!! We remeasured and it was exactly the same numbers as previous.

Just for fun and to have a comparison, I pulled Rebel out of the pasture, who was also freshly trimmed up and tried the boots on him. He has what I would consider a more “normal” sized hoof. I tried on the 1.5 on his feet and found these were also too big on him as well. I was surprised by that. The size 1 did appear to be a better fit, but still not as snug of a fit as the sizing instructions suggests it should be. I could see that they would not stay on well. The V on the front of the boot was not expanding much and the picture with the instructions pamphlet showed a much more distinct separation of the “V” than what the boot was doing on Rebel’s hoof. Rebel also has a bit of a wing on the outside of his front hoof that we are slowly working on improving so this seemed to be causing a bit of a poor fit. I will keep that fit kit for two more weeks and after another trim, see if the size 1 boot works any better. If not, I could see him potentially dropping down to a size 0.

Ok, so maybe my measurements weren’t off. Maybe the sizing charts for these boots are a bit on the generous side? So, today I ordered the size “0” kit which will include 0.5, 0, 00.5 size boots . These sizes should reveal better fitting results. I also talked to Marci at Easy Care about my fitting woes. She double checked my measurement conversion to millimeters and came up with the same numbers. She was also puzzled as to why I did not get a better fit. Guess JB really is my misfit!!

Well, I am not sure how other folks are doing out there with the fit kits but I am entering round two and keeping my fingers crossed that one of the boots in the smaller kit will do the trick for JB!
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About Barbs, Etc

Greetings and welcome to my blog. I began riding at the age of 5 and haven't stopped since. By the time I was 8, I was involved in the local Pony Club and remained until my teenage years. As a junior rider and then into my young adult years , I went on to train, ride and work with a variety of different trainers and stables, eventually landing in Northwest Montana, where I now call home. Over the years I have been fortunate to experience many different disciplines including hunter/jumper, equitation, dressage, reining, western pleasure and showmanship as well as breeding and training.

Along the way, I grew partial to the Spanish Colonial type horse and through a series of interesting events in my life, became the owner of a few Barb horses, a relatively rare and unknown type of horse. The history of the Barb horse, as best we know it, can be found here.

Join me as I chase down a long time dream to ride and compete in the sport of Endurance racing with my Barb gelding, El Gato Rojo JB. We began our journey in this sport in 2008 and continue working towards completing a true AERC limited distance together.

Barbs, Etc will focus on the sport of endurance as well as journal all my other experiences along the way with my horses here at Acer Farms.

2008 Accomplishments

  • October- JB had xrays to make sure there was not a coffin bone fracture causing lameness. Xrays were negative and lameness due to stone bruise, soles were only 7 mm. We had pads put on JB to offer him protection while his bruise healed. On 10/5, we participated in a poker ride which was 9 miles. JB did well with his pads and had no sign of soreness.
  • August 9th would be our first limited distance ride ever. We completed the first 15 mile loop in 3 hrs and 32 minutes. At lunchtime vetting, JB was exhibiting the slightest soundness issue. Due to 10 more miles of difficult terrain and rocky footing I chose to pull him. He recovered and the rest of August continued with conditioning. On August 28 we had completed a conditioning ride of 14 miles at 2 hrs and 15 min. Out next limited distance competition would be on 9/7
  • July- we began the month doing 4-5 miles which was taking us 1.5 to 2 hrs. Over the course of the month we gained distance and did a few hill workouts. Our last ride in July was 10.5 miles at 1.5 hrs. That was also the first time JB went into the river.
  • September- we were covering 8-10 mile conditioning rides regularly at 1.5 hours or better. JB was gaining quite a bit of muscle now and getting well conditioned. 9/7 we competed in the last limited distance ride of the season locally and once again , Jb came up lame after 8 miles. We later discovered it was a stone bruise that had flared up again after the August ride.
  • June was mostly arena work due to snow, icey roads, very limited conditioning
  • 5/24- Herron Park Limited Distance- opted to do 12 mile pleasure loop 2.5 hours
  • April- JB started on conditioning schedule; arena work, dressage lessons a few 2-3 mile rides at walk with some trotting