CASE STUDIES
Trimming is a subtractive method, shoeing is an additive method. Shoes may reduce or add leverage and can change the way the hoof grows and the way the horse moves. Deciding which shoe to use, when, and why is equally important. Metal core? Fully composite? Wide web? Thin web? Wedge? I have found a majority of horses don’t need overly complicated shoeing packages. It’s also important to document and note changes in biomechanics, such as landings, and range of motion increases or decreases.
Documenting changes provides security to owners and accountability for myself. This also empowers owners to understand their own horses hoof care and pathology.
EASYCARE INC. BLOG POSTS FROM CLIENTS
REACHING NEW HEIGHTS
Hoof care enthusiast, Amber, first reached out to us after applying a pair of the EasyShoe Versa Grip Octo on her friend’s mare, Jazelly.
JULY 18, 2024
COMFORT FOR THE SENIOR HORSE
It’s been a long, expensive and time consuming journey to keep this ol’ guy happy and healthy with his long list of pathologies and behavioral quirks.
NOVEMBER 21, 2024
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS IN THE VERSA GRIP OCTO
I had the immense privilege to tag along with my dear friends Daisy Ford and Hannah Colligan as they competed in the 1.35m $50,000 Grand Prix at the 2026 FEI World Cup Finals.
Pictured here is me and Daisy on her horse Berlin who blew us all away to take home 3rd place behind two seasoned FEI horses and riders. Berlin is barefoot behind, and wears EasyCare One Sticky’s on his fronts.
Hannah’s mare Nova is barefoot behind and wears Octos in front. They had an unlucky rail at a tricky plank but was the fastest four faulter and took home 12th.
I’m so proud of my friends and their amazing horses. It’s an honor to be trusted with their hoof care and dietary needs.
I had the opportunity to discuss a founder success story with Alicia Harlov - The Humble Hoof.
“Max” pushed both myself and his owner to deep diving into metabolic horses and how to best manage them with proper meds, diet, exercise, and hoof care.
His continued success is an ongoing effort and fortunately for both of us he lives with me at the private farm I manage.
Shoes were pulled May 13th, 2025 no major trimming done on that day, just a light bevel of the wall and balanced. Hoof Armor applied for protection. Pony remained sound and in light work. May 27th feet were conservatively trimmed. During transitions if I am not prepping the hoof for a glue on shoe, I try to leave as much material as possible to reduce risk of soreness while the nail holes grow out.
Shoes were pulled April 6th, 2025, glue on shoes were applied April 13th. Resets every 4-5 weeks in glue on shoes. July 17th 2025 fully barefoot. Now, he gets regular trims and is currently barefoot and comfortable across all terrain, though we do apply glue ons on his fronts before shows.
One year between photos. This 20 year old horse was not “unsound” in metal but the owner felt improvements could be made and the eventual goal is for the horse to be fully barefoot. Metal shoes were pulled August 2024. This horse had extreme caudal failure and could not handle frog pressure for several cycles. While the photos on the left appear like larger feet, due to contracture the feet were actually a shoe size smaller than they are today.
Performance hunter with several pathologies. We’ve made great progress improving the back of the foot and improving hoof capsule alignment.
5 months from top photo to bottom. Early 20s quarter horse mare just needed a better foot! Back to work and much more happy now. Diligent owner helped with her rehab by using Cloudboots for 6 weeks after coming out of metal shoes. Regular bodywork has also provided an enormous amount of help correcting these feet.
