Each year we caravan with friends up to Robie Park on Thursday to prepare for the beginning of Tevis. Our group gathers in the overflow parking lot to allow for plenty of room and less commotion. It also has a gravel base, so we aren't covered in dust before the ride even starts.
This year, after vetting through on Friday, we returned to camp to prepare the horses feet. Which meant pouring HOOF-it into the hoofs of five horses. Piper was ridden by Brenda Benkley, Blues was ridden by Karen Bottiani, Smokey was ridden by Jamie Fend, Annie was ridden by Gary Fend, and Don was ridden by Nick Warhol.
This was the first Tevis for Piper, Annie and Don. Smokey and Blues were going for their 5th and 6th completions respectively.
After 5 or 6 years of using HOOF-it for these rocky rides, we have come up with a great system. Gary cleans the hoof thoroughly (especially under the lip of the shoe). Karen rips up duct tape...a piece for a dam wall at the heel of the hoof and 3 pieces fit together to cover the sole. I am in charge of mixing the powder and liquid at just the right ratio and just the right time. As Gary finishes cleaning the hoof, the mixture should be reaching a thickness that allows for easy pouring, yet not too far from setting (so the poor hoof holder doesn't have to stand hunched over forever).
Once the mixture sets to a fairly solid state, I cover it up with the duct tape and we move on to the next hoof. This keeps all the little rocks and/or hay from sticking to the still tacky HOOF-it.
This year, since we had 5 horses to cover, Nick took over the hoof cleaning and holding for half of the hooves.
The Tevis Trail is one of the rockiest and toughest trails I know, so hoof protection is a must. Out of the five horses that we had starting, 4 of them completed The Tevis. And all 4 of them had all of their HOOF-it in their feet at the end of the ride!
Since our horses live in a 100 acre pasture, padding isn't a great option. Plus, they don't usually need pads. HOOF-it is exactly what we need for the occasional really rocky ride. We use it at 3 or 4 rides each year, and have never been disappointed.
The first year we tried it, we discovered (the hard way) that you shouldn't leave the ingredients out in the sun. The mixture turned to a very thick clay as soon as the ingredients were combined. I kind of pushed the clay into the hoof with my fingers. Most of it stayed in for the ride, but it definitely wasn't the right way to do it! We now make sure that it is kept inside the trailer, in the shade.
I couldn't be happier with this product. It gives us such peace of mind when we're asking the horses to trot on down a tough road mile after mile.
Thanks.
Laura
This year, after vetting through on Friday, we returned to camp to prepare the horses feet. Which meant pouring HOOF-it into the hoofs of five horses. Piper was ridden by Brenda Benkley, Blues was ridden by Karen Bottiani, Smokey was ridden by Jamie Fend, Annie was ridden by Gary Fend, and Don was ridden by Nick Warhol.
This was the first Tevis for Piper, Annie and Don. Smokey and Blues were going for their 5th and 6th completions respectively.
After 5 or 6 years of using HOOF-it for these rocky rides, we have come up with a great system. Gary cleans the hoof thoroughly (especially under the lip of the shoe). Karen rips up duct tape...a piece for a dam wall at the heel of the hoof and 3 pieces fit together to cover the sole. I am in charge of mixing the powder and liquid at just the right ratio and just the right time. As Gary finishes cleaning the hoof, the mixture should be reaching a thickness that allows for easy pouring, yet not too far from setting (so the poor hoof holder doesn't have to stand hunched over forever).
Once the mixture sets to a fairly solid state, I cover it up with the duct tape and we move on to the next hoof. This keeps all the little rocks and/or hay from sticking to the still tacky HOOF-it.
This year, since we had 5 horses to cover, Nick took over the hoof cleaning and holding for half of the hooves.
The Tevis Trail is one of the rockiest and toughest trails I know, so hoof protection is a must. Out of the five horses that we had starting, 4 of them completed The Tevis. And all 4 of them had all of their HOOF-it in their feet at the end of the ride!
Since our horses live in a 100 acre pasture, padding isn't a great option. Plus, they don't usually need pads. HOOF-it is exactly what we need for the occasional really rocky ride. We use it at 3 or 4 rides each year, and have never been disappointed.
The first year we tried it, we discovered (the hard way) that you shouldn't leave the ingredients out in the sun. The mixture turned to a very thick clay as soon as the ingredients were combined. I kind of pushed the clay into the hoof with my fingers. Most of it stayed in for the ride, but it definitely wasn't the right way to do it! We now make sure that it is kept inside the trailer, in the shade.
I couldn't be happier with this product. It gives us such peace of mind when we're asking the horses to trot on down a tough road mile after mile.
Thanks.
Laura
