Congratulations to Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss and “Hadji” for completing all three days of the Old Pueblo Pioneer ride in Arizona last weekend!
For the three-day, 155-mile pioneer event, Stephanie and Hadji were 11th place on day 1, 9th place on day 2, and 5th place on day 3.
Hadji was the only horse to complete all three days at Old Pueblo with any type of glue-on hoof boot.
Here’s an email from Stephanie with her feedback:
I have been riding Hadji Halef Omar (“Hadji”) barefoot since November 2007. I feel that riding a horse barefoot is better for their joint and leg health and hopefully will allow for a long endurance career. Hadji was interfering very significantly with his front legs in shoes and I was really concerned about the long term effect on his pastern bones.
After talking with Dave Nicholson, DVM he suggested going barefoot. On training rides, Hadji is completely barefoot and does not interfere at all. Since February 2008, I have been using the Renegade® boots for all endurance rides. Hadji has had only occasional interfering in competition.
From February 2008 to March 2009, Hadji completed 1335 miles in Renegade® boots. Hadji began his incredible endurance career with shoes and I feel he has even better performance and movement being barefoot with the Renegade boots and hopefully less impact long term.
Of Hadji’s 1335 miles and 26 endurance rides, he had an impressive 13 top tens and 11 top twenties. These finishes include 1 win and 1 Best Condition, along with one 2nd fastest overall time at a 3-day pioneer ride and one 3rd-fastest overall time at a 3-day pioneer ride. For 2008, Hadji and I received 1st place in Lightweight for the Southwest region.
I have been riding my other horse Pitter Patti since July 2008. “Patti” has 150 miles in 3 endurance rides with Renegade® boots, with 1 top ten and 2 top twenties. Patti also did 50 miles in 2 limited distance rides for fun.
I really appreciate the ease of taking the Renegade® boots on and off. I feel that the traction is as close as possible to a barefoot hoof and seems to prevent any type of short-striding or sticking, while still having safe and appropriate traction and no restriction on his heel. I also am very impressed with how well the Renegade® boots fit a barefoot hoof. They fit Hadji’s hooves like they were made just for him.
Recently, I tried the glue-on Renegade® boots on Hadji’s front hooves. Kirt applied them on Hadji at the Valley of the Sun ride. I used them for the 50 miles there and the following weekend at the Old Pueblo ride in Sonoita, Arizona, for 155 more miles. So in 8 days, Hadji went 205 miles with the glue-on Renegades and they stayed on and worked perfectly with no problems whatsoever.
Kirt and Gina have provided me with wonderful customer service and support in helping me use the Renegade® boots. I also want to thank my barefoot trimmer Luke Tanner of L & M horse works for trimming my horses. My horses average 500 miles with a set of Renegade® boots over varied and rocky terrain. I am just thrilled with the Renegade® boots and their performance for me and my horses.
Thanks again for such a great product.
Stephanie Palmer-DuRoss