Has anyone replaced the buckles on their Easyboots with the Easy-up buckles?

[sublimequine]

I have a pair of the standard, bare-bones model Easyboots. These:

https://www.bluegrasshorsesupply.com/shop/images/products/detail_214_easy-boot-m.jpg

And in a few months, my mare will have her front shoes pulled for winter. I plan on riding her in her hoof boots, every ride. But they are a PAIN to get on, even though I have my technique down perfectly. It doesn't take that long, but it's just an inconvenience and sometimes a struggle to get the buckle snapped up in order to remove them.

I'm considering replacing the buckles with the Easy-up buckles. Does anyone have any experience with the easy-up buckles? Are they really easier than the standard buckle? Would it really be more convenient with the easy-up buckle?

(Before anyone suggests I buy new boots, like the Edge or Glove, I've considered that too. But my boots look nearly new, they're hardly even worn. I can't stand to replace them when they aren't even worn out! Once they wear out, I plan on switching to the Edges. :) )

[starkissed]

I don't know if its my horses hoof shape or something, but I have the epics for him and they are really easy to put on! I just always have a hoof pick and it's a piece of cake getting them on and off.

I don't know much about easy up buckles, I interested though! Because I am not sure how ling the hardware will last!

[carp]

Are these the buckles which open from the top instead of the bottom? I've no personal experience with them, but one of my friends always changes her buckles over to them because she thinks they stay closed better. She says that when an Easyboot buckle pops open accidentally, it's usually because a branch or some other debris slides under the buckle and flips it up as the horse puts its foot down. That doesn't happen when she uses the top opening buckles.

[kcmel]

I did the switch. I think they probably do stay closed better, but they are not as easy to use. I have release the wire from the tabs to get the boots on, and then they are hard to redo. There is much cursing involved. If I was just using them to ride I would not switch; I did so because I sometimes use them for turnout.

[matryoshka]

Yes. I like the Up Buckles. Butch was objecting to my having to step on the regular clip to close, and the up-clips made it so I could close them for a snug fit by hand.

However, on a different horse, the darn clips would open up. He stumbled a bit and broke the clip. This is a hazard I had not anticipated, especially since they never opened while riding when used on the first horse.

I think the secret is to get them snug enough. So if your horse is on the edge of needing a smaller boot (wire is a bit too long), they won't close snug enough to prevent them from opening on the trail. Convoluted enough description? :D

Nutshell: They are great when you can adjust them to be tight, not great when they don't tighten quite enough.

[matryoshka]

I always use a hoof pick to adjust the wire no matter what type of clip. Otherwise, you risk cutting your fingers.

The "Edge" closure looks good. I wonder if you can order one of those closure for the other styles of boots. I haven't looked into it (haven't needed to buy boots in a while). Amazingly, plain old Easyboots are working well for my little Arab mare, WTCG. That's a first for me!