Hoof packing

[enjoytheride]

I recently asked on an endurance FB page about hoof packing, I’ve noticed that many horse keeping practices are the same for eventing and endurance and an endurance ride is like a long format set up.

I was very surprised to see that nobody packed feet, and many people had never heard of it. The answer I got was that if your horse’s feet are sore after work you are doing something wrong with your shoeing or foot maintenance.

On horses competing such long miles I would think that they would also pack feet if it was effective.

However, I do think that pads are more common since you are more likely to hit rocky trails in endurance.

Thoughts?

Wrapping and poulticing are used though.

[EventerAJ]

I only pack feet if there’s an absolute need-- very hard ground and/or a horse with known bruising issues. I’ve been lucky to have horses with pretty good feet, and combined with good management, I can see where the endurance rider mindset comes from.

However, it’s probably a case of two different types of horses too. Arabs typically have small, compact, tough feet; and endurance riders may have little tolerance for a bad-footed horse given the mileage they must complete. In eventing, though, poor feet are nursed along with glue on shoes, pour pads, correctional shoes, etc. If the horse is otherwise talented, good-minded, and sound, many eventers are willing to put up with foot issues…and those are the types of horses who may benefit from hoof packing.

[enjoytheride]

You could be right about that.

Endurance riders still have vet checks before, during, and after a ride so a horse that is a little bit ouchy before hoof packing would be spun.

However, I’ve seen all sorts of different shoeing arrangements in endurance as well.

[DoubleDown]

I pack my mare’s feet after gallops since the ground in my area is pretty hard. Packing is inexpensive. I use liniment after gallops on her body and ice her legs, so why can’t her feet get some TLC?

[wildlifer]

My BFF & I cross train – b/c she does 50-mi endurace races, we’ve learned a lot from each other & many conditioning & training & care practices overlap so much.

However, most folks in very rocky races (her preference since her horse is not fast, but is consistent & so excels in the mtn races as opposed to the flat-land sandier races) either use boots, have horses with hooves tough as nail or, as she does, use pads. The latter is most common; she always has pour-ins both for the races & any training trips to those type of trails.

I myself VERY rarely do any type of packing – on the TB who likes to bruise himself, he gets pads if needed, the other one does fine without.

[runNjump86]

I’ve become QUITE accustomed to hoof packing as my TB has been clinically diagnosed with having “a very crappy, sore foot”. Long story short…poor hoof conformation for too many years.

He absolutely cannot stand full pads. The pressure on the sole of his foot pretty much cripples him. YES, he’s that sensitive. Sucks, too, because he would be a great candidate for a full pad with magic cushion under. We’ve tried many different types and none work.

He survived with a rim pad for several months until his foot just couldn’t take the pressure anymore. Have I mentioned how crappy his foot is?

So now we’re back to plain bar shoes and only going on good footing for the foreseeable future. He is great about icing his feet (will be absolutely necessary after XC and gallops, was recommended after any type of jumping once we hit Training). He also gets sore after getting shod, so he gets Bute the day of and after. The day of the shoeing I pack his feet. I used to use Magic Cushion (great stuff but $$$) until I got a fantastic concoction from our vet. It’s original use is to kill scratches, but it makes an AWESOME hoof packing as well.

Magma paste
Dex
DMSO
Penicillin** -not necessary if making your own just for hoof packing

Mix it enough to be a little more watery than the magma paste but still sticks to bottom of the hoof and wrap with diaper/duct tape. He used to have “hot feet” after getting shod but after using that packing there was no temp difference. I’m sold on it. Plus he was sound the next day which is HUGE for him. Did I mention he has a crappy foot and is a delicate flower? :lol:

[kdreger]

@enjoytheride;8172666

Endurance riders still have vet checks before, during, and after a ride so a horse that is a little bit ouchy before hoof packing would be spun.

A horse that is “sore” on both fronts or all 4 is rarely pulled. Just watch the “barefoot” ones walk on rocks.

Out of all our endurance horses we have padded only 2. Both had pretty strong feet and simply didn’t care what the footing was like.