Tell me about pads (leather vs Pour in) especailly for showing

[Crazy4aOTTB]

My mare has very thin soles (11m) on x-rays. I just recently did the pour in pads and my mare seems to be choppy and just doesn’t move very well with them. I understand the big picture is soundness and her well being! However my goals this year is to go for year end points for our state association and with her moving so horribly in the pour in pads I was wondering what other options there are. I know that there have to be other hunter riders out there who’s horse needs pads but don’t want to lose the movement in their horse.

My farrier mentioned leather pads but I opted for the pour in pads because I was concerned about her getting thrush.
So those of you who have to have pads and show what do you recommend?

[IPEsq]

For thin soles, leather is often not enough support. I find they work ok on the flat TB foot type that is otherwise healthy but living on harder or rockier conditions. Pour ins will help rebuild sole depth and thus can be better in the long run. Is the short stridedness new since the pads? Sometimes, the horse won’t tolerate the pour in, so the next best support for a thin sole is a hard plastic pad. Your horse may do well in one of those with frog support if the sole pressure is why the pour in isn’t working well.

If the change in movement isn’t soreness related (but maybe adjusting to more weight on the foot or something), then I’d stick with the pour ins for a little while to rebuild sole. Maybe move to a leather pad in the future as a preventative.

[IPEsq]

Oh and what shoe are you using? Aluminum or steel? Aluminum will be lighter and more hunter friendly, and also they are better when concussion is a concern. They tend to cost more and can’t be reused, but that’s one common hunter rider strategy.

[beowulf]

I hate thin soles. First thing to address is to make sure that the farrier’s trim job is not inadvertently causing the thin soles or the soreness… How long is your mare’s toe and are her heels underrun? The longer the toe the thinner the sole, in my experience.

My gelding clocked in at 5mm on x-ray :eek:

He also was funny the first trim with pads. It’s possible your horse does not like the sole/ frog pressure of the pad - if the soles are thin enough, pads can be uncomfortable the first few trims. I’ve never done pour-in, but I had good luck with leather pads for two different TBs who were out 24/7. My current gelding just shears his sole like no other, even with pads - I’m curious to see what his rads look like now that we’ve switched farriers as I do believe that was part of the problem.

Have you tried rim pads instead? They go around the shoe and basically add a little more clearance. They’re good for horses who need their sole off the ground but can’t tolerate sole or frog pressure. Also, I’d be discussing with farrier the findings and let him know under no uncertain terms should he be removing any sole.

I have not found any issues with thrush - my gelding has been in pads for 2 years now. We pull his shoes in winter since he has it off but he goes back in once he is in work. The only issue I have is occasional mud balling inside the pad, but that’s because he is out 24/7 and it is very rainy in spring for us. We will pack with magic cushion before nailing the shoe & pads on.

One other thing I do is fill up a small oral syringe with a little durasole - put it between the sulcus grooves of the frog and squirt in under the pads. I do this probably every two weeks. I think it helps.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

@IPEsq

Oh and what shoe are you using? Aluminum or steel? Aluminum will be lighter and more hunter friendly, and also they are better when concussion is a concern. They tend to cost more and can’t be reused, but that’s one common hunter rider strategy.

She has Aluminum on the fronts. I switched her to the Aluminum about 8 months ago and went from placing in the hack with the steel, to getting top 3 usually in the aluminum. But now with the pour in pads I don’t think we will be placing in the hack

[Crazy4aOTTB]

@IPEsq

For thin soles, leather is often not enough support. I find they work ok on the flat TB foot type that is otherwise healthy but living on harder or rockier conditions. Pour ins will help rebuild sole depth and thus can be better in the long run. Is the short stridedness new since the pads? Sometimes, the horse won’t tolerate the pour in, so the next best support for a thin sole is a hard plastic pad. Your horse may do well in one of those with frog support if the sole pressure is why the pour in isn’t working well.

If the change in movement isn’t soreness related (but maybe adjusting to more weight on the foot or something), then I’d stick with the pour ins for a little while to rebuild sole. Maybe move to a leather pad in the future as a preventative.

She is a naturally short stridden horse but this is more choppy like the weight bothers her. I did put the pads on because she was “off” and the vet did x-rays and was concerned with the sole thickness and suggested pour ins. I am hoping that 2-3 trims with the pads and then switch her to the leather pads.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

@beowulf

I hate thin soles. First thing to address is to make sure that the farrier’s trim job is not inadvertently causing the thin soles or the soreness… How long is your mare’s toe and are her heels underrun? The longer the toe the thinner the sole, in my experience.

My gelding clocked in at 5mm on x-ray :eek:

He also was funny the first trim with pads. It’s possible your horse does not like the sole/ frog pressure of the pad - if the soles are thin enough, pads can be uncomfortable the first few trims. I’ve never done pour-in, but I had good luck with leather pads for two different TBs who were out 24/7. My current gelding just shears his sole like no other, even with pads - I’m curious to see what his rads look like now that we’ve switched farriers as I do believe that was part of the problem.

Have you tried rim pads instead? They go around the shoe and basically add a little more clearance. They’re good for horses who need their sole off the ground but can’t tolerate sole or frog pressure. Also, I’d be discussing with farrier the findings and let him know under no uncertain terms should he be removing any sole.

I have not found any issues with thrush - my gelding has been in pads for 2 years now. We pull his shoes in winter since he has it off but he goes back in once he is in work. The only issue I have is occasional mud balling inside the pad, but that’s because he is out 24/7 and it is very rainy in spring for us. We will pack with magic cushion before nailing the shoe & pads on.

One other thing I do is fill up a small oral syringe with a little durasole - put it between the sulcus grooves of the frog and squirt in under the pads. I do this probably every two weeks. I think it helps.

All her angles look good and my farrier knew she had thin soles from the beginning so he is very careful to not remove sole. About 4 years ago she had a very mild case of laminitis and when we did x-rays her soles were 8mm. We did pads then for I think 3 shoeing’s and then maybe went to a bar shoe? I don’t really remember, but I would say she has been in regular shoes for about 3 years now. I am always careful about footing and where I ride her. But I think her being out 24/7 for the past 2.5 months and stomping at flies may have caused this issue. Maybe I will mention the rim pad to my farrier.

[Florida_Gator]

Try EquiPak Soft pours. Regular EquiPak and the dental impression type materials were too much for my TB and he was very uncomfortable. He gets EquiPak soft and a plastic
pad up front and some other type of pour with a plastic pad in back. If the hoof wall quality is poor, steel shoes offer a bit more support and don’t always negatively affect how the horse moves. I have mine in steel all the way around and he wins the hack.

[candico]

My thoroughbred couldn’t tolerate regular equithane so we use the “soft” version of that pour-in and he is much happier. There is another brand called Luwex that you can modify how firm or soft you want it by the drops of water you add, but it takes a bit more practice on the farrier’s part and a bit more pricey.

[JB]

Not all pour-in materials are created the same. Some are firmer, some are softer. Or a farrier may pour too much of a material in and make it like an over-stuffed shoe.

Do you need protection, or also cushioning?

Even if you decide to use pads, there should ideally be something poured in there with something like copper sulfate to help deter thrush.

[luvmyhackney]

What’s worked the best in my experience, is packing the foot with a thin layer of magic cushion, EquiPak Soft with a leather pad or a rim pad. I’m not a fan of the pour ins.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

@JB

Not all pour-in materials are created the same. Some are firmer, some are softer. Or a farrier may pour too much of a material in and make it like an over-stuffed shoe.

Do you need protection, or also cushioning?

Even if you decide to use pads, there should ideally be something poured in there with something like copper sulfate to help deter thrush.

I think I just need protection for her thin soles not cushioning. My farrier did mention that he would put something in the leather pads to prevent thrush. I went with the pour in pads because he said I wouldn’t have to be concerned at all about anything getting in there with the pour in pads.

[JB]

Find out what material he used, and ask if there’s a softer pour-in, as that might be all you need.

[joiedevie99]

It’s trial and error in a lot of cases. Many horses don’t tolerate the sole pressure caused by pour-in pads. When they work, they’re great. When they don’t work, I pull them off after 2 weeks and try something else.

[tabula_rashah]

I’d go with a soft pour in under a thinline pad (vrs leather).

[IPEsq]

One thing about the firmer pad and pour-in like the regular EquiPak is that it allows the balanced foot to rebuild sole that has thinned due to the effects of concussion (including fly stomping). My horse went from good soles to thin soles and the starts of pedal osteitis, and a few rounds of EquiPak, and rads showed a LOT of sole. It’s getting to be hard ground, fly stomping season again, so I’m going to put EquiPak back on his next shoeing. It works because it provides firm support and dissipates concussion. Some very sensitive horses don’t tolerate that, although my vets and farriers have had more issues with packing materials (Magic Cushion, dental impression material, etc.) hardening under other types of pads.

It sounds like you have two issues. One being that she needs protection from ouchy things. The other is that she needs to grow sole.

Having gone through the bad (and expensive) experience of PO, I would go with some bad movement and stay with the pour in for long enough that she grows more sole. Provided it’s not lameness showing the pads are making her sore, just more knee action. In the long run, that will be better for her. If there’s soreness, then the soft EquiPak under a plastic pad may work. It won’t harden like those other materials, but it won’t provide as much relief from the concussion that may have contributed to her thin soles getting thinner in the first place.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

@IPEsq

One thing about the firmer pad and pour-in like the regular EquiPak is that it allows the balanced foot to rebuild sole that has thinned due to the effects of concussion (including fly stomping). My horse went from good soles to thin soles and the starts of pedal osteitis, and a few rounds of EquiPak, and rads showed a LOT of sole. It’s getting to be hard ground, fly stomping season again, so I’m going to put EquiPak back on his next shoeing. It works because it provides firm support and dissipates concussion. Some very sensitive horses don’t tolerate that, although my vets and farriers have had more issues with packing materials (Magic Cushion, dental impression material, etc.) hardening under other types of pads.

It sounds like you have two issues. One being that she needs protection from ouchy things. The other is that she needs to grow sole.

Having gone through the bad (and expensive) experience of PO, I would go with some bad movement and stay with the pour in for long enough that she grows more sole. Provided it’s not lameness showing the pads are making her sore, just more knee action. In the long run, that will be better for her. If there’s soreness, then the soft EquiPak under a plastic pad may work. It won’t harden like those other materials, but it won’t provide as much relief from the concussion that may have contributed to her thin soles getting thinner in the first place.

ISPsq WOW!! what a great informative post! Thank You!! I will keep the Pour in pads in as long as she needs them and deal with the bad movement. Will will just have to Rock it over fences I guess lol

[GoodTimes]

It could be worth getting a second farrier to look at her as well.

When my hunter turned 4 we put shoes on all around, it was a really dry year and he got a little ouchy. Rads showed a thin sole so we went with equipac and plastic pads. He was instantly sound. We moved several times after that and he was shod by 3 new different farriers over the next 4 years, Every farrier commented that he had thin soles and recommended I keep going with the pour ins and pads.

In January I moved again. New farrier changed up the trim a little, said I didn’t need pour ins or pads anymore. He was instantly moving better. He hasn’t taken a lame step since. I can see that there isn’t any bruising (RF is white). He won the hack this past weekend and was reserve champion in the AA’s.

In retrospect the original farrier whom I trusted, and still does my moms horses, let his feet get flat, took of too much sole, and let the heels get a little too low, and none of the following farriers were skilled enough to fix the problem.

[merrygoround]

I wouldn’t blame the type of pads. I would question the farriers ability to balance the foot.

[JB]

@Crazy4aOTTB

I will keep the Pour in pads in as long as she needs them and deal with the bad movement.

That’s actually not a very good idea.

Things that alter the gait end up negatively affecting the entire body, and in this case, none of it good. Things that shorten and chop up the gait either mean the feet are sore (which can end up resulting in laminitis), or the mechanics of the gait has changed and this changes how the shoulders and hind end have to work to get the feet going in the right direction, leading to sore shoulders, hocks, stifles, and more.