The vet recommended a 2 degree frog pad for my Paint gelding when I bought him. X-rays indicated that the pastern angles were not correct. The farrier determined that New Balance Light shoes worked best and he was in that combination throughout his life. The last few years we did change to Avanti shoes because they eliminated his problem with random stumbles.
Biotin made a significant improvment in the quality of his hoof walls and soles. Research has shown that it is the most effect supplement for hooves. If you are not feeding biotin I would ask your vet about it. Pads may protect the walls and soles, but will not change the overalll quality. It takes the hoof a better part of a year to grow out.
