What to use as hoof boot pads?

[gallop-dq]

Hi all,

I’ve been having a bad time trying to use pads in my Cavallo hoof boots. I’ve tried using carpet which works ok, but doesn’t actually give much padding. The carpet also has to be replaced after each use. I also have hoof boot pads, the easycare/old mac kind, that I’ve cut to fit the boots and they are nice but lift the hoof up in the boot so much that the hoof is pressing into the leather of the Cavallos and causing them to warp and twist on the foot. So they are too thick at about a 1/2 inch (5-6 mm) thick.

Seems like I need something firm and supportive but with a little give that is about a 1/4 inch thick. Like the carpet but more cushy.

The whole hoof boot thing has me pretty aggravated honestly, but as annoyed as I get with the Cavallos, I’m not sure I’d have any better time with another brand. I did try Epics once and liked them, aside from them being almost impossible to get on and off. Theres no way that I could put any kind of pad in an Epic as well as the hoof. I really need pads right now due to some sore feet that I’m trying to fix up with trim and diet, but have a ways to go.

I’d love some suggestions on what other people use for padding in hoof boots.

[Diamond_Jake]

Thinline pads.

'nuff said.

www.ThinLinePads.com

[Equine_Obsession]

I’m ordering some of the Thinline hoofpads which run at $7 per pair. I notice a huge difference with my Thinline halfpad and their hoof version is so inexpensive I thought, ‘why not?’

I have Cavallo boots, too. Do you need to use a gaiter with yours? I have only gone for a couple rides in mine and noticed a little rubbing. My farrier is coming out though so hopefully any balance issues will be addressed.

[gallop-dq]

Thank you

Oh, yeah, thinline! Why didn’t that occur to me? Thank you for the suggestion, I will order a pair… but brace yourself for a stupid question… are the thinline pads actually thin? The easy care pads are a good 1/2 inch thick and I think I need something half that wide. Either way, at $7 the thinlines are worth a try!

Equine Obsession, oh, boy, the rubbing! I really do get aggravated with the hoof boots. The heel rubbing is my other problem. What I do is wrap the hoof, heels, and pastern with vetrap, which helps a lot, until it slips. Grrr. I think I’m going to try wrapping in vetrap then adding a little duct tape over that to see if that will keep it in place. But I’d love suggestions about how to deal with that problem too.

[matryoshka]

I like using plain old leather pads that come from a farrier supply store. They mold themselves to my horse’s foot and last. They provide just enough extra padding that my flat-footed OTTB can canter across rocks comfortably. I’ve tried other pads as well, but I don’t like the extra weight. Boot are heavy enough all by themselves.

[Auventera_Two]

@Diamond Jake;3259167

Thinline pads.

'nuff said.

www.ThinLinePads.com

Ditto that! They are the BEST hands down - far and away.

[rmh]

I tried thiniline pads but I only get one use out of them. However my pads were made out of a tinline pad I had quit using. Are the hoof pads the same thickness as the saddle pad? What about sloe guard or sil pak(?) msterials?

[rmh]

Edit was locked up I meant sole guard material. LOL

[Auventera_Two]

@rmh;3260589

I tried thiniline pads but I only get one use out of them. However my pads were made out of a tinline pad I had quit using. Are the hoof pads the same thickness as the saddle pad? What about sloe guard or sil pak(?) msterials?

I bet they’re different because I’ve got at least 10 rides on my Thinline hoof pads and they don’t show any sign of dying anytime soon!

[marta]

before they made comfort pads

i used wool felt cut to size.
it worked well and you could wash it and then it would fluff up again when dry.
i bought a big chunk of wool felt and just kept on cutting pieces as needed.

[Diamond_Jake]

[QUOTE=marta;3261193]
i used wool felt cut to size.
it worked well and you could wash it and then it would fluff up again when dry.
i bought a big chunk of wool felt and just kept on cutting pieces as needed.[/QUOTE]
You know, that is a good idea.

We tried two sets of Thinline pads on our horses (in Old Macs). One set lasted, and the other little floopy Arab for some reason cuts through anything at the front toe. Cannot figure it out. They said I could send them back in… I love the stuff so much… just stopped using it on that guy.

I am going to be trying out Sole Guard here in the next week or two. I would be happy to post results…

[sublimequine]

Does anyone know what’s the best THINNEST hoof pad for boots? I’d like to try something, but my mare was just on the borderline between boot sizes, so her boot is a very snug fit, so I don’t think the thinline or easycare pads will fit, or more exactly, her hoof won’t fit in the boot once the pad’s in there! :lol:

[Auventera_Two]

marta - have you tried Equicast yet? I’m going back and forth whether to boot or Equicast for this weekend’s ride.

[ponyjumper4]

Well I should give you guys a commission as I was wondering why I’ve had a run on hoof pad orders all of a sudden. Now I know why!

They are 1/4" thick, same material as the ThinLine (1/4") saddle pads. Some horses do go through them a little faster than others. I shod my mare with a little ringbone in them for a company experiment and she did well in them. I’m going to be purchasing hoof boots (think I’m going plain old easy boot route for her) soon so I can pad her when she’s ridden. One of my trimmers has used them in her boots and even doubles up on some horses.

[gallop-dq]

Thanks for the great ideas. I’ve ordered the thinline pads, but if those don’t work out, I like the idea of the wool felt and the leather pads.

matryoshka, how do you know how to figure out which leather pads to order? I looked online and they come with a number, which I assume indicates size: #3 - #7. They also come in light/thin, regular, or heavy. My mares foot length is about 5 1/8 and fits a size 3 cavallo or size 2 easyboot epic.

[matryoshka]

I bought them at the store and was able to eyeball them. I’d say they were about medium size and I cut them to fit. I also got medium weight–not thin, not thick. The horse’s feet are 5.5" by 5.5". It might not be a bad idea to get a thin leather pad and put them between whatever else you want to pad with to keep the squishier pad material from fraying.

Also, somehow tiny rocks and debris that make their way into boots seem to get under the pad rather than between the pad and the hoof. That is an advantage to using a leather pad. Since I don’t use squishy pads, I don’t know whether they do the same thing with rocks.

[gallop-dq]

Well I got the thinline pads very quickly in the mail and tried them today. They were great, my mare was clearly happy with them… but after the ride, I took them out and they were shredded and cut through in the toe area. I was really hoping for more than one use out of a pair.
I think I will order the thinnest leather pads to put over the thinline as matryoshka suggested and see if that protects the thinlines. I might also get some thicker leather pads to use by themselves and see if she likes that. This whole thing is so frustrating!

[matryoshka]

I’m with you on the frustration thing. All I can say is that it is well worth it when you figure out what works.

[marta]

Auventera Two

have not tried equicast yet.
kim wanted to try it on us but my mare just got diagnosed with tears in her suspensory branch so we’re done w/ any type of riding for now.

[Lauren]

Have you tried the 6mm EasyCare Comfort Pads? They’re not that thick… probably 1/4". Sounds like you got the 12mm ones?

I think this might be my week to try out the SoleGuard too… My horse was doing well without boots, we went to a different barn for a lesson, he was uncomfortable on their (very nice sand/rubber) footing, and came home sore (after working harder than usual, but still). Back to front boots for us for now… not legal for dressage or hunters, so this could be a problem… will be playing with SoleGuard and Equicast… :rolleyes: