What to use as hoof boot pads?

[matryoshka]

Lauren, I’d be asking myself why my horse was uncomfortable on that kind of surface. That footing shouldn’t be a problem so you might want to look at it as a symptom of a problem and start searching for what it could mean. IOW, what are sore feet a symptom of (as long as the nothing has changed about the feet themselves–when a horse who is sound barefoot goes sore on easy footing, I’d want to know what else is going on). I’m not a vet, but it would be prudent to look into it. If you can eliminate the trim and hoof quality as the culprit, look for metabolic answers.

To give you an example, my barefoot horse was fine booted on all surfaces and did great barefoot on sand, stone dust, and softer footing. Then he got sore even in his boots. Turns out he suffered a bout of laminits during a bad leg abscess. He needed appropriate after care.

[Lauren]

@matryoshka;3272252

Lauren, I’d be asking myself why my horse was uncomfortable on that kind of surface. That footing shouldn’t be a problem so you might want to look at it as a symptom of a problem and start searching for what it could mean. IOW, what are sore feet a symptom of (as long as the nothing has changed about the feet themselves–when a horse who is sound barefoot goes sore on easy footing, I’d want to know what else is going on). I’m not a vet, but it would be prudent to look into it. If you can eliminate the trim and hoof quality as the culprit, look for metabolic answers.

I’m working on that :yes: He was never a “gravel cruncher” barefoot… he seemed OK lately (was really sore whe shoes were first pulled, now looks better, is fine on pasture, around barn etc), but I never did THAT much ring work (unrelated riding/training/personal issues… and I boot on trails). He was NQR in the ring yesterday, but pretty sore after. I’m looking to switch to something low NSC and cut back on grain - he’s an easy keeper. Not sure about the logistics of limiting grass… he goes out where he goes out, there’s grass everywhere, and if I want him out as much as possible I have to take what I can get to some extent (I DON’T want him in a stall more often). Working on building more concavity in his feet too. All ideas appreciated… you can always PM me :yes:

But, in the mean time of all this… the show must go on :yes: I’ve fallen on a rough patch with my riding… finally hoping to/getting around to resolve some of my riding-related issues, so I need to find a way to keep him comfortable while I figure out the rest (if I can!) And if I can’t figure out the bigger picture (or can’t change it) then I need to do something longer term (tried shoes before, didn’t work out to my liking, long story).

[system]

For rubbing issues you can try using a pair of womans knee high nylons…just cut out the foot and pull them on over the hoof and up over the pastern.

[cloudyandcallie]

gel pads

cavallos now come with a gel pad in them, got mine 1 1/2 years ago with the pads. do you need thicker ones?
go to a hospital supply store, or order off of the web.
I got lots of hospital pads for a dog who had had foot/leg surgery at a hospital supply store years ago. and they directed me to an orthotics business who did $$$ worth of braces for us free.
so call an orthotics center near you, and ask them where they get their gel pads. they might give you some free.

[cloudyandcallie]

stump socks

and for rubbing issues your orthodics center will have stump socks. we got blisters from braces after surgery ad stump socks helped a lot.

[cloudyandcallie]

stump socks

get the largest stump socks and put them over the hoof. they should work. and if the bottom wears out, it’s ok as you need it around the coronary band right?
lots of human stuff at orthotics place works for dogs and cats. make sure they know it is for your horse…we got everything free for my dog (had to pay for pads at hospital supply store) at orthotics place including the fitted clamshell device to support his leg and foot. and he got to go in with all the humans to be treated and fitted.
and we paid them back by getting them a big write up in the paper.

[gallop-dq]

Thanks for the replys

Thank you to everyone for the great ideas!

Lauren, I measured and you are right, I did get the 12 mm pads not the 6 mm which were what I needed. However, one ride mostly destroyed the 12 mm easy care pads and I can’t pay $12 for a set of pads that lasts one ride.

Easycare has just come out with ‘dome pads’ and the early reviews are that they are more durable than the comfort pads so I ordered a pair. I also picked up a foam door mat and a super thin rubber mat to go over it for protection from Lowes. I’m hoping maybe the protective rubber mat over the foam padding will make it last a little longer. Still planning to try some leather pads too.

I also just ordered some Old Mac G2s as my irritation with the Cavallos isn’t getting any better. If nothing else, I will have boots to rotate when one pair is wet. I do think the Cavallos are good boots, but they are not as durable or sturdy as I’d hoped. And I’ve realized that my Epics are a size too big.

cloudyandcallie, I only got the cavallos a few months ago and they did not come with the gel pads. I see that they can be purchased for $14, but I’m reluctant to spend that much with as little faith as I have in pad durability. Thanks for the other ideas for padding and rubbing, I’m glad to have another option to look into.

My mare toes in pretty significantly and so probably torques on the boots some as she moves so that probably affects the durability of both boots and pads. If I ever manage to find the solution, y’all will be the first to know. Nobody hold their breath…

[leslie645]

I have a question
Can you use a thick cardboard as a hoof boot pad? For a short 1 or 2 hour ride, in dry footing, of course?
Thanks
L

[Nezzy]

i am using the 12 mm Easycare EVA pads. i love them. my horse is having lots of issues right now, but he walks, trots, and canters sound when he has his boots with pads on. After a few long rides in them, they are squishing down a lot, but it’s So worth it to me and i am willing to replace them every 6 weeks or so.

Cardboard can not support anything. After seeing how tough the insoles are and yet still squishing a bit, i would not think you can use anything at home to give enough cushion.

[matryoshka]

I cut the leather pads farriers use to fit. You can get them in different thicknesses. This seems to work fine for my flat-footed horses when they need pads. I have a couple of sets so I can rotate through.

[superhoof]

Try the yellow 8lb Happy Hoof Pads. They are firm enough to last a while but still offer a lot of support. They come in 1/4" thickness also. http://happyhoofpads.com/detail.asp?id=5

[shfarmgirl]

I cut the kids colored floor matting from Home depot type stores that interlocks together into hoof pads. They are cheap and work great to pad for one to 3 or 4 rides depending on the horse.
For longer lasting thin pad an old rubber feed tub or the bottom of an old rubber bucket can be cut with a razor blade to fit inside a hoof boot and will provide long lasting padding. I’m trying to make a wedge pad with one now- need a 2-3 degree pad to fit inside the boot to support the back half of the foot. A degree is just over a milometer (thickness of a dime) so I’m thinking of gluing a partial piece onto the “heel” of another piece that will fit within the boot… though that will be a bit thicker

[equinelaundry]

I second the Happy Hoof pads!

[SuzieQNutter]

The cavello gel pads come in one size and have lines on them for you to cut to your size boot. They lasted me over a year. I have just replaced them.

The cavello socks to prevent rubbing are still going. I haven’t replaced them yet.

[chicamux]

I have used 6mm EasyCare pads, Red, that is their firmest pad, Thinline hoof pads and the 1/4" yellow Happy Hoof pads. The longest lasting have been the Easycare pads in RED. However, I would believe that a good heavy leather pad would last longer but probably would not have as good of shock absorption.

Another suggestion is a pad meant to be used with shoes, the Shock Tamer pads. I had kept s slightly used pair of Shock Tamers and THEY ARE TOUGH! They do not form to the bottom of the sole/frog but they are thin and they last and last.