Posted by George Spear on September 04, 2002 at 20:26:41:
In Reply to: Re: Thin soles Thin walls bruising posted by Patty Stiller on September 03, 2002 at 20:53:41:
: : Hi, I need help badly. I have a wonderful Appaloosa gelding that I have had for a 1 1/2. He was not shod when I bought him which I feel needs to be understood he was residing in Florida, nice sandy soil. I now have him in Ga. where I have clay hard ground and pine tree roots. His feet start breaking off and a crack went almost to his coranary band. My farrier put shoes on him but he started to go lame, then he put pads on him and he got worse. He told me that his soles were thin. His hoof walls are now so short you can't put a shoe on and after 3 farriers no one wants to put a glued on shoe because they tell me it won't hold. He is now without shoes because he doesn't want anyone to touch his feet. He was always good about the farrier until now. He is now very lame and my vet says that he has thin soles too. I have been told about a product called Level It and some other newer product that can help build up his walls until he can get enough hoof to keep him off the soles of his feet. These products are to be used without shoes I am not against shoes but no one can put them on without quickening him to some degree. I have him on a suppliment but he needs time for it to take effect and get rid of the nail holes. I am at my wits end. He is too good a horse to give up on. But nobody down here seems to be able to help me. Thank you for your time.
: Unless he resides in a 'swamp' there is no reason that shoes cannot be glued on. If the hooves are dry and clean the Equithane brand "fast set" or "Adhere" products usually stick well. In fact short torn up hooves are the best candidate for glueing.
: There are really good urathane shoes and glues that could be the 'next best thing to barefoot'. With the shoes and glue made out of the same basic material they really stick well.
: If the farrier cleans and prepares the surface of the hoof with sandpaper or light rasping, and wears rubber gloves during the process keep any skin oils off the cleaned hoof, it is then a brief process to glue the urathane shoes on. The horse may need a light sedation to help him stand compleely still for the few minutes it takes to let the glue set, but one vet visit for the sedation seems well worth it to get something painlessly applied to the feet to protect them and get him over this.
: I am sure The Equithane company (the makers of the hoofwall repair and glue materials) would supply the farrier or vet with detailed instructions on how to use the products if someone contcts them.
: You can probably get to their website through the 'marketplace' section here.
: Patty
Cal and Frank at vetec (themakers of equithane) can help your farrier with glue on instructions. They have a board here in the products and services section. Detailed instructions are on the website www.vettec.com and your farriers supply store should be able to get him the video on how to glue on shoes at no charge. If not cal and frank can supply it.
Foot prep is everything with glue on shoes. So make sure your farrier follows all the steps. Cal and frank welcome phone calls and have talked me thru applying many of their products. Course thats their job but they do it well and with enthusiasm.
George
George's horseshoeing
Oxford, Maine