clear equipac cause a bruise?

[shoulderin]

Equipac is a filling / packing material that
feels slightly giving - seems it could not bruise
a sole - but if it is not level - that is uneven on
the bottom of the foot and too much of it
under the toe and front part of the foot - can
it make the horse sore -- can it bruise the sole.
If it is just pared away with a knife so that
the level is taken down at the high point (where
it is unlevel and causing pressure ) is thata sufficient
fix to apply until time to reset? or should it be totally
taken off and whole shoe job redone?
(seems it is just pared down with a knife it would
be ok ) - can it bruise the sole - seems like it could
make the horse uncomfortable but not actually bruise
it - or can it?

[Phil Armitage]

This could be a signe of thin sole and/or pedal ostitis. Any hoof packing can cause pressure in the toe even Equipak.

[Dave Whitaker]

If the Equipac was appied unevenly, leaving a defined high spot, this could cause uncomfortable pressure points. If you are able to level it externally, this might remedy your situation. Another method would be to s****e the exsisting Equipac so you have exposed a nice, clean new surface and apply a foam board to the bottom of the shoe and refill the foot with new Equipac to the ground level of the shoe.

A reset would for sure be the best solution. Also, what Phil mentioned is important. You didn't state why the horse was being padded, and in some instances, any padding can be too much pressure in certain spots.

Hope this helps, Good luck, Dave

[shoulderin]

equipac is applied to support the back of the foot - due
to wedges used to correct low angles - soles are somewhat
thin from going barefoot and being riden in abrasive
environment - so the high spots in the equipac are
probally causing some discomfort - very slight - I was
worried about from the get go - but the horse seemed
fine the first week - during the second week he seems
to be too careful (like he was when barefoot) on uneven
- lumpy ground - fine on flat ground. I am going to
pare it down with a knife. I hope the farrier will get
it level next time - plus he needs hardly none under
the front part of the hoof and more - to the ground under
the rear for support - but I don't know if is possible to
fill the foot like that - less at toe more at heel and a
flat surface -

[shoulderin]

I guess my orininal was really -
can the equipac cause an actual bruise that will persist
for a few days / week after the pressure is removed --or
is it too soft to do that kind of damage - and will just
cause an pressure point that when removed will be
fine?? Do you know if the equipac though fairly soft
- can bruise the foot?

(I know the black stuff can for sure - but I thought the
clear stuff could not do that)

[Ronald Aalders]

You did not do a to good a job explaining details of this case I guess. But allow me to shoot in the dark here. Maybe you start asking yourself if the bruising is not caused by the coffin bone applaying too much pressure on the sole. In such a situation you'll find bruisings even without any packing.

The reasons for such bruising vary as hoof shapes do, but if the reason for bruising is not removed (balance restored) no hoof pack is going to prevent further bruising.



Ronald Aalders

[shoulderin]

Ronald -
I am only asking if it is possible for equipac to
cause a buise ?? Thats it. The horse is not bruised
-was not sore on hoof testers when the equipac
was applied - but it is uneven - horse seemed
a little careful on lumpy ground a few days ago -

I am simply trying to get farrier who have used
equipac a lot to tell me if equipac is a hard enough
material to cuase a bruise if left uneven on the bottom.
Thats it, that all I want to know.

[Phil Armitage]

I have seen Equipak cause soreness when it was applied (by me) uneven. Found out this horse had thin soles, but it did not cause bruising and it was possible that the horse was sore prior to putting the Equipak in nothing is perfect. Normaly I apply it by putting a flat foam board so that it is smooth and even. I do not think it is hard enough to cause bruising so to speak, however I do think it can cause sorness in a thin soled horse. Once in awhile I get a request to put on pads becuase the feet a tender to the terrain there riding on and Equipak is a good way to add protection without removeing the shoe to apply pads. If it is squirted in and the foot is not held level, most of it will flow in the toe, and on a thin soled horse that can be a problem, it should be even or most of it should build up in the back part of the foot and have a little concavity in the toe area. When I use a foam board, I will push into the board with the back of my hand or thumb as I hold the foot up to make a depression into the toe just so there is no excess pressure in the toe. Hope this helps. If your horse seems off, I would call your Farrier and have him remove it and reapply it in the manner I suggested. Should be easy to do.

[blueridgeshoes]

I've used equipac and other equithane products a great deal. That being said, the answer to your question is i'm not sure, but am leaning towards no. I will tell you for sure that I have not had it cause bruising, and that if it was lumpy the equithane wasn't applied properly.
And just for the record, I've never had equibuild (black) cause bruising either. I would avoid using these on a horse suspected of pedal osteitis or that has paper thin soles. It's just cheaper and easier to use a regular pad in these scenarios. As vague as it is, i hope this helps some.

Jake