Have been using forshners hoof packing under pads, was wondering if anyone uses this in the winter or if it is neccesary. If so, how do you keep it from getting rock hard in the back of the truck? Any suggestions?

Good Question!

All of my 'Temperature Sensitive' materials get brought inside the house at night, when I can't park my truck in the shop. I don't really worry about my Vettec products in the winter, as I thaw them out with my heat gun, or on the dash on the way to the client. I don't let them experience a hard freeze though, they rarely bounce back from that. I do protect them from excessive heat, because they have been known to explode somewhat easily, and one tube exploding or leaking usually kills all the others that are partially used and not in the bag. They make a huge mess!!

Hoof packing (Forschners, Magic Cushion, etc) I try to keep warm prior, but if it does get cold, I thaw it out prior with a heat gun also. I like to prepackage individual portions, and keep a few in my truck, rather than the whole bucket. A quick trip through the microwave in a good ziplock bag, and it is good and pliable.

Many guys use a 12 volt warmer that also doubles as a cooler, depending on the polarity that the plug is inserted, I have one that I keep cold drinks in in the summer. I don't have a lot of horses that take much packing or Vettec products. I just plan ahead and prep what I need ASAP before I work on the horses that need these products.

Hope this helps.

Trevor

Thanks Trevor, I like the idea of having it in bags like that, think I will start doing that. Went to a client the other day, and it wasn't frozen but man was it hard to get out. was using my hoof pick and digging it out a little at a time. Thanks for the reply.

Take about as much Forschners as you would normally use under a typical pad and roll it into a little ball. You can then place the little ***** of Forschners back in the tub. I normally keep four or five of these in the tub of forschners. When you need a little hoof packing you can just pull out one instead of trying to dig it out when it is cold a rock hard.

Trevor I have been doing just that for quite a tieme.
Sandwich bags (plastic) prepared and carried in the truck are so much quicker and handier on cold days.

Double C you will find this to be well worth the effort and it will save you time and frustration during our cold 40 below day up here.

My rule of thumb is if the nails stick to my tounge then it is to cold to be shoeing (unless you have a nice heated barn to work in )

Why might you ask would this be a rule of thumb for me ??

Well ! once that nail is stuck to my tongue or lips it takes me a lot of patience and warmth to get them off and I am not going to go through that again on the same day.

OUCH !! Torn skin HURTS !!!

my 2 cents worth

Why not use the sno rim as your primary pad for winter shoeing. I only have a handful of horses in barshoes that need a full pad that needs to be packed. The rest even some bar shoes are in rim pads requiring no packing. If I do need packing I use silpak on most and if you leave it freeze in your truck it only takes 30 seconds with a heat gun to get it flowing. That can be avoided if you just throw it on the dash when you leave home. The sno rims seem to out perform the bubble pads hands down they are faster also. I spent alot of years chiseling forschners out of a bucket anf rolling it around in my hands to soften it up, never again.

Yeah have been using mostly the rim pads, but had some of the full pads in stock, and needed to use them up. Also have a couple of clients that their paddocks are pretty muddy, and when frozen would think it would be rough on the horses feet. Had a really wet summer, and some of the feet I am working on are real soft.

DoubleCFarrierService wrote:

I also use the sandwich baggie idea and if I know I am going to be needing it I will keep it up front with me and the heater. Then, when I am working on the horse, I keep a baggie (or 2 depending on what I think I need) in an inside pocket of my jacket. My body heat keeps it pliable enough to use.
I also prefer the full bubble pads mainly due to hard ground and ice. When I see what the pad goes through by the next shoeing, I'm glad that hoof is not getting smashed around like that!

I use okum under pads for winter. It works great and stays flexible.

I dont use just tar products (unless its magic cushion), I use tar AND oakum. I find that If I use just forschners, its been replaced by sand and mud when I show up in 6 weeks.

Most all of my horses get snow rims unless there is an issue.

-josh

Double C,
Have to admit that I prefer snow rims, however the system I've used for years is buy a LARGE bucket of forschners(for economy) and carry a smaller bucket for conservation of space in my truck. Load the small bucket with slices from the big bucket, made with an old hoof knife, that way small pieces aren't soo hard to manipulate even if cold. This should do you for several days of winter shoeing before refilling. Man I hate the mechanic like dirty hands I get from using the packing.
John

Thanks for the replies all, I think I am going to pre-make my packing for winter. Sounds like the best way to do it. I am having to learn about this winter stuff as I am new to the cold climate, and it is little things that I never thought of before. Guess I am going to have to look at all the labels on anything I normally carry and see what needs to come in for the winter.

I also have snow rims on the majority of my drafts but I have one barn of big heavy Percherons and the owner wants full winter pads on the front.
Foruchners and oakum across the back to keep material in and material out.

The rim pads allow you to see the bottom of the hoof and obviously won't collect any sand or snow or sticks etc... under it .

my 2 cents worth

Hey ! Jim (Horseshoe1) (off subject here for a moment, please forgive me)

When can we get you to come and put on a talk or demonstration for the Vermont Farriers Association ???

my 2 cents worth

Bruce, I would like, for once ,just to make it to one of your events. I really need to join so I find out about your get togethers before I read about them on here. Not sure I am qualified to to to do any demos for you, but thanks for thinking I could. I would love to go out for a day this winter when it fits our schedules. I did Skip and Merle's big team of Oberlanders the other day and I can see why your passionate about the heavy's. I do mostly 3day horses now, but I seldom get the same feeling of satisfaction as I do when one of the big guy's clops away down the aisle.