Choosing the Correct Level of Sole Support

Most cases involving ailments of the hoof wall and/or the laminae will benefit by having the load reduced from the wall. Ailments such as hoof wall cracks, laminitis, flared walls, dished profile, dropped sole, extended whiteline and crushed heels are all symptoms of the wall or laminae being over-loaded. The application of positive sole support in these cases assures improvement of the hoof condition and probable restoration to near normal condition. Cases involving whiteline disease or traumatic loss of hoof wall may also benefit from sole support as the hoof wall heals.

The farrier has several options and levels of sole support to use. In consultation between the farrier, the owner and the veterinarian, consideration should be given to the severity of the case, the stage of progression of the case, the economic and sentimental value of the horse, the performance duties of the horse, the owner's ability and desire to manage the situation, and available ground conditions.

The choices of sole loading from low to maximum and from simple to complex are:

1. Normal pasture trim. Do not trim the sole. Turn the horse out on soft grass turf, loam, sand, sawdust or snow. Re-trim at 4 to 5 week intervals.
2. "5S Short Wall Trim" - Trim the walls shorter than the ground surface of the sole. Do not trim the sole. Turn the horse out on soft grass turf, loam, sand, sawdust or snow. Re-trim at 4 to 5 week intervals.
3. 5S Insole putty used as a packing under a thin shoe and a normal pad.
4. 5S Insole putty temporarily taped in place with a plastic pad, following a normal pasture trim.
5. 5S Sole Support System using the Supporter pad. Reset at 4 to 5 week intervals.
6. 5S Sole Support System using the Eliminator pad. Reset at 4 to 5 week intervals.

Consider using simple trimming methods: when the case is not severe, when the hoof has a healthy prolific sole callous, when the ground conditions are soft and dry, and when the horse can be laid off work. Consider using the 5S Sole Support System: when the case is more complicated, when the hoof has a thin tender sole, when the ground conditions are not favorable, and when it is desirable to continue performance.

Once it is determined that the 5S Sole Support System is the appropriate treatment for the horse, another key choice needs to be made: Should the Eliminator pad or the Supporter pad be used? While the 5S Insole is used in every application, you still need to choose between one of the two pads.

5S Sole Support System Using Insole and Eliminator

5S Sole Support System Using Insole and Supporter

Short Wall Trim

Pasture Trim on Soft Turf

5S Insole

Of course, by using the 5S system you are trying to unload the hoof wall. The question now becomes: Should the load be taken up completely by the sole or should it be shared between the hoof wall and the sole? Here are some criteria to help you choose which pad will work best for the case at hand:

• The Eliminator pad is well suited to treating chronic hoof wall cracks or chronic laminitis. It removes the load completely from the hoof wall and places it on the sole area of the hoof. The laminae and wall can rejuvenate in a "no load" environment. It is recommended the horse not be worked when wearing the Eliminator pads to minimize over stressing the sole.
• The Supporter pad places 50% of the load on the sole and is a good follow up to an initial treatment of chronic hoof wall cracks and chronic laminitis with the Eliminator pad. Once the condition has improved it may be useful to switch from the Eliminator pad to the Supporter pad before removing the 5S system entirely. In some cases, it may be necessary to continue using the Supporter pad indefinitely to maintain the improved hoof condition while the horse resumes performance.
• Use the Eliminator pad to prevent founder damage when the horse is experiencing conditions that are known to progress to laminitis. Install the Eliminator system before or when early symptoms of laminitis are noticed. Do not wait.
• If the horse is suffering from acute laminitis, do not use the Eliminator pad. The inflamed condition of the sole reduces its ability to carry much load. The Supporter pad or the Insole alone is the best choice. However, proceed with extreme caution!
• Use the Supporter pad along with a thin shoe as an alternative to the Eliminator pad to prevent founder damage.
• Use the 5S Insole alone, taped in place with a plastic pad, as a first aid to prevent founder damage. Note: Pull off existing shoes.
• Use the Supporter pad for chronic cases of laminitis and hoof wall cracks, which have thin tender soles, or those that prove unable to take the full load on the sole.
• The Supporter pad is also a good choice when treating less severe toe cracks, quarter cracks, dished profile, flares, thin walls, shelly weak walls, slow wall growth, under-run heels, club feet, flat feet, or thin sole. In most cases, the horse can continue to perform as required - probably with improved efficiency.
• Use the 5S Insole putty as a packing under a thin shoe and a normal pad for treating minor cases, as described with Supporter pads above. This may also provide sufficient sole support on poor quality hooves, to maintain the new level of hoof condition resulting from previous treatment with the Supporter pad.
• Use the 5S Insole Putty as a packing or filler under a normal pad, even when the hoof is healthy. That little bit extra sole support will help maintain hoof health during those periods when pads are used.

As with all of the farrier's work, knowledge of how the 5S Equine Sole Support System works, combined with first hand experience and careful observation, will help to determine which pad to use in a given case.

Using the 5S Equine Sole Support System

Using the 5S Sole Support System is simple and straight forward. It involves skills already familiar to the farrier. Application of the 5S System includes: preparing the hoof; mixing and applying the 5S Insole Putty; trimming the 5S Pad; fitting a regular shoe; and setting the shoe over the insole and pad. Here are detailed installation procedures for the 5S Support System.

INSTALLATION PROCEDURES:

1. Trim the hoof for normal shoeing. The target is to dress away hoof wall flares and back up the toe to where the normal profile should be, however, leave substantial wall to nail into. On a foundered hoof, avoid shortening the toe but lower the heels to align the solar surface of P3 to be parallel with the ground. Leave the maximum amount of sole and bars as is practical. The sole and bars can be allowed to grow to be level with the ground surface of the hoof wall. Trim the frog sparingly, but leave the frog tidy and the depressions around the frog open and clean.
2. Shape the shoe to the hoof to provide normal coverage. With the ELIMINATOR pad, it is suggested to use shoe stock no thicker than 1/4" to allow maximum clearance off the ground. With the SUPPORTER pad, 5/16" thick shoe stock works well. The farrier has the option of using any thickness of shoe to achieve the desired level of sole support.
3. Using the color coded spoons, measure out equal quantities of putty base and putty catalyst. Roll each into a separate ball. Use enough putty to slightly over-fill the sole cavity in relation to the ground surface of the hoof wall.
4. Knead the putty balls together until they are a homogenous color (streak-free). Mixing should be completed within 45 seconds.
5. Place the mixed putty into the hoof. Work the putty into all grooves and depressions of the hoof. (Photo 1, below.)
6. Cover the putty with a temporary plastic hoof pad and tape in place using duct tape. The covering should be completed within approximately 2 minutes from the start of mixing the putty. (Photo 2, below.)
7. Allow the horse to stand on firm level ground (concrete) until the 5S INSOLE is cured. The horse should be bearing its weight through the hoof wall. Excess putty will squeeze out the heel. Do not allow direct pressure on the insole until the putty is fully cured. It is advisable to not pick up the opposing hoof during this time because the extra weight will cause more putty to be displaced out of the sole cavity. Curing time will be approximately 7 minutes from start of mix. The 5S Insole putty should be worked at room temperature. Higher temperatures will accelerate curing time and lower temperatures will retard curing time. In hot weather conditions, keep the putty in a cooler, and work with it away from direct sunlight. In cold weather conditions, keep the putty warm, and use a hot-air blow gun to warm the putty while it is curing in the hoof.
8. Trim the 5S ELIMINATOR or SUPPORTER pad to fit with the shoe. This can be done while the 5S INSOLE is curing. Use a sharp, thin bladed knife and lubricate the cutting by dipping the knife in water. (Photos 3, 4, 5 and 6 below.)
9. When the insole is completely cured remove the plastic hoof pad cover. (Photo 7, below.)
10. Trim excess insole where necessary to allow the 5S ELIMINATOR or SUPPORTER pad and shoe to seat firmly on the hoof wall.
11. Nail the shoe and the 5S ELIMINATOR or SUPPORTER pad to the hoof with the 5S INSOLE still in place. (Photo 8, below.)
12. Reset at regular 4 to 5 week intervals to maintain the desired support. The shoes may come loose beyond 5 weeks.

1) Mold 5S Insole putty into sole cavity	2) Cover the putty with a temporary plastic hoof pad and duct tape.
3) Mark the 5S pad to fit the inner circumference of the shoe.	4) Trim away tread portion with a thin bladed knife. Lubricate with water.
5) Trim pad to fit outer circumference of shoe.	6) 5S Eliminator pad fitted to shoe.
7) Cured 5S Insole.	8) 5S Supporter pad installed.

The horse may begin regular movement immediately after the application is complete.

It is recommended to use a new insole with each resetting to avoid pressure points resulting from growth and changes in the sole surface.

Before installing the 5S INSOLE PUTTY into the hoof, it is optional to sparingly place some regular hoof packing (similar to Forshner's) into the depths of the sulci crevices, especially at the apex of the frog. This will give a radius to the INSOLE and minimize a pressure point in this area. As an alternative, it is suggested to lay some oakum into the sulci crevices to provide a wicking action to draw moisture out of these grooves.

With some horses, the INSOLE may work its way out over time. To prevent this, it is helpful to anchor it in place with a portion of plastic gutter-guard screen embedded into the putty and nailed in place between the hoof and the pad.

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Case studies using the 5S Equine Sole Support System

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