I've seen tremendous success with the EasyCare Comfort Pad line and/or using either Goober Glue or Vettec Equi Pak CS as a packing/hoof filler inside EasyCare hoof boots. All three products cushion the sole and eliminate peripheral loading that can happen to barefoot horses when wearing hoof boots. Although the majority of horses are fitted with hoof boots on a temporary basis peripheral loading does happen if comfort pads or some type of packing is not used.
The recent success of the Easyboot Glue-On line used with Goober Glue as a packing has caused some negative feedback and scuttlebutt in some boot users not using EasyCare products. I don't agree with the negative feedback and believe people who are applying boots long term without packing are doing their horses a huge disservice. They will be using a packing in due time.
Over the last couple days I've taken a close look at what my horses naturally have packed in their feet and I'm amazed at how closely the natural packing mimics the Goober Glue and Vettec Equi Pak products we apply in the Easyboot products. It's hard to argue that these packing materials are not meant to support the hoof, sole and bottom of the hoof as nature obviously has intended.
The big advantage and difference between the natural hoof packing that most horses feet are packed in daily and the Goober Glue/Equi Pak products that we recommend to reduce peripheral loading is that the Goober Glue and Equi Pak products are much more forgiving and provide a great deal of cushion. In addition as the materials set, extra material quickly exits the back of the shell eliminating any potential sole pressure.
Take a look at the photos below. In my opinion it is hard to argue that the hoof is designed to carry a packing. The packing is intended to eliminate peripheral loading.
Cyclone's front foot packed by nature.
Nature's packing removed. The natural packing takes an exact impression of the hoof just like Goober Glue and Equi Pak.
Flash's hoof packed by nature.
Goober Glue in a Easyboot Glue-On after removal. It takes an exact mold of the horses bare hoof just like nature's packing.
Applying Goober Glue before installing an Easyboot Glue-On. Looks just like a hoof with the natural packing.
Horses that are in sandy areas or dry areas don't get a packing that sticks in the hoof like the photos above, but the hoof is packed with sand or loose material everytime the hoof touches the ground. These packing materials are what the hoof needs and the way nature has intended.
Suspending the hoof and sole in an iron shoe eliminates the hoof working as intended (peripheral loading). Suspending the hoof in a hoof boot for long periods without packing has the same effect. The great thing about hoof boots is they are usually used for hours at a time and the horse is barefoot (without peripheral loading) the remaining hours of a day. Packing becomes very important when glue-on boots are used for several days at a time.
Great post! I love the pics of the natural packing and I almost always use pads in my shoes. We still need to get a pad for the gloves!! I have been trying different materials and found several that "work" in that the boot will fit, but they don't hold up past 25 or so miles :(
Posted by: Natalie | October 14, 2009 at 09:08 AM
My hoof care professional speaks very highly of the EquiFlex Pak for off loading. We'll begin to use it in glueon's this week.
Is there a site online for the Goober Glue to be purchased ?
Posted by: Cindy Nelson | October 14, 2009 at 09:59 AM