Support Materials and Their Uses

EponaShoe

Supporting the hoof is not a recent idea. American Indians used to, for instance, pack the sole of their sore-footed horses with manure and then wrap the hoof with leather. Although we are still using leather pads and wool to pack hooves, more sophisticated packing materials have become available to us.

These packing materials can be viewed as being in two main categories:

A. Packing which adheres to the sole and needs no pad or over-coating
B. Packing which doesn't adhere well so needs outer pad or coating

In category A we have two part, heat curing, adhesive formulations. It will flow into the hoof and take the shape of the sole. These materials are two part formulas which react together upon mixing. The material can be applied without a pad to hold it in place. A primary example is the two-part urethane packings. For these, you need a special gun to mix and apply this material. Another system uses a powder and a liquid which are mixed and then poured into the hoof. This system is methyl metacrylate and forms into an acrylic resin.

In category B we also typically have two parts that are mixed. In this category, you will find the two part silicon impression materials, which can be mixed by hand. These materials come in different hardness (soft to hard.)
The white part of the silicon packing can be mixed with desiccants (drying agents) and/or antibiotics. A pad, or a coating of a packing in category A, is needed to keep this material under the sole because it is generally not very adhesive.

Top reasons FOR packing

1) Packing provides extra cushioning and shock absorption
2) It distributes weight evenly across the sole
3) It can prevent bruises
4) It gives arch support
5) It promotes hoof growth
6) It acts as a thermal insulator
7) It prevents rocks and debris to amass under the hoof

Top reasons AGAINST packing

1) Packing can bruise the sole by adding too much pressure to it.
2) It can 'sweat' the sole (too much moisture)
3) It may promotes (or allow) bacterial growth
4) It costs money

Overall, if done properly for the situation at hand, we believe packing promotes soundness and hoof health.

When, where and how to use Packing Materials

If packing is properly applied the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. The main precaution with applying packing material is to use the right material for a given situation. Here are some general guidelines for applying packing materials.

Clean the sole thoroughly from manure and debris. A hoof pick and a brush will do the job. It is advisable to clean the sole with either alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Do not apply packing on a wet sole. Wipe the hoof or let it dry. Repeat this process each time new packing material is applied. It is important that you assess the sole for level of depth, softness, presence of bruises and moisture level. You need also to check for existing pathologies prior to applying a particular packing material. Remember that you have to adapt the available packing material for different situations; i.e. use softer packing material for wetter situations and two different layers of packing material if existing pathologies are present at P3 (such as pedal osteitis.)
It is also important to evaluate whether the pedal bone is on the flat side or is more cupped. A flatter pedal bone tends to be a bit more sensitive to pressure, so you need use extra precaution with choosing a packing material.
To be on the safe side in the case of a flat pedal bone, I use a two layer packing method. The thickness of shoe is also a factor. In general, a plastic shoe is thicker (about 9/16 of inch) than a regular metal shoe (about ¼ to 5/16 of inch), this difference in thickness is obviously going to affect the way the packing material behaves. A certain packing material can be just the right hardness when applied with a certain thickness, but its properties can change at another thickness. Some experience with each material is the best guide. So be cautious!

The best case scenario: The sole depth is good, the hoof quality is good, moisture level is average, P3 is on the 'cuppy' side and there are no existing pathologies. In this instance the packing material can be medium to hard.

The worse case scenario: The sole is extremely thin and P3 shows serious signs of pedal osteitis. In this instance you need to be extremely careful about choosing the right material. It is strongly advised to put two different packing layers. The first layer which is in direct contact with the sole should be soft and the layer which is placed on the top of the soft layer can be harder. I prefer to use a high tech foam under the pedal bone and then pack with packing material. This foam is very good for spreading load and giving support without adding pressure.

The never pack scenario: Acute laminitis and protruded sole. In these cases, after the hoof has been cleaned and disinfected, you can pack the commissures of the frog and the frog area ONLY (medium hardness is ok), this will help give arch support to the hoof. Then wrap the hoof with a cushioning bandage. After bandaging the hoof I like to place a high tech foam pad under the hoof. It helps support the sole and provides comfort to the horse.

Adding desiccants, antibiotics and biocides to packing materials

The silicon-based impression materials lend themselves to mixing additives. The impression material does not need heat to cure and is less likely to degrade the additives. Since you can hand mix this material it is also very easy to control the amount of additives you need for a specific application. The impression material comes in a white part and a colored part. You need to mix the additives in the white part first and then proceed to mix the two parts together.

Possible additives to packing are antibiotics such as metronidazole, or
desiccants (drying agents) such as copper sulfate. We cannot take responsibility for recommending dosages of these additives - please consult with a veterinarian.

Ordering our 2-Part Packing

We offer packing material for $21 per lb plus shipping. You can order it from this web-site using our secure Order Form.

EponaShoe offers an all-natural additive to be mixed with our 2-part silicon packing. We call them "Antibacterial Granules" and you can order them from our Order Form.

Safety

Care should always be taken with chemical substances. There are a lot of anecdotal stories which are generally non-scientific concerning which products are safe and which are not. Use care will all products. An important thing to know is that you can always request the "Material Safety Data Sheet" for any product by contacting the manufacturer or the distributor. This sheet provides disclosure of potential safety hazards of using the material.

Disclaimer: We believe the information in this document to be accurate for certain specific situations, but the reader should do their own research and contact the vendors of the materials described for up to date information.