EFC heel raiser pads

[TallowKnight]

My 7/8 year old TB cross has been giving me grief with lameness issues, which has been under investigation since March this year. To cut a long story short, it has been concluded he is lame in all four feet; front due to low heels and back with negative rotation of the pedal/coffin bone (particularly the right hind).
My vet has now recommended I try EFC heel raiser pads (designed by Alf Hall, remedial farrier). I have made the arrangements for this to happen (while my insurance is still active I'll try anything!), however I would like to know if anyone else has used these EFC pads or worked with Alf Hall on a horse? He seemed very knowledgeable on the phone, but both my farrier and I tread carefully where new hoof treatments are concerned.

Just as a side note, my horse did very well in normal wedge pads on his hind feet over the summer and was even able to gallop for the first time so there is no doubt that a lift is needed.
I would just like to know if anyone else has experience with the EFC pads or this remedial farrier in particular?

Thanks

 

[ihatework]

Alf Hall is an excellent remedial farrier, expensive mind!! I used him many years ago, but not recently.

I have had experience with the EFC pad though. Someone I know kept an old navicular horse on the road for 3 years which she credited to these pads. Sadly the horse was lost this year, unrelated to feet. On her reccomendation I used them briefly on one of my horses who has coffin joint arthritis, but that horse retired shortly after for different reasons so I didn't get to try them out properly.

We have a local farrier who trained with Alf on using them so they didn't work out prohibitively expensive, it was about £40 a pair on top of regular shoeing cost but the pads can be re-used for 2-4 cycles. Also note that you can get these as flat pads and don't have to use them as wedges.

The concept behind them is interesting, a bit like hybrid shoeing and barefoot principals. Definitely invest in a large pair of over reach boots though, they are like flip flops on as they aren't fixed for the back half of the foot

 

[TallowKnight]

I think Alf told me about the horse that used the EFCs long term. It's good to hear that they do work.
Thanks for the info on the cost, that's one thing I'm concerned about, but my farrier has said he's happy to take the training, and if that makes it checked in the long run, even better!

The pads being pulled off is my biggest concern. My horse already wears overreach boots on his front feet when out cos without them, if it's not him pulling his shoes off, his field buddy will. But if the boots work, I'll just have to put them on all of his feet to make sure!

 

[ester]

I think they are a really interesting concept to get the back of the foot engaged for those that struggle without shoes. What is your plan for the front end?

 

[TallowKnight]

The plan is to have flat EFCs on his front feet for heel growth and raised ones on the back for heel growth and to support his pedal bones.
I've also been recommended to give him Bute before he has the EFCs put on just in case he is sensitive.

 

[ester]

Only because if not I was going to suggest them for the fronts too .

fwiw my chap had negative rotation, though equally on his sound and lame side so I suspect more soft tissue involvement. Since barefooting and getting his heels sorted it has seemingly totally resolved (I've not re xrayed but he lost the bull nosing).

 

[TallowKnight]

My farrier suggested going barefoot for a while so the hoof could grow out a bit and heal without nails to damage the ends. It might be something to consider if the EFCs help his heels grow.

 

[ester]

I'm very pro BF, obviously in part due to my result but if a horse is going to unmanageably sore then I think these are an interesting compromise. Maybe something to consider while the ground is soft over the winter?

 

[peanut]

We tried the EFC pads on my horse a few years ago. The farrier had had great success with other horses but sadly they didn't work for mine as she found them too uncomfortable and was immediately lame in them.

I don't regret giving them a try as I trust my farrier and they had worked for other horses.

 

[TallowKnight]

It's actually good to hear that these pads haven't worked for everyone, otherwise it would seem too good to be true.
What did you use instead peanut?