Has anyone had their horse shod with 'soleguard' pads?

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LeneHorse

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My horse has been struggling a bit with her feet due to the recent hard ground. She has very thin soles. Today she was shod and the farrier used 'solegard' on the fronts - its like a mesh which goes between shoe and hoof, and they pump some sort of silicon resin under it.
I just wondered if anyone else has used this, and how sucessful it was.
She had plastic pads/silicon gel a few years ago which were fine for a while but we had to stop using them as she developed thrush. I am hoping we only have to use this 'soleguard' in the summer when there is hard ground and can go back to normal shoeing in the winter. She has beeb on formula for feet for a few years now but it has not helped her soles.
I'd be keen to hear your experiences - good or bad. (and I should maybe add that the farrier says she would not cope with going barefoot so that is not an option for us)
thanks!
 
When my Tb was diagnosed with a chipped navicular bone he went down to the vets for remedial shoeing. He had thin soles and flat feet. He got the soleguard on for 4 weeks then it started falling out so swapped to the plastic pads for 6 weeks, but his frogs started going a bit soft .... long story short in the end we got concussion pads on him. They fit inside the shoe (look like a mini plastic shoe around the shoe) covers the sole of the foot but not the frog so no thrush :D They really did work a treat with him and only cost me an extra £10 every few shoeings.

ETS ... http://www.rideaway.co.uk/hoof-cushions/default.aspx - Thats them (well looks like it) The inter part is like raised so its the thickness of the shoe and outer is flat as shoe goes on top. Hope that helps
 
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Thanks Nicole, that looks like a really good idea. I'll see how long the soleguard lasts, and if it starts to fail I'll suggest these to my farrier.
How often does yours get shod?
 
He was shod every 4-5 weeks other wise he'd lose a shoe. But depending on how much road work you do depends on how often you have to replace the pads ;) I only hacked once a week (rest done in arena) and one set of pads lasted him about 3 months so an extra £10 every 3 months compared to the soleguard, which imo worked the same (minus the thrush) works out cheaper :D
 
I haven't used it one of ours but a good friend used them on her tb mare who was CONSTANTLY lame with bruised soles. Since she starting wearing them she has never been lame again. Couldn't recommend them highly enough :)
 
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