Hoof cast

AML

AML

Well-Known Member
Joined
17 June 2009
Messages
165
Visit site
Has anyone used hoof cast to help with transitioning?

Fronts have been off since beginning of March and the horse has been footy, then came good on a surface, but needed boots for hacking.
With a little rain - although grass has been restricted - he has gone very footy again. The diet is foot friendly as far as I can see.

The farrier wants to try hoof cast to help.

Any thoughts?
 
I wouldn't. I would work out why the horse was footy. Hoof cast is like a plaster, you need to know the actual cause of the problem.

farrier or barefoot trimmer?
without seeing the feet suggestions are over trimming or LGL from grass.

A horse de shod in March may still need boots for hacking. That is not surprising.
 
I looked at it briefly and decided that unless it was life or death I wouldn't. I would prefer boots that are removable and better surfaces until the horse is hardened off and changed in hoof structure.

It takes about 9 months to grow a hoof from top the bottom, the quality of the horn in wear is what is already compromised. The shape of the foot also has to change, it usually becomes more upright with more concave soles, beefier frogs and a thicker wall.

To compare, BH had his shoes off in late September. He did a little on the school, some walking out in hand but always booted if ridden hacking. This is despite being sound throughout, because I could see his feet were not strong enough.

By the end of winter, 6 months in, he could do up to 45 minutes hacking on the road, booted for longer rides.

Since the ground has baked, he has had the boots back on for most hacking, although not always, as they have the hard ground to contend with 8 hours a day. He is also, more recently, given access to hard standing that is rocky outside his stable. He chooses whether to go on it or not.

It is now 9 months and his feet have changed shape, he now is very concave behind but still moderate in front - although there is some concavity. He can travel over stones etc ridden and not seem to feel it. He has been XC schooling in this heat, no issue. Still booting for longer hacks though.

Casts worry me as the foot is more supported so doesn't toughen up naturally. I also worry about dampness and bacteria/fungus. I also trim mine a couple of times a week, just a run round of the rasp, and you can't do that with casts. If you use casts, you then have to transition out of them again.

But then, I didn't use them so maybe they are better than I think!

I don't find boos such a hardship for road work. It is just for longer hacks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AML
AML said:
Has anyone used hoof cast to help with transitioning?

Fronts have been off since beginning of March and the horse has been footy, then came good on a surface, but needed boots for hacking.
With a little rain - although grass has been restricted - he has gone very footy again. The diet is foot friendly as far as I can see.

The farrier wants to try hoof cast to help.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
How old is he? I would check for any metabolic problems like ems or cushings especially if his gone footy after a spell of rain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AML
I wouldn't hoof cast a horse whose increase in sensitivity is directly related to the grass, I would control the grass intake instead, or explore EMS and Cushings.
.
 
The horse is 11 a Tb x we suspect Connemara. A good doer. His backs came off at the beginning of December and I love how flat and uncrevased the frogs have become. The concavity is slower coming.

I'm very happy to boot to hack, as I'm aware I don't do enough to condition properly and he has just been too sore to do very much even in hand. He came good and was working fine in the school and walking out on grass - just the sharp gritty stones on the lane hurt which is to be expected. He has improved for being pulled off the grass so I will research EMS.

I guess I just have to have a little more patience (which I knew at the beginning!)

Thank you all for your thoughts and ideas to explore
 
Have a look at Pete Ramey’s website, he’s got a page on hoof casting that is quite positive/hopeful about the technique. Not sure if he’s updated his opinion since he wrote it though. Key thing with his approach is that he would change casts every 2 to 4 weeks and it was an additional tool for rehabbing an unhealthy hoof (laminitis, thin soles etc).

In the real world it isn’t as straight-forward as he makes it sound though! I’m currently trying hoof casting to try to somewhat rectify/correct the mechanical laminitis in the off-fore of my 14.3 cob. Due to the laminitis, he has a thin sole and would have to be booted pretty much 24/7. I had the first cast put on by my barefoot-friendly vet who said that the wrapping would help to negate some of the pulling forces on the laminae and give the hoof a chance to grown down tighter. This was the start of last August and my cob was instantly more comfortable. However, I still had to boot him to attempt to conserve the hoof cast as they wear away and crack easily. Only did one cycle of casting last summer as vet said to see how he goes just booted and as he seemed much improved, we continued in boots only.

Fast forward to now, I’ve had my farrier cast his foot again as the foot went splat after January. This I’m attributing partially to the wet winter as he had bloods tested for Cushing’s and insulin in May and both were normal. I’m not entirely happy or confident in the cast this time round. My farrier is normally quite conservative with how much he takes off the toe so as not to weaken it but this time took more off as the cast was supposed to support/reinforce the hoof. Unfortunately, despite booting, cob pulled off the back part of the cast within the first week of application. Farrier is not bothered by this whereas I’m convinced the cast has lost its function and is nothing more than a glorified horseshoe now.

In a nutshell, how successful they are depends on the skill of who applied them and your aftercare. They are breathable and I have done a cleantrax soak during the first one without any issue. Unfortunately, they don’t entirely negate the need for hoof boots and depending on your horse may make fitting them harder.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AML
Have you tried hoof amour I used it on mine that couldn't tolerate stony tracks his also got quite flat soles as well, I do one coat of it then a second the following day it varies how long it lasts but it definitely helps and its easy to apply.

I prefer it as he tends to trip more in boots and he has odd feet so his not suited to all of them so we are limited.
 
I was prepared to not compete for a while - dressage, doesn't need to go out until August - but I don't think I realised much how it would impact the training.

I'm totally happy to boot (he has fronts) and only needs to be sound on a surface and in the field. Maybe I'm being naive.

Anyway - no hoof cast and I shall look into hoof amour (armour?) although I do use Rock Hard.

Deep breath, patience and I will give it some more of that four letter word .... TIME!
 
This isn't going to be what you want to hear, sorry.

You have an increase in sensitivity which relates directly to a grass flush due to rain and warmth.

This is laminitis.

Your issue is not to find the right boots, it's to stop this laminitis in its tracks to prevent it getting worse in future.

Please don't think boots or foot dressings are an answer, even if they solve your problem right now. You have been given a warning. Please listen to it.
.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AML
You're right I didn't want to hear that, but I appreciate straight talking and sometimes a slap upsides the head is needed! I'm listening.

I'll treat him as a laminitic - he has already improved for not being out at night - and see where that takes us.

Thank you all for your thoughts and knowledge.
 
AML said:
You're right I didn't want to hear that, but I appreciate straight talking and sometimes a slap upsides the head is needed! I'm listening.

I'll treat him as a laminitic - he has already improved for not being out at night - and see where that takes us.

Thank you all for your thoughts and knowledge.
Click to expand...

Ace response, top owner!
 
Second researching metabolic causes. Worth considering PSSM1/2 also. My old EMS pony was always footy after rain if I didn't pay attention and we used hoof boots all year round as a result. He had always lived out 24/7, so I restricted by strip grazing and muzzling. If rain was forecast in the summer he was muzzled with hay on the ground - he was able to eat the hay much easier than the short grass!
 
  • Like
Reactions: AML
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top