Taping hooves when competing?

FestiveSpirit

FestiveSpirit

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 March 2009
Messages
10,715
Visit site
Sorry to be ignorant, but does anyone do this? Bob has a very minor over-reach graze (less than the size of a 1p piece) on his heel which will not heal as every time he wears over-reach boots on that hoof it takes the surface of the skin off
frown.gif


He has XC this Sunday (another hunter trial) so I was wondering if I could put a melolin dressing on the patch, then wrap vetwrap around it, then cover it with duct (duck?) tape instead of using a boot? Or should I still use a boot over the taping?

I assume the tape does not go over the sole of the hoof, but goes around the hoof wall instead?

He got the graze whilst wearing rubber over-reach boots so now has some nice kevlar ones, but I am loathe to go XC with nothing as he has lovely over-reach scars from his point to point days
crazy.gif


Thank you
smile.gif
 
Why can't you wait for this injury to heal properly before you compete again. Even if you make a really good job of wrapping his foot, it is unlikely it will stay on during the XC phase, especially if you have a water complex ?
 
Because I am entered for a BE event on Saturday 9th May and he needs to go XC before then
confused.gif
It is a very very minor problem and is not impeding him in any way, so I do not consider withdrawing from several BE events to be an option

The water complex at the hunter trial is the penultimate fence and therefore this will not be a problem - the wet tape will be in place for approx 30 seconds between coming out of the water and finishing. The graze will have healed before we compete on 9th May
 
Have you tried putting a big dollop of vaseline on it? If it's really minor then that should be sufficient, or could simply put a small piece of melolin over the graze and tape in place with elastoplast then boot on top, haver seen this done.
 
A few years ago my big horse managed to stand on a nail which went through his frog, no lameness and was entered for a dressage show on the following sunday, spoke to vets and put a poultice on it but they advised to keep covered for at least a week, so brought a an easy boot epic with the velcro that goes around the fetlock to keep any dirt away. Event organisers were quite happy for me to use it, it was expensive but if he looses a shoe i can just put this on until blacksmith comes, so has paid for itself.

http://www.ingatestonesaddlery.co.uk/Hor...pic-100515.Aspx
 
I dont see why you shouldnt tape it. Personally I would put a little bit of dressing over & use as little vetrap as you can get away with as you do not want it to be bulky but you also dont want to pull all his hair off with the tape! Put the duct tape so that it sticks to the actuall hoof to help anchor it.

I would suggest a practise run this week & go for a lively hack to make sure your arrangement stays in place. If in any doubt that it wont stay put dont use it & just plaster it in grease.
x
 
I did a dressage competition with one on my horse and used it at home all week until vets said it had healed and could come off, horse was out in field with it on as well and it wasn't very dry weather but the boot kept his foot very dry it healed within 10 days, if I had to go xc schooling i wouldn't do the water.
 
Don't worry about any dressing under the bandage, just use vetwrap over the injury, bulb of heel and hoof wall, then overreach boot over the lot. For the length of time it is to be on there should be no problem.

To help it heal fast use active Manuka Honey the higher the rating the better.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top