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TheHorse.com THE HORSE September 2016
Deep muddy paddocks always present
some problems with seepage of mud
or sand."
Be aware of your horse's turnout con-
ditions. Many owners don't realize the
degree to which moisture and silt can get
under pads in wet and muddy environ-
ments, says DuBois.
And although our intentions are to
protect and support our horses' feet,
sometimes pads do more harm than
good. "If the pad and packing materials
are not properly applied, the horse will
resent them because they can hurt as
well as press on an already compromised
area," says Burns.
Also involve your veterinarian if your
horse shows signs of lameness. The last
thing you want to do is put a pad over an
abscess, trapping the infection and mak-
ing it even worse or more painful.
Pads can reduce a horse's traction be-
cause they raise the frog off the ground.
This might be a concern for riders doing
speed work such as polo or barrel racing.
If your farrier knows your needs, he
or she should be able to find ways to
increase traction while your horse wears
pads.
Pads also can add weight to the foot.
This can be a concern among riders in
disciplines such as show hunters and
Western pleasure, in which horses are
judged on their fluid movement over the
ground.
Possibly most annoying to horse own-
ers, farriers, and horses alike is losing
shoes because of pads. Pads can increase
foot length, making it easier for the horse
to pull or remove his shoes.
"A pad that has good shock absorption
due to it being made from a soft, spongy
material will work up and down, (and)
will loosen the clinches and the shoe,"
says Kraus, adding that in these scenari-
os he prefers glue-on shoes.
And, at the end of the day, "pads also
add additional expense to shoeing a
horse," Kraus notes.
Take-Home Message
Some farriers don't find much demand
for pads, while others do. From their
experiences in their areas of the country,
farriers have developed particular prefer-
ences for pad materials.
"There are many variables to consider
when applying pads, from conditions
the horse is exposed to in work and
turnout, its behavior, way of going,
conformation, condition of its hooves,
and whether any of these variables will
change during the shoeing period," says
DuBois. "I don't find the need to use a
lot of pads in my personal practice at
this point."
Work with both a farrier and veterinar-
ian if your horse falls into any of these
categories that might benefit from some
type of pad.
h
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East Coast Equine
If the pad and pack-
ing materials are not
properly applied, the
horse will resent them
because they can hurt
as well as press on an
already compromised
area."
TRAVIS BURNS