Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] Sorbathane and Human Conditioning

Hi Tom,

I looked into Sorbithane pads for Magnum (the arthritic 
old TB ex-racer w/ an old healed fracture) a few years 
ago as the numbers showed a marked decrease in concussion 
transferred from the ground / shoe to the hoof and on up
the leg.  Very impressive numbers.

Yes, they do make a horse shoeing pad.  The problem with 
it is the pad squishes down and the shoe becomes loose
pretty quickly and must be retightened.  And then
when I asked the company about how much the concussion
damping properties would diminish over time (given the pads
squish pretty rapidly), they couldn't answer that question.

So that was the last of the sorbithane pad idea for me.
The old TB can lose shoes well enough on his own, thank
you very much.  

I'd think foaming easyboots over shoes (or bare hooves) 
would be the best way to go for a rocky / fast endurance 
race.  I foamed on easyboots for Blue (my arabian) on his 
last 50.  He bounced around his pasture like a kid with 
new Michael Jordans... he thinks foamed on easyboots are 
pretty fun!  He also did better than I was expecting at 
the ride.  Here in NM, as you will recall from the 
National Championship ride stories a few years ago, we 
have Rocks... with a capital R.

Kathy Myers
Santa Fe, NM

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