Re: [RC] Equithane for barefoot shoeing - DVeritas
In a message dated 2/13/2005 9:45:55 A.M. Mountain Standard Time,
guest-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
My next
question is: Has anyone tried using Equithane or something similar,on a
barefoot horse, to build up the sole. I've never used the stuff. Does it set
rock hard or is it rubbery? How do you get it off a hoof? How good is the
protection it offers? Could it be used instead of
boots?
Hi Frances,
I've used Equithane on a barefoot
horse....it's efficacy didn't last for one conditioning ride, as it
"disappeared" up in the hills somewhere.
It sets up more rubbery than
hard.
Using it on a shod horse in rocky terrain
has proven to be really effective, though it tends to want to "disappear", just
not as rapidly as on a barefoot horse.
The better method (for me, in my experience
on rocky trails) was to pad, (over a shod hoof), then inject the stuff (which
sets up rather rapidly, so be ready for that).
I had very good success with that and
will usually opt for that when facing the rocks and distance of a
hundred.
Typically, it's a pain to cut out the
pad (to open the hoofsole after the ride), but the Equithane comes out easily
with a hoof pick).
All things being equal, I'd rather
struggle with cutting out the pad than deal with a sorefooted horse, which I've
never had in the years of riding this sport.
