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| Author |
Message |
    
Eleanor Leo
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 4:02 pm: |   |
We have two mares about 15 years old, a Swedish
warmblood and an Appendix Quarter horse. Both have
been recently trimmed by a new farrier, and their
feet are quite sore. The hoof length on one mare
(front feet) is about 3".
We know styrofoam has been used to help foundering
horses and wonder whether we could try this on the
mares to ease their discomfort. |
Kathy Howitt
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 4:13 pm: | |
Hello Eleanor, I have used styrofoam on my gelding during his 3 episodes of laminitis. It can be very, very effective at making a horse more comfortable. It must be used on barefeet, however, and I was not sure if your mares are shod or barefoot. As the horse stands on the foam 'slippers' his weight crushes the foam to the exact shape, angles and support the foot needs. The only problems I experience with foam is getting it on the foot correctly initially and then having to replace them often as the horse moves around more. Also, they are slippery on snow and ice, which was a concern for me, but not for you at this time of the year. I do not think you can ride a horse while they're in foam, but I did hand walk my guy at some point during his recovery. If you want to know more, I can talk a bit about putting them on, but maybe you already know how. Kay in AK |
Eleanor Leo
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 9:56 pm: | |
Kay, that's a great help--thank you! Neither of
the mares is shod now, so I think we'll try the
styrofoam.
Can we use the stuff that comes in electronics
packaging--you know the stuff we all want to
recycle or throw away, or do we need a special
kind of styrofoam? Did you use duct tape to keep
the styrofoam on?
Eleanor |
James R. Hughes
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 10:38 pm: | |
I had to put styrofoam on a horse of mine and my vet told me to get the construction grade ( the blue styrofoam) It is more dense and doesn't crush as much, but it still will conform to the hoof. I did use duct tape to secure it
Jim |
Sandra M. Howe
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 11:10 pm: | |
I too have used the blue styrofoam. My vet said that is could also be used to soak the foot.
I put a piece of cardboard on the ground and have the horse stand on it while I draw the outline of the foot. In the case of founder I enlarged the patern and made it longer in the back by about an inch. Then I could cut the styrofoam out with a utility knife and tape it on the hoof. In a couple of hours the styrofoam imprints the underside of the hoof and the horse seem much more comfortable. Hope this helps |
James R. Hughes
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 11:22 pm: | |
I used a small saw to cut out a basic shape and then used a rasp to make it more the shape of the hoof. It did help my mare.
Jim |
Lois Berenyi
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 30, 2000 - 11:59 pm: | |
On the website www.horseshoes.com there is all kinds of information about using styrofoam for foundered horses including kits and a video. I ordered a kit to have on hand for an emergency. The directions for applying the support are a bit more complicated and precise than what has been posted here. On the website look for the EDSS system. They mention that after the first layer of styrofoam has been crushed down another layer should be added. The idea is to support the coffin bone. |
Kathy Howitt
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 10:35 am: | |
Eleanor, looks like you're getting lots of support for using styrofoam. You must use the blue foam...3" thick, I believe. You can purchase the kit as someone else mentioned, or it is much cheaper and faster to make your own. I take an old shoe or pad to trace the general shape. Make the foam pads a big larger than the foot, though...they're easier to place on the foot and easier to cover the entire bottom of the hoof. You don't want the foam to shift and leave an area of the foot unsupported. I always use duct tape to secure the pads. It's very helpful to have someone helping you. One person can hold up the horse's foot and the other can position and tape the pad. Make things as secure as possible so they don't shift. I use a sheet rock knife...worked the best for me. Take a look at the above website for illustrations...or at least I think there might be something. It is important to place these pads carefully. You can hurt a horse if they're done sloppily. The tricky part is right as you're first putting on the pad/tape. I wish I could show you a photo of a good way to first secure the foam. Good luck...Kay |
Eveo
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 11:46 am: | |
For cutting styrofoam, I use one of those electric carving knives--you know, the kind that were popular for carving turkeys, roasts, etc. The friction and heat generated goes right through the styrofoam. It's pretty easy to be precise, too. |
Eleanor Leo
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2000 - 10:27 pm: | |
Many thanks to you all from me and the mares. Your
information is super.
Eleano |
Lois Berenyi
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 1, 2000 - 4:36 pm: | |
As a postscript to my post above I should add that the kit comes with a video (along with 4 shaped blocks of blue styrofoam) for around $30. I wanted the video because it contained the exact directions for applying the foam. If you read the posts and replies on the founder and laminitis board at Horseshoes.com you will realize that it is extremely important to have the correct angle and if any sort of wedge support to the coffin bone is incorrect more harm than good can be done. Also, once I have the kit it will be no problem to replace the foam pads with material from the building supply store. I have this on hand hoping I never have to use it. If the foam is used for purposes on the hoof other than supporting the coffin bone in cases of founder it may not be as important as to how it is applied but I would still be careful. |
Paula Ketner
| | Posted on Saturday, Jun 3, 2000 - 3:38 pm: | |
Dr. O
Would styrofoam work for a mini donkey who is very soar after having her front feet pared back due to seedy toe (sp). The seedy toe seems to be cronic, this is the second time in two years that we have had to trim her feet so drastically.
Thank you,
Paula in OR |
Administration
| | Posted on Sunday, Jun 4, 2000 - 11:38 am: | |
Instead of posting your question at the bottom of someone elses discussion you should create your own. You will get more responses and it helps others find related information better.
Before you post a new forum discussion be sure to review the already existing articles and forum discussions on your subject. This is the appropriate topic for your subject, so just back up to your topic using the navigation bar at the top of this page and select the approriate article.
If after reviewing the already existing resources your question remains unanswered go to the closest topic and post to that forum by clicking on, "New Discussions" and choose a title that is descriptive.
Thank You,
The Advisor Administration |
Ann Womack
| | Posted on Wednesday, Jun 14, 2000 - 12:26 pm: | |
I have been off line for a while so I hope this is still helpful.
I have had a mare in styrofoam for several months & could add a couple of things to the above.
Whether you use the blue 3" or pink 1 1/2", a 4'x8' sheet of it at the hardware store is a whole lot less expensive & just the same as the preformed pads.
I find vet wrap works best to secure it to the foot, then about 4 strips of duct tape on the bottom to keep things dry.
My mare is pretty good by now at putting her foot on a strip of styrofoam so I get a good impression! I use one of those retractable blade (make the blade any length you like) knives that you can usually find at paint/hardware stores.
Cheers,
Ann |
Bliss B. Siman
| | Posted on Thursday, Jun 15, 2000 - 8:22 pm: | |
We have a mare that has foundered in the last two months and is still pretty sore. She has a 10 degree rotation and we are hoping to bring her back to reasonable health. There appears to be a difference between our vet and our barn manager about the heels. The former says to now elevate her heels and perhaps consider an open toe shoe; the latter says cut her heels down to reduce the pressure on the toe and to support the coffin bone. Any thoughts?
Bliss Siman
kerrymor@erols.com |
Administration
| | Posted on Friday, Jun 16, 2000 - 5:58 am: | |
Bliss,
Unless your post has a direct bearing on the initial question or subject, you should post your question in a new discussion to prevent confusion.
There is a better topic for your discussion that is more specific to your question. By using the appropriate topic you might find already existing information on your subject, get feedback from members who have a interest in that topic, and make finding related information easier for others with this problem.
Using the navigation frame at the left of this page select an appropriate topic. I suggest: The Horseman's Advisor: Equine Diseases: Lameness: Foot and Sole Problems: Founder & Laminitis.
Once on the topics page take the time to review any articles and already existing discussions that may apply to your situation. If your question still remains unanswered select the appropriate forum and select: New Discussions. Choose a title that is descriptive so that others can find your post easily.
Thank you for helping to make The Advisor better,
Administration |
Erin Lower
Member
Username: rockin
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2007
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 22, 2008 - 11:32 am: | |
I know that this is an old post, but I noticed that many people had trouble keeping the foam in place while taping it to the hoof. I have a couple of tricks for this:
First, roll a few pieces of duct tape over to make it double sided (like when wrapping gifts). Stick them on either side of the frog and at the toe (on the foam, not the hoof), and then stick this to the hoof. Put the hoof down for about 30 seconds to allow an imprint to form, then remove the pad and make a slight indent where the frog shows on the pad (about 1/4" deep). Re-stick the pad to the hoof (the frog cut out helps keep the pad from slipping around).
Then, continue with taping around the rest of the hoof. |
Elizabeth Kaufman
Member
Username: ekaufman
Post Number: 383
Registered: 3-2007
| | Posted on Friday, Feb 22, 2008 - 10:08 pm: | |
Hi Erin,
If you vet wrap before you duct tape, then the whole thing is much easier to remove from the hoof.
In the absence of styrofoam, I have used flip-flops and an old shim pad. |
