A vet in Cheyenne told me to stop using pads on every hoof and it got me thinking...

I was working on a ranch out there last month, and the vet on site, Dr. Miller, saw me putting a pad on a horse with a simple quarter crack. He said, 'You know, sometimes that pad is just a band-aid that keeps the hoof from breathing right.' I've been taught for years that pads are a safe bet for protection, but he showed me how the hoof wall was actually stronger than I thought and the crack wasn't deep. He argued that letting the hoof flex naturally with just a good shoe and maybe some acrylic filler could be better long term. It hit different because he wasn't just some guy online, he was looking at the same horse I was. Made me question if I reach for the pads too fast without really checking if the hoof needs that extra layer. Has anyone else had a vet or client push back on using pads for minor issues?

3 comments

3 Comments

angela_baker2mo ago

Honestly same, I used to pad everything by default. It felt like the safest call. But my farrier sat me down last year after a horse kept having moisture issues under the pad, and he was like, "We're not letting this foot work." Seeing that horse move better after we pulled the pads was a real eye opener. Now I really stop and ask if it's actually needed or if I'm just doing it out of habit.

danielhenderson2mo ago

That part about the pad being a "band-aid that keeps the hoof from breathing" really got me. I had a similar wake up call from my farrier last spring. He pointed out a horse I was sure needed pads for thin soles, and he was just like, "Let's try a wider shoe first and see what the hoof does on its own." It was hard to not just reach for my usual fix. But after a few cycles, the hoof really did toughen up better without that constant cushion. Makes you second guess the automatic choices for sure.

the_hugo2mo ago

Totally get that... it's so easy to just go with what you've always done. My old gelding was on pads for years because he'd get a little sore on stones, and we never questioned it. Then a new farrier asked if we could try a break from them, just to see. I was so nervous he'd be lame, but his feet got so much harder and healthier after a few months. Really makes you feel a bit silly for not trying sooner.