flat soles

Question
Hey Mark. My horse has flat soles and hates rocks. I get him shod every month and my farrier says that there is not anything to do to correct it. We may put pads on him soon. DO you have any thoughts.

Answer
Hi Bill
ALL flat soled horses hate rocks. It is unusual though that a flat soled horse requires monthly shoeing. There are a number of alternatives that you can try.  As you previously mentioned, pads. There are a multitude of styles to choose from and as you probably already are aware packing is a must if you choose conventional pads. The drawback to pads is thrush and extremely soft soles due to the packing that must be used to combat bacteria (sometimes packing looses the battle and thrush prevails).  The best option, in my opinion, is pour-in packing with coppersulfate, Equipac with CS is the way to go for two very important reasons. It supports the entire sole from the ground surface where pads leave a void. Often, flat soled horses gain an arch in the solar region after this particular type of pad is used, the digital cushion and frog increase thus bony alignment is improved.  Second the copper sulfate destroys thrush. The downside is the expense. Unless your farrier has the applicator gun and Equipac, you are looking at 55.00 for the gun (which lasts forever) and about 30.00 for the packing each time your horse is reset. Plus whatever your farrier charges for doing the work. Simply out of curiosity I would at least try the Equipac CS once to see if your horse has gained a solar arch. I believe he will
Thanks
Mark

Hi Martin, nice plug for the Hoof Care Summit, I plan to attend.  An alias really was not necessary. My reply or thoughts would have been the same if you had revealed your true name (which I am not familiar) based on the information I was given. In depth proven scientific evidence is really quite subjective in most equine areas especially when concerning the feet, in other words, whomever is selling whatever product will test scientifically their product in order to sell their product. The question is by what standard is their product being tested and by whom is it being indorsed other than the independent scientific ( and I use that word sparingly) tester?   I am going to assume that you are marketing either boots or composite shoes.
Kindly
Mark