Quick Tips for a Perfectly Packed Foot

Adapted with permission from “World-Class Grooming for Horses” by Cat Hill and Emma Ford, published by Trafalgar Square Books (www.horseandriderbooks.com) and available through www.EquineNetworkStore.com.

If your horse has a stone bruise, is prone to sore feet, or has just jumped on hard ground, you should consider packing his feet for the night to improve his comfort.

It’s good to know how to check your horse’s hoof pulse. There is a large vein that runs down the inside of the horse’s fetlock; it normally has a weak pulse, being so far from the heart and low on the body. When a horse has been standing quietly but has a throbbing, fast pulse, it can indicate there is a problem brewing in the hoof, so wrapping the horse’s feet is a good idea.


1 To find the pulse, glide your fingers slowly around the back of the fetlock. You will feel a slight depression in the joint directly above the inside bulb of the heel. When the pulse is strong and throbbing, you probably have a problem. When it’s weak or hard to find, it’s most likely the hoof is okay.

2 The most basic form of hoof packing consists of Epsom salts and povidone-iodine solution.

3 First, you need to make your duct-tape “bootie.” Place about 8 inches of duct tape across your leg.

4 Make a duct-tape square with approximately six strips of tape.

5 Repeat the process, but go in the opposite direction—this helps to strengthen the bootie.

6 A & B Mix the Epsom salts and the povidone-iodine solution together until they have the consistency of wet sand.

7 A & B Pack into the foot.

8 A & B Apply a disposable diaper.

9 A Beginning at the toe, wrap veterinary wrap around the hoof and toward the bulbs of the heel.

9 BWrong: When going over the bulbs of the heel, do not pull too tight.

9 C Instead, pull only enough to snug the wrap as you pass over the soft tissue.

9 D Each time you come around, angle over the bulbs to create a “V” at the back of the heel.

10 A-C Finally, apply your pre-made duct-tape bootie.

11 A leg poulticed and foot packed for the night.

Commercially marketed products such as Absorbine’s Magic Cushion are simple to use and work quite well. With this product, use a latex glove to pack the foot, then apply veterinary wrap and a duct-tape bootie. Note: The diaper will absorb the healing ingredients of this product, so you should skip that step when using Magic Cushion.

PRO TIP: When using Absorbine’s Magic Cushion, apply a layer of petroleum jelly to the bulbs of the heels and the lower pastern to prevent the skin from getting irritated if the product seeps out of the wrap.

CATEGORIES
TAGS
Related Articles
Bay horse eating grass
Understanding and Treating EMS
Understanding Equine Metabolic Syndrome
image
Grooming Tips From the Pro
Brad Barkemeyer's Tips for a Healthy Mane and Tail
Rear or hind-quarters of brown horse with feet up bucking
The Buck Stops Here
Understand and End Your Horse's Bucking Habit With These Expert Tips
brown horse eye close-up with big eyelashes and sad smart look
How Smart Are Horses? New Research Breaks It Down
Newsletter
Receive news and promotions for Horse & Rider and other Equine Network offers.

"*" indicates required fields

Name*
Country*

Additional Offers

Additional Offers
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Horse and Rider
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.