News & Events


Saddle Up with Pour-in Pads to Prevent and Aid Hoof Care Issues


Contributed by Tab Pigg, Certified Journeyman Farrier, Vettec, Inc. Like a glove provides extra


protection to human hands and fingers, pour-in pads serve as a safeguard for both shod and bare- foot horses. Pour-in pads can pro- vide solar support to both prevent and aid common hoof care issues. Pour-in pads, made of ure-


NRBC Increases Eligibility Age


Now the Classic will include 7-Year-Olds Right on the heels of another Million Dollar Show at


the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, Texas, the National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) has an- nounced a landmark change in the Conditions for its next yearly event. Beginning with the 2020 NRBC, 7-year-old horses will be eligible to compete in the Classic. In a Board of Directors meeting held April 25, the de-


cision was made unanimously to include 7-year-olds in the Classic and to change the eligibility age for the Clas- sic Challenge horse to eight and older. For NRBC President Tom McCutcheon, the decision


was based on sound reasoning. "First it gives horses an extra year of eligibility and that is something that we feel our Non Pros especially wanted. It gives real value to those horses." He continued, "Second, it allows owners and riders


to put the welfare of the horse first - taking away the need to rush horses that might develop more slowly or that might need time to recover from an injury. Overall, we think it's the right decision at the right time." The NRBC is a stallion incentive program for reining


horses. After a stallion becomes part of the program, his foals may be enrolled. Those foals, as 4, 5, 6 and now 7- year-olds, can then compete at the prestigious week-long event which has paid out over $22million in its past 22 years. The show is regarded as a must-attend event and is considered, along with the NRHA Futurity and NRHA Derby as a show that makes up reining's prestigious triple crown. For more information, visit www.nrbc.com. w


22 SouthWest Horse Trader Juney 2019


thane adhesives, bond to the sole of a hoof and produce a soft, re- silient supportive pad material. Designed to increase the weight- bearing surface area, these mate- rials alleviate pressure off the hoof wall and allow the sole to take on some of the horse’s weight. Horse owners and farriers can utilize


pour-in pads to create extra protection and provide support to prevent and manage hoof care issues.


Using Pour-in Pads to Prevent Hoof Care Issues The hooves support a horse’s whole


body. It’s important for horse owners to take the necessary steps to prevent potential injury or infection. Pour-in pads can serve as a preventative tool for the following: • Bruising: Using a durable pour-in-


pad material can help prevent sole bruising. As horse owners may not be able to see bruising until the healing process begins, it’s crucial for owners to be mindful of their horses’ environments and provide the proper support to avoid injuries or discom- fort.


• Moisture: To avoid infection or in-


jury in changing climates, horse owners can use pour-in pad materials to help main- tain optimal sole health. These pads bond to the bottom of a horse’s foot, sealing out moisture and preventing debris from being packed in the foot. Pour-in materials in- fused with copper sulfate also help to mit- igate mild and moderate cases of thrush effectively.


Using Pour-in Pads as a Treatment Tool


After suffering from injury or disease,


pour-in pads help elevate pressure to make horses more comfortable throughout the healing process. Pour-in pads can serve as an effective component to a treatment plan for the following issues: • Abscess:An abscess, a collection of


pus, develops within a horse hoof from trauma, excessive pressure or bruising. After the abscess opens, drains and heals, pour-in pads can be used around an ab- scessed area to support and protect the hoof as it heals. To apply pour-in pads, hoof care professionals should use playdough or bread to cover the abscess while they pour the pad material to avoid any material cov- ering the abscess. It’s critical that the ab- scess opening is not covered so it heals adequately. • Cracking: When horses distribute


their weight unevenly, excessive force and stress on one area of the hoof wall can cause Quarter Cracks. Pour-in pads serve as a durable material to distribute a horse’s weight across the entire hoof-bottom to re- lieve pressure around a Quarter Crack. Ad- ditional cracking issues arise when moisture levels in horse hooves become in- consistent and result in superficial cracks in the hoof wall. If small superficial cracks open up to form larger cracks, pour-in pads keep pressure off the hoof wall and strengthen the hoof. Pads suspend move- ment and further distribute a horse’s weight evenly throughout the foot to avoid further cracks or lines for both superficial and se- vere cracking. • Frog Atrophy:A contracted frog ap-


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