Ripley graciously models the STAYONS Clay-Epsom Salt Hoof Wrap with Poultice Boot.
During the past several years, I’ve certainly had my share of hoof issues: sore feet, abscesses — you name it. And, of course, when these types of hoof situations arise, it can only mean a couple of things: Soaking, certainly, or — I can hardly bring myself to say it — poultice time! If you’ve recently read part one of my Hamilton BioVet series on STAYONS Instant Leg Wrap Poultices, by now you know exactly how I feel about traditional poultice methods.
The first conversation I had with my vet about applying poultice was some years ago, and I think I was rendered speechless after being instructed on how to apply green goop to my horse’s foot, cover it with a diaper (preferably newborn-sized, so that it wasn’t super huge) and put a boot over it. Since the only “children” around my house at the moment have four legs, weigh over 1,000 pounds, live outside and are fuzzy all over, I had no desire to go to the grocery store to buy diapers! I suppose it was lucky for me that my vet just so happened to have some in her truck at the time.
Diapers aside, welcome to part two of my series on our wonderful EN sponsor Hamilton BioVet. You may have already guessed it, but today’s topic of interest is hoof poultices — STAYONS Clay-Epsom Salt Poultice Hoof Wraps to be more specific!
Now, I’ve spent a good bit of time during recent years wrapped around one of my horse’s legs while trying to apply poultice. It’s often just not pretty. For some strange reason, I tend to see hind-foot abscesses, so I’m sure you can picture me hanging on for dear life while someone is cranky and feeling a little kicky. A couple of years ago, I did start using a hoof-shaped poultice pad for the purpose of treating abscesses. And I’ll admit, I got pretty good at using them. You could even call me the “MacGyver” of hoof wrapping.
Poultice pad. Vet Wrap. Duct tape (and there was that time I used patterned packaging tape when I ran out of plain tape). Bootie. More duct tape. DONE. Well, unless my horse, Mark, would jerk his foot and send the poultice pad flying through the air, so that it would land in a mud puddle and have to be thrown away. This methodology seemed to at least work better than applying poultice for me, even though more pads than I would like to see ended up in mud puddles before I could wrap the foot. I’m fearing this outcome way less with STAYONS Poultice Hoof Wraps!
The most significant benefit of STAYONS Poultice Hoof Wraps that I see is the amount of coverage of the hoof. Unlike other poultice pads I’ve used, STAYONS covers the ENTIRE hoof instead of just the bottom. And this is fantastic, in my opinion! Anyone who has ever had dealings with an abscess (and let’s face it, if you’ve spent any amount of time around horses, I’m sure that you have), knows that it is always a guessing game to try to figure out where it is going to emerge.
In the heel bulb, or somewhere along the coronary band? Eeenie. Meenie. Miney. Moe. Yeah, that doesn’t help at all. But what will help is having a STAYONS poultice pad that covers the entire foot — from the hoof bulb, across the bottom, up over the top and past the coronary band. I chalk that up as a win in my book.
For my trial of STAYONS, I chose to try the STAYONS Clay-Epsom Salt Poultice Hoof Wraps, since I am not currently (knock on wood) dealing with any abscesses. The Clay-Epsom Salt Wraps are indicated for use to treat soreness, inflammation or bruised soles resulting from heavy work or surgery. My gelding, Ripley, has experienced issues with soreness in his front feet for most of the time I’ve owned him.
The soreness is mainly helped by keeping him in shoes with a rolled toe, but depending on other factors, I can tell when he is sometimes tender in his feet. Because Ripley is a candidate to try the Hoof Wraps, and since he was also such a great assistant and model to try out the STAYONS Instant Leg Wrap Poultice, I recruited him to help again. It is important to note that the hoof wraps are also available in Bran-Epsom Salt, which is formulated specially to treat abscesses or suspected abscesses.
Ripley checks out the STAYONS when pulled out of the packet.
Firstly, I loved the Hoof Wrap when I pulled it out of the pack. You may be able to see in the photo I included above that there is text indicating where the toe should be placed. Of course, Ripley also had to check out the wraps before I prepared it to go onto his foot. Application to the foot is a breeze. Hamilton Biovet includes wonderful step-by-step instructions (with illustrations!) on how to prepare and apply them.
There is also an instructional video available on the Hamilton BioVet website. After applying the hoof wrap and smoothing it out at the top, I pulled on the STAYONS Poultice Boot to help keep the wrap in place. In Ripley’s case, I found that quite a bit of the wrap came above his coronary band, so I also chose to include a wrap to come down. A poultice pad that has been soaked does stay in place well, but I added the polo wrap for a little extra stability (in my case, I ensured not to wrap around the back of the joint).
Once again, shall we count the ways that STAYONS Poultice Hoof Wraps are just awesome?
1. They cover the ENTIRE foot, rather than just the bottom.
2. Specific varieties of hoof wraps are available depending on what condition you are trying to treat — Clay-Epsom Salt Wraps for general soreness, inflammation or bruising, and Bran-Epsom Salt for abscesses or suspected abscesses.
3. No. More. Soaking. Or. Diapers. Or hoof-shaped pads being flung into mud puddles.
4. The wraps can be re-used if still wet after your daily check of the foot.
5. And I think I forgot to mention EASY and mess-free application and removal.
That about covers it, folks (and by it, I mean the ENTIRE foot!). I’ll certainly be keeping a couple of packs of STAYONS Poultice Hoof Wraps in my first aid kit, right next to the pack of STAYONS Instant Leg Wrap Poultice. They are easy, stay in place and the STAYONS Poultice Hoof Wraps are also reasonably price at $12.99 for a pack of two. So get some for yourself or to hand out to your horsey friends.
And if you are shopping with Hamilton BioVet, make sure to take advantage of their generous offer of FREE SHIPPING on the order of any item through their website during the month of December. Simply use the code ENFREE.
Go Full Hoof Coverage. Go Shopping. Go Eventing.
