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Warning: Those cheap synthetic hoof pads cost me $120 and a lost client
I got a great deal on a bulk pack of synthetic hoof pads from an online discount place last spring. Figured they were basically the same as the name brand ones for half the price. Big mistake. After three days on a trail ride with a client's horse, the pads had shifted completely sideways and one was bunched up near the frog. The horse went dead lame and I had to refund the whole ride, plus pay for the vet to come check for an abscess. Total loss was around $120 between the pads, the refund, and the vet call. The client didn't hire me again after that either. Anyone else get burned by cheap pads that just don't stay put under real work?
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robinp721mo ago
Friend of mine used some no-name pads from a farm supply liquidation place. Said they turned into a slippery mess after a wet morning, like walking on butter wrappers. Horse ended up with a stone bruise and he had to eat the cost of a farrier visit.
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grace_white1mo ago
@robinp72 brought up a good point about the slippery issue. Did you check what material those pads were actually made of before you bought them? Some of the cheap synthetics use a really slick recycled plastic that just doesn't grip the hoof wall or the shoe at all, especially once sweat or moisture gets under there. My farrier warned me about that exact thing, said he's seen pads turn into hockey pucks inside the boot. The name brand ones use a tackier rubber compound that actually bonds a little with the hoof as it heats up during work. Your mileage may vary, but I'd be curious if anyone's found a cheap brand that actually holds up after a few wet rides.
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