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Hard ground conditions can predispose to foot abscesses, and then there's a lot of soaking and wrapping going on in the barn.
The veterinarian might recommend an Epsom salt soak, followed by application of a drawing agent like ichthammol, some
gauze pads or a diaper, then some Vetrap, topped off with duct tape. Too often though, it's hard to get the duct tape on.
This problem can be avoided with a tip one of our vets gave us a few years back. Instead of wrapping the duct tape around
and around the foot, which results in a messy patch, or cutting strips of duct tape to apply to the hoof one by one, which
is back-breaking work, make a duct tape patch BEFORE applying it to the foot.
Start the patch by cutting strips of duct tape and applying them to a wall (take care that it's a surface that won't be damaged
by the duct tape), with each strip perpendicular to the next. It's something like a weave. For an average-sized hoof, each
strip should be about 10 inches long; shorter for a smaller hoof and longer for a bigger hoof. The closer the overlap, the
stronger the patch. See the photos on this page.
After finishing your patch, cut off the tips of the corners and cut slits about two inches long in each corner; it makes the
patch go onto the foot neater. (See more photos below).
Apply the patch to the bottom of the foot. Press the edges of the patch up onto the hoof, overlapping the slits on each
corner. Trim off excess duct tape if needed, but not too much or the patch will come off. The patch should come up onto
the hoof by about three inches.
For added security, cut two additional lengths of duct tape; each of these will go on either side of the hoof, with one
end attached to the heel and the other to the front of the hoof, running along the top of the duct tape patch. The duct tape
should not go above the coronary band.
It may take a few tries to get just the right size for your horse's foot, but once you get it right, it'll be easy to
do in the future.
PS: Did you know that there are different grades of duct tape? Some is thicker and sturdier than others. Avoid the thin
kind if you need it to protect a horse foot.
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