Remove any flares and/or dishing. Make sure the hoof is in the middle of the bony column; check the wall thickness on both the medial and lateral sides, uneven wall thickness is a sign of imbalanced feet. Try to achieve the best hoof angle that you can get. Do not cut the toe area to close to the sole you can always add shims to the ground surface of the shoe before you cast the hoof. Fit the shoe full and in the center of the boney column the cast will fill in areas where the shoe is hanging over the hoof to provide the support that is needed.
Applying a Circumference Equicast
Applying a Backwards Shoe with Superfast
Wrapping hoof with cast
Starting the Wrapping Process:
Attach a pre shaped Event type shoe with fitted clips. Make sure the shoe is secure. Place the casting tape in a bucket of cold water for about 5 seconds squeeze out excess water. Start near the hair line unrolling the tape across the heel area cross under the bulbs of the hoof. In a counter clock wise motion alternate the wrapping process, go high on the medial heal low on the lateral heel on the next wrap go high on the lateral heel then low on the medial heel. If you are unsure of the wrapping process practice with either vet wrap or an ace bandage. You only have about 1minute before the cast starts setting up.
Note: Do not get any casting tape on the hairline or the soft heel area. If you do, trim while the cast is curing.
Finished Cast
Cast Under the Shoe Method:
When
applying a cast and then nailing/gluing a shoe onto the cast it's
important to have a level and flat cast. If the heel area is deep or
medication is needed: filling with silicone, dental impression
material, Vettec Sil-Pak, CS or Equi-Pak helps hold the packing in and
distribute weight. After wrapping the hoof make sure there are no major
lumps or winkles then place the freshly cast hoof on a hard flat
surface, pick up the opposite foot for 20 seconds, this expands the new
cast to a weight bearing shape. Moisture does
not affect the integrity of the cast and air can still reach the hoof.
Equicast over a Shoe.
Casts and Shoes:
When
shoeing over a cast be sure to fit the shoe just a little bigger then
the hoof. Allow some of the cast to extend beyond the shoe this will
help when trying to start the nails in the hoof wall and come out in
the cast. By fitting the shoe this way the nails will help hold the
cast on by starting in the hoof wall and the cast will help hold the
clinches tight. Also when wrapping the foot for a shoe later try and
keep most of the casting material behind the widest part of the hoof
this will help in seeing the white line for accurate nail placement.
Stand New Cast on a pyramid of sand or foam block.
Applying Cast to Barefoot Hoof
Press the casting tape to the bottom of the hoof; make sure there are no lumps or folds on the sole. Place about a quart of sawdust, shavings, or soft sand on the floor (like a pyramid) then place the freshly cast hoof on the pyramid. This will press the cast up into the sole area, adding support to the sole and frog of the hoof. Lift the opposite hoof off the ground for about 30 to 45 seconds. This allows the hoof you just wrapped to expand within the cast.
Equicast Inc.
Equicast Temporary Support System (ETSS) Post Office Box 442485 Lawrence, KS 66044 Toll Free 866-844-3336 Email: Equicast@Sunflower.com
