Product Review September 2007
HOOF WRAPS

I was given an opportunity to try out a new concept in hoof care. It
is the Hoof Wrap.

It is designed to be used for abscesses, stone bruises or tender soles
in turnout, which most temporary inexpensive boots are not made for.
These boots wrap VERY well around the hoof, the Velcro is industrial
grade, does not come off easily and wears extremely well. Very well
made boot for turnout on most any horse.

There is a pad insert made of flexible EVA foam that is a cushion to
the sole. You can cut a hole in it for a bruise or abscess and
medicate that area or keep it intact to use as a cushion.

One of the best things about this wrap is that it is inexpensive, it is portable and will fit easily in a saddle bag. A great item to keep in your first aid kit…..just in case.

I used it on 5 horses, one of them for 2 days and it lasted through 7
days. It is not meant to be a permanent boot, but one to use while a
horse is lame or transitioning from shoeless to barefoot.

The insert flattens out, so extra inserts would extend the life of the
boot a bit longer. They are easy to put on, there are numbered flaps
so all you do is clean the hoof, medicate as desired (or not at all)
put the insert in, read and fold…done!

I plan to have one in my saddle bag and the barn, great for Christmas
presents just to have as a precaution. You never know when you will
need a boot, either on a trail ride, in the pasture or away from home.

Of all the temporary, inexpensive boots I have tried, this one is the
best. It lasted 7 days with a worn look, but never came apart and with
a new pad insert, would have a longer life. The price is well worth
having one in your barn.
NC Horse News
www.nchorsenews.com
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•SavvyEquestrian.com Review

HOOF WRAPS (December, 2007)

We sent Hoof Wrap to two test sites because of it’s versatility. One tester said she gives the Hoof Wrap people a lot of credit for addressing a need that to date, has best been remedied with duct tape and vet wrap!

Hoof Wrap supports a wide range of hoof sizes [00 – 2] and uses, from protecting a hoof with a thrown shoe to applying medication for days on end. There are other applications listed in the manufacturer’s literature, but we only tested in these two areas.

TEST LOCATIONS
As luck would have it, both test sites ended up pushing the boundaries of recommended hoof size for the product. Connie Wyatt, at Whispering Willows Farm, has several horses and ponies in her barn. She tried the wrap on each and it fit every one of them, including a rather large warmblood. Impressive. When the time came to put the product to a real test, an abscess on one of the ponies, our tester ran into a little bit of trouble. Although she was familiar with how to use the wrap, the irritated pony would not cooperate. In the end, the medicated Hoof Wrap was applied a bit haphazardly. Even at that, it stayed put and did the job. ‘That’s the stickiest Velcro I’ve ever seen!’

At the second location, Iron Spring Farm, the wrap was tested on a mare with a thrown shoe. She’s a large warmblood and it was used on her successfully in her stall. Our tester said she thought the product was extremely easy to use and would happily trade in her duct tape and vet wrap for the Hoof Wrap. The caveat at this location was the size of the horses hoof. A large warmblood, trimmed with a long toe, is outside the recommended hoof size. When the mare was turned out in a muddy paddock, the wrap came off. The review came back with a request to the manufacturer, ‘Please make a larger size for Warmbloods and Friesians!’

After several conversations with the manufacturer and testing, the overall conclusion is that Hoof Wrap is a great product that fills several needs for a wide range of hoof sizes. Having a supply of the inexpensive, reusable Hoof Wrap in your barn will help you out in many situations.

Pros
Fits most horses
Inexpensive
Easy to use
Reusable

Cons
None, when used within guidelines.
Rating: 4
Click here to see the review on Savvy Equestrian.
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•From www.horsetackreview.com

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Testimonials


Staff Review - HorseTackReview.com

Quick Fix Hoof Wraps is a bandage, not a boot, which easily allows you to treat common hoof problems like abscess, stone bruise, or use for protection after shoe loss. Made of 1680 ballistic nylon with reinforced durability, it's designed tough, offing you the freedom to turn your horse out to pasture during treatment. It fits most horses - so it’s especially convenient for multiple horse owners and professionals.

An industrial strength hook and loop fastening system provides a custom fit and it’s designed for extreme grip and security. Easily remove, clean, and reapply the bandage as needed. An EVA foam pad is included.

Hoof Wraps innovative design gives it the flexibility to be used with items you may already have around the barn like pre-medicated pads, flexwrap, or plastic farrier pads. Best of all, Hoof Wraps' light weight and compact size make it a great addition to your first aid kit or saddle bag.

We sent of the Hoof Wrap to one of our testers in Canada so we could see how the wrap held up under cold snowy conditions. After one month of testing on several different horses, our tester was quite impressed and looking forward to purchasing for herself.

Tester Comments:

I'll have to admit that this product didn't seem to impress me much when I first took it out of the package. Anything that needs to be numbered, and comes with detailed instructions, seemed a little too complicated for the practical horse world. After all, if you're using this product your horse must be sore or injured in some way. If that's the case, good luck to you trying to apply the wrap to a fidgety or anxious horse. I tested this product on two of our own horses, and then lent it to a friend who was in desperate need of a bandaging solution.

My first experience in applying the wrap was frustrating, even after studying the directions on the package and practicing inside where it was warm (the Canadian winter was in full force when I received this product for testing.. fidgeting with anything outside is something I try to avoid during this time of year). To sum it up, I undid the hook and loop tape but it was very hard to keep it from sticking to the other tabs, line up the foam pad to the wrap and then the hoof to the pad while trying to close the hook and loop tape -in proper order - with proper fit - before my horse moved and I had to restart the whole process.

The first horse I tested it on, a Morgan/Thoroughbred cross, wouldn't step down on the foam pad. It must have felt weird to her since it's so thick. She kept stepping down part way and then lifting her hoof again, displacing the pad. I finally gave up before my fingers froze and cracked off, and applied the wrap without the pad. It fit like a glove.

The second horse I tested it on, a Belgian / Quarter Horse cross, stepped down on the pad but moved it slightly. I was still able to do the hook and loop tape up, but the displaced pad threw the fit of the wrap off. That's one of the major drawbacks I can see - the foam pad (if used) must be exactly in line with the back of the wrap otherwise the fit is sacrificed.

The Morgan/Thoroughbred cross has hooves on the smaller, narrow side while the Belgian/Quarter Horse cross has wide, round hooves. I liked how adjustable the wrap was, but the hook and loop straps that secure at the front should be longer. They seemed to just fit the larger horse's hooves, and when you're expecting a product to stay on through turnout and/or field use, 'just' long enough doesn't cut it. I also noticed that depending on how you adjusted the straps, sometimes you can have small gaps between the nylon tabs which would allow dirt and debris to enter the wrap - something you wouldn't want with a sore horse.

In frustration I visited the Quick Fix website to hopefully find tips on how to easily apply the wrap. It is suggested to secure the foam pad to the hoof with Vetrap or another similar material first. Though I didn't try it, I can see how that would greatly help. My two cents though, would be to make sure that you trim the pad to the horses general hoof size so the wrap fits better and more securely (a large hoof pad on a small hoof would make the bandage fit looser, increasing the risk of losing it in that big pasture of yours - and we all know how much you love walking it regularly.. searching for those elusive halters and boots after your 1000 pound beast finishes playing with his field buddy).

I was impressed with how quickly the EVA foam pad molded to the underside of the horses hoof. It shapes perfectly to every nook and cranny of their hoof, offering a certain amount of cushioning and shock absorption.

With our footing being a bit icy in places, I was concerned about what traction, if any, the wrap could afford. There would be nothing worse than wrapping a horse's hoof because of an injury, only to watch your horse slip because it couldn’t get a proper footing. As I watched each horse walk across some of the frozen ground, their gait wasn't altered in the slightest. Still, some may prefer a rubber footing for such conditions, though it would undoubtedly change the price.

A friend's horse had provided a challenge to her, cutting himself in an unusual place on something she still can't find. He cut the bulb of his left rear hoof and the skin directly above it. Each time he took a step, he re-opened the slice. Her veterinarian was thankful to have snow on the ground since it eliminated a bunch of debris that could possibly infect the wound, but this was such a hard area to bandage. She ran through every idea she could think of – including getting creative with duct tape and plastic bags. Continually the horse would shed the bandages and leave her looking for other ideas. I lent the Hoof Wrap to her as a last ditch effort.

She is so thrilled with the product that she'll be getting one to add to her horses' first aid kit. Like me, she had a hard time initially applying the wrap. The hook and loop tabs kept sticking to each other before she could get it on the horse. The numbered tabs, she also found, were useless as you started doing the wrap up since they face the hoof (not to the outside, where you'd see them once a strap or two is secured).

The wrap was used overtop of a series of gauze bandages and tape as a means of securing the whole works so it wouldn't budge. While she felt the hook and loop tabs should be longer, the wrap was able to expand enough to fit over everything! Molded plastic boots are good for a variety of things, but you need to buy a specific size depending on how big your horse's hooves are, and if you had to add something like a bandage, they would be too tight. This is where the Quick Fix Hoof Wrap excels. It is truly a multi-fit wrap and is superior, in that sense, to conventional 'spare tire' boots.

The Quick Fix Hoof Wrap website expects that the wrap will have a service period of 4-6 days (give or take a few depending on what conditions the wrap is supposed to endure). This wrap was removed and applied daily, over the course of just over two weeks at her farm, and used in typical Canadian winter conditions: ice, deep snow, extreme cold, sleet and sometimes even mud, along with common sights in a barn or stabling area: manure and urine, hay, other curious horses...

The nylon tabs, which make up the sides of the wrap, are frayed somewhat though the smart way in which the wrap was stitched only allows the fray to go so far. The wrap is made up of one piece of ballistic nylon but a second layer of nylon is stitched where the bottom of the hoof would rest - the stitching that secures this second layer also acts as a barrier so the fraying stops there.

A hole has worn through the first layer of nylon on the bottom of the wrap, which makes us appreciate the double layer construction. The hook and loop tabs have debris stuck to them - bits of hay and dirt - but allowing the wrap to dry (I don't know that I would put it in a dryer - I'd be more apt to hang it on a line) and going over it with a stiff brush does the trick. The printed numbers on the inside of the wrap have also worn off, though my friend and I are now experts on applying the wrap and don't need them anymore.

All in all, we're both impressed with the wrap. For something that has an expected lifespan of 4-6 days, the fact that this wrap has held up for a month of constant and tough use is excellent. I was skeptical of this product at first, and even quick to criticize, but it has won me over. I highly recommend that this be a staple in any horse first aid kit. It is light enough to carry in a saddle bag (it weights next to nothing), fits a wide variety of hooves and the price is reasonable for how well this wrap performed.

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Lori - Cary, North Carolina

My horse recently had an MRI, for which he had his shoes pulled. The Farrier couldn't come to replace the shoes for several days. The idea of the poor horse having to stay in his stall for 5 days bothered me. A friend told me about your product, probably to make me stop whining about my horse. I ordered a couple of your Hoof Wraps with express delivery. They arrived just in time! My horse wore them for 4 days straight, including 4 nights of private turnout, and they show no signs of wear. They are so sturdy that I will be able to use them again and again. The Velcro closures are really strong. They didn't even come a little loose. Lest you think my horse is just easy on his feet, I only had two Hoof Wraps but four shoeless feet, so I used diapers and duct tape on the back feet. The diaper/ duct tape wraps were shredded in the morning.

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Jeanne - North Carolina

Earlier this summer my 30 year old mare developed an abscess in her front hoof which necessitated a visit from the vet. After opening a drainage hole, the vet showed me what we needed to do for the next week to ten days... every day. Soaking in betadine and water followed by packing the hoof with Epsom salts, betadine and cotton padding, wrapping it with vet wrap and finally a shell of duct tape to hold it all together. Just cutting off the duct tape and vet wrap proved to be a major pain and wrapping the hoof in strips of duct tape afterwards was very time consuming. Towards the end of the treatment period, I had bought an Easy Boot because I was frustrated and tired of dealing with the duct tape. But the Easy Boot was difficult to get on properly. The mare healed and I thought my problems were over.
A month later the hoof had abscessed again. The vet came out and repeated the whole procedure complete with using yards of duct tape. I decided I needed a larger Easy Boot size so I went to this new tack shop down the road from me to get one. Tracy informed me that she had no Easy Boots in stock but she asked what I needed it for. I explained my mare's abscess hoof woes. Tracy showed me this new item called "Hoof wraps" and sold me the only one she had. We used it that afternoon and it was love at first sight. I packed the hoof; vet wrapped it and then put the Hoof Wrap on. It was a little challenging at first figuring out which straps go where but by the second day, this was a breeze. I didn't cut the hoof pad to my mare's hoof size as suggested but simply left the pad as is. I simply reversed or rotated the hoof pad on subsequent days and I believe it lasted much longer because I did not cut it down in size to fit the hoof. The industrial hook and loop tape holds the Wrap on very well and not once did my mare lose it...unlike the duct tape version. That Hoof Wrap ended up lasting for ten days! By the time the 10th day rolled around, it did look ratty and ripped but it was still protecting the vet wrap and bandaging inside. I am sold on Hoof Wraps. I wish I had invented it. I've been telling every horse owner I know about this new product. I'm planning on telling my vet so that she can start carrying them in her truck and I also intend to tell my Farrier about it. Good bye duct tape!



Ben and Mary Alice - Georgia

Just a quick note to let you know about our experience with your Hoof Wraps. We have had one of our horses develop laminitis recently. Our daughter, with this in mind, came across your Hoof Wraps at a horse show vendor's stall run by Hobby Horse Country Store (Colbert, GA) and bought a pair of them to give to us. Our vet began to treat abscessed areas under the coffin bone in both of the horse's front feet. We showed her the Hoof Wraps while she was applying treatment pads to the soles of the feet and she used the Hoof Wraps to secure the treatment pads and wraps she had applied. The horse was then given free run of a sand paddock and was able to move about quite comfortably with the Hoof Wraps (and pads) on. When we removed the wraps and pads today (after 48 hours on the horse) to check the feet, we found the area under the Hoof Wraps to be absolutely clean and free of debris with the treatment pads still securely in place. Amazing! The Hoof Wraps showed no signs of wear and after applying new treatment pads we put the Hoof Wraps right back on. We particularly liked the fact that after placing the hoof on the pad in the Hoof Wrap you don't have to lift the foot any more to secure the wraps in place. Our vets seemed to be quite impressed with your product, as are we. As the horse moved about, the EVA pads conformed somewhat to her feet which helped to provide much needed support and protection for her feet. She is significantly more comfortable now than she has been without the Hoof Wraps. Indeed, she was having great difficulty walking before. We will probably be ordering some additional pads from you in the next few days. Thanks for a very well thought out and well constructed product.

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