Date
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Incrediwear Circulation Hoof Socks for cold weather issues...thoughts?
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Katherine Reid
My IR mule, Magic, is 26 now and is still maintaining a level of pasture soundness, but it has deteriorated with some serious attacks of white line disease. I am managing that now with frequent farrier visits, glue-on shoes, and treatment with Durasole and Arti-mud. She’s on a balanced low s/s diet, including Phyto Quench which I believe has helped her quite a bit.
Because I live in Southern California, I never considered cold a factor for her, but she’s recently had some unexplained discomfort that mimicked a mild laminitis, and I went nuts about what part of her diet I had wrong. Then we had some warm weather and she was cruising around like a prom queen. Now it’s cold again. My farrier does not want me to use hoof boots or wrap her feet, fearing the warm moist environment would be like a Petri dish for whiteline. As far as fleece shipping boots, she’s ripped the Velcro off every pair of fly boots I ever bought...sometimes on the first day. Our cold weather here is intermittent, but we get some cold nights. My vet had suggested these hoof socks for another purpose, and mentioned she also recommends them for laminitis. I was wondering if the group has any thoughts. I use Incrediwear products myself and they are very effective for me, but I don’t use them for cold weather problems. I do think however that they would help increase circulation, and it looks like I could cover a good bit of the hoof with them also, at least at the top. https://incrediwearequine.com/products/circulation-hoof-socks Asking here because I get ideas and solutions, and there’s so much experience in this group. Also even though I trust this company’s products they are not giving them away. So I would appreciate the benefit of any thoughts. Thank you. Katie Reid Ramona, California Member since 2005 (?) |
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Physics isn't my thing but frankly this looks like a great example of a fat price tag for science fiction.
Try LaminOX or Jiaogulan + arginine instead. -- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com Tis The Season 2 for 1 Sale |
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celestinefarm
I looked at the website for incrediwear , and it states they have studies for their science , but there are no citations for those studies.
Also,they claim the fabric has semi conductors that , when heated with body heat, release negative ions. Semi conductors are a conduit for an electric flow from an electric source. Such as a battery, a wall plug, etc. They don't create energy, they simply are a microscopic pipe for energy created elsewhere. Like putting a plastic pipe on the floor and expecting it to suddenly produce water flowing out the end. I suspect the effect from them is simply decreased loss of body heat because of the insulating effect of the material. . -- Dawn Wagstaff and Tipperary Saline, MI 2003 |
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gypsylassie
Hi Katie, I haven't used these, but people here talk about using Whinny Warmers sox for horses. They might be able to be pulled partway down the hoof. Maybe these coupled with the supplements Dr Kellon mentioned would help
Magic. I suppose you could also get some bell boots and glue felt or fleece inside them for at least a bit of hoof insulation.
Laura K Chappie & Beau over the bridge
N IL 2011
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Katherine Reid
Thank you, Laura...the Whinny Warmers are considerably more price-friendly so that’s good to know!! As far as the scientific studies, I did find this link on the Incrediwear site...although I am NOT trying to promote this product or to defend the integrity of any “studies” that are referenced. It’s very good to consider the actual science so thanks for that reminder. |
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If you live in ramona, you know weve had some lows of 27-28 deg F. That is cold. Medium 200 gm fill blanket and legs wrapped is what im doing
-- LJ Friedman Nov 2014 San Diego, CA Jesse's Case History
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Have you looked at Back on Track products before. There are some other brands as well that seem to have jumped on the Back on Track bandwagon. Schneider Saddlery has their version on sale right now. I have used the bell boots and quick wraps and they seem to help. I am in Minnesota, so to be honest, sometimes fighting the cold is a losing battle no matter what I use.
https://www.backontrackproducts.com/Boots-Wraps-c15/ https://www.sstack.com/Horse-Boots-Wraps_Therapy-Solutions/Lux-Ceramic-Therapy-Fast-Wrap-Polos/ -- Cathy and Natalie (Morgan) joined 2008 |
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Anita <aketelsen7@...>
Whinny warmers are great. Sox for Horses’s is now making snap on lined winter Wellie’s & are fantastic for keeping legs warm & dry. Sox customer support is fantastic as well.
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Katherine Reid
Back on Track is a good company...are those bell boots open on the bottom? (Can’t tell for sure from the picture, although they MUST be). I like the looks of those wraps, as well. Minnesota, well, sheesh. I don’t even know how you manage And thank you L.J., it was what you wrote before that made the light bulb come on...cold? San Diego? I am at 2500’ so it does get chilly up here. So this is a dumb question, but do you need to wrap all four legs/feet? Right now she is barefoot on the hinds, do shoes make the cold problem worse on her fronts? Or is it more from circulation which would affect all four equally? Katie Reid Ramona, CA Member since 2005 |
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cathyjomitchell
The Back on Track bell boots are open with a strong Velcro closure. Very easy to take on & off. I have used the quick wraps as well. . Ironically, I am originally from Southern Ca. You can't even comprehend how cold below zero feels until you have lived it for a week. It really sucks. And trying to help a horse with circulation problems takes on a whole new meaning. We are going up to mid 30's today and feeling very excited. A regular heat wave. Just started unwrapping some layers off my poor bundled up mare.
-- Cathy and Natalie (Morgan) joined 2008 |
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Hi Katie,
I'm wondering if you every tried the Incrediwear socks? I'm debating those or just plain wool men's socks? The Whinny warmers look great but are sold out in my pony's size. If I go the men's wool sock route, do you just put the entire sock over their hoofs and stick it in the boot? Or do you need to put out the bottom? Having trouble visualizing this LOL -- Nelina February, 2023, Middleburg, VA |
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Hi Nelina,
For men's socks just put them on as you would your own feet. The sock wrapping the entire hoof is part of what keeps them warm. You can also add wool felt pads to the boots, to add more insulation on the bottom of the hoof. -- Kirsten and Shaku (EMS + PPID) and Snickers (EMS) - 2019 Kitimat, BC, Canada ECIR Group Moderator Shaku's Photo Album Snickers' Case History Snickers' Photo Album |
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To get an idea of how important the socks are, imagine standing in snow with only bare feet inside rubber boots.
-- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com |
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Jean Hurrle
Here's a place to start for info about research on ceramic infused fabrics and infra red aid circulation:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33956901/ a nice explanation of what infra red is: https://www.triedequestrian.com/blogs/tte-blogs/whats-up-with-back-on-track-products I'm using both the infused materials (back on track and incrediwear) AND Laminox; after two previous winters with cold founder, my mare did not founder this winter despite sub zero temps (double triple knock on wood, its still winter here in northern Illinois) The main struggle with boots & wraps is keeping them dry. Although wool is better than most for keeping warmth when wet, in most cases soaking wet socks/legwraps will not be as warm in cold conditions. Wet cotton or cotton blends is a *very bad ide*; it increases the effect of cold. https://hackyourpack.com/all-posts/2018/5/18/why-hikers-say-cotton-kills https://thehikingadventure.com/merino-wool-vs-synthetic https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1989/0415/report.pdf (see page 4) Of course, she's been on a strict diet regimen also ... she never stopped being tender footed until I either soak hay or have a hay tested below 10% sugars&starch. Many thanks to this wonderful group! Jean H & Shorty -- Jean Hurrle Illinois; 2022 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jean%20&%20Shorty%20aka%20VG%20YSA%20Tstar |
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Jean Hurrle
Here's an article specific to ceramic imbedded materials effect on far infra-red emission properties:
"Far-Infrared Emission Properties and Thermogravimetric Analysis of Ceramic-Embedded Polyurethane Films"https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/5/686[MDPI is a publisher of open access scientific journals] ...just as a note as to why I'm interested in whether this kind of stuff actually works (as opposed to expensive "snake oil" or a mistaken treatment like the several centuries of performing bloodletting in humans), I'm a licensed massage therapist with over 30 years experience; I have many clients with chronic pain issues, arthritis, old injuries, and such like, so tools such as far infrared emitting ceramic imbedded fabrics are of special interest to me and my clients. However, until my still young (13) mare foundered a couple winters ago & turned up with IR and possibly early onset Cushings a couple winters ago, it never occurred to me that it might well be a good tool for our horses. Jean and Shorty -- Jean Hurrle Illinois; 2022 https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Jean%20&%20Shorty%20aka%20VG%20YSA%20Tstar |
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To make it simple, ceramics reflect heat. That is why ceramic tiles are used on space shuttles to protect them during reentry. When put in a garment, they will reflect body heat back to the skin surface.
-- Eleanor in PA www.drkellon.com |
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