An initiative to donate hoof moulds to rescue centres in order to assist with the hoof health and rehabilitation of horses has been launched by FormaHoof.
Between Friday, 14 May and Wednesday, 30 June, horse owners who return their used mould and buy a new one will receive a second mould free and the returned mould will be cleaned, disinfected and donated to a charity.
“FormaHoof’s mission is to help improve the comfort, performance and welfare of equines worldwide,” said a statement.
It added that hoof problems are “one of the biggest challenges faced in the rehabilitation of neglected and abused equines” and said the moulds can offer “instant pain relief, faster rehabilitation and a brighter future for horses, ponies and donkeys that may have faced a lifetime of pain and neglect”.
The initiative is inspired by a sanctuary in Waterford, Ireland and its caretaker Carole York, who has used the moulds on a laminitis ponies she has taken in. Sinbad, a Shetland with severe chronic laminitis, had been on heavy duty painkillers for eight days and was able to stop taking them when he was given a hoof mould.
“After five weeks, we removed his application and found he’d grown heel and gained noticeable concavity in his soles,” said Carole, who runs Putting in the Magic Pony Sanctuary. “He’s now in the third week of his second application and moving so well that he may not need another one.”
Another pony, Ernie, could barely walk but four days after a mould was applied he was able to climb hills, bearing most of his weight on his front legs.
“The materials required for an application of a size two pony costs roughly €80 for two feet, excluding the reusable mould,” added Carole. “While this may sound expensive, we think it’s absolutely worth it for the pain relief, the much shorter recovery time over conventional methods and the peace of mind I get from knowing the ponies are getting the treatment they need and deserve and can be comfortable all the way.”
Find out more about the mould replace and donate programme here.
