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Fitting Imprint Therapeutic Shoes

New techniques need to be learnt and practised to obtain optimum

results, and the following pages are solely for the use of farriers and

veterinary surgeons when fitting Imprint shoes.

Please read instructions thoroughly before attempting the

procedure.  Training is available.

Prepare foot as for condition it is suffering from – e.g. laminitis,

complete crack, pedal bone fracture etc.

It is essential that skilled farriery be practised from the outset. 

Adhere to proven principles in every case.  Usually each foot is

best treated individually for the horse’s comfort.

Fitting for Imprint Therapeutic Shoes:

 Read complete instructions for fitting Imprint Therapeutic

    Shoes thoroughly  and study diagrams before starting

    procedure.

Begin with clean, dry hooves.

Check Imprint shoe is approximately the correct size for the

    hoof.

Trim off any excess length of heel of shoe, if required.

Bevel edge of ground bearing surface of hoof wall. (Photo 2)

Wearing safety glasses use a rotary cutter to create three to four

    small oval indents evenly spaced each side of the hoof wall

    approximately ¼” x ½” (5mm x 10mm) within the margin of the

    shoe flange. This provides "button" keying for the shoe flange.

    (Photo 3 & 4) For foals and yearlings [click here] then continue.

   Photo 1.

Preparation-Laminitis

Photo 2.

Photo 3.

Photo 4.

Put on Latex gloves provided.

Clean hoof with surgical spirit. (Photo 5)

Check everything is prepared and to hand.

Place Imprint shoe in container on the "Shoe Support"

    accessory or a used adhesive cartridge to prevent the softened

    flange collapsing and to elevate from the base of the container to

    stop it sticking,  (Photo 6) with ground surface uppermost, pour in

    boiling water.  Fill to a level leaving the ground surface of the shoe

    still out of the water.     

Place lid on container to maintain water temperature. Allow shoe to

    soak up heat for approximately 2 minutes, depending on the size of

    the shoe, then check the malleability of the flange by touch, it

    should mould easily as gum. If it is firm, replace in water for further

    heating. The Imprint “original” shoe, will turn transparent, wait

    until the flange is completely clear before fitting.

If significant remodelling of shoe is needed leave shoe in the

    water longer, or just the area needing extra moulding, e.g.

    Dramatically rolling toe.

Attach mixer nozzle to Imprint Structural Adhesive, check both

    cylinders are flowing evenly first, failure to do so may result in a

    failed procedure.

 The fitting procedure needs to be executed swiftly before the

    thermoplastic cools too much to mould plastic into the

    indentations and contours of the foot. This applies to a greater

    degree with Imprint Plus where the shoes cool faster

    reducing the fitting time.  

Photo 5.

Photo 6.

Photo 7.

Photo 8.

Photo 9.

When flange is soft carefully remove shoe from water, drain off excess. 

    If further seating is required, this can be achieved by pressing a thumb around the

    softened area before applying the Imprint Structural Adhesive.

    Holding the shoe over the heated water, apply the adhesive around inside of flange

    from heel to heel, (Photo 7) and on hoof bearing surface of the shoe heel quarters.

    (Photo 8)

Fit from heels first, mate with foot. (Photo 9.)

    Use the centre of the frog as the datum; form into contours.

Quickly blend edge of flange to hoof wall maintaining a low strong flange

    especially at the heels (stretching it up the wall will thin and weaken it) and ensure

    all the indentations are filled with plastic.

Blend heels of Imprint shoe to heels of foot.

The above is the strength of the union.

Ensure adequate seating around toe

Check level of shoe and balance

Apply Imprint Shoe Freezer to softened area of the Imprint shoe (Photo 10),

    spray away from coronary border of foot, the shoe  will return to its original colour when

    hard.

Place foot on ground when shoe is completely hard. (Photo 11)

Rasp any area needing removal or smoothing. Treat as hoof.

A bead of Imprint Structural Adhesive may be applied along the top edge

    of the flange to ensure a perfect seal.

Allow to stand until hardened, 10-15 minutes (max strength after 1 hour).

Check bonding is sound – no cracks from movement during bonding.

Check horse is comfortable, as good as before starting procedure or better.

Adding blunt ended self tapping screws aids traction with Imprint original shoes

.   Or with Imprint Plus slightly roughening the ground surface of the new shoe with a rasp

    will help reduce the initial risk of slipping.
 

In most cases (adult horses) - repeat procedure at approximately 5 week intervals,

    until treatment is complete.

    NB When moulding Imprint Therapeutic Shoes, sometimes it may be necessary to

    reheat part of a shoe on the foot to attain a better fit – a hot air gun does this job well.

    Always ensure hot air gun is pointing down and away from the limb.

    Hold hand around the coronary border of hoof whilst heating flange, this will detect

    any stray heat.

Removal of used Imprint Therapeutic Shoe.  Rasp flange off using farriery rasp.

    Remove shoe from the heel. (Photo 12) Alternatively hoof nippers can be used to quickly

    remove the shoe by starting from the heel, cutting and easing the flange carefully

    away, avoiding damage to the hoof.

    Do not attempt to just tear the shoe from the hoof.    

Photo 10.

Photo 11.

Photo 12.

Years of research has led to the development of the Imprint products.

Using alternative products undermines the effectiveness and can lead to unreliable results.

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