SURE FOOT - Frequently Asked Questions

SURE FOOT Equine Pads are the tools utilized for the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program.

SURE FOOT Pads are placed under the horse’s hooves to bring about a new awareness and make him conscious of his habitual patterns of standing and moving. For more information on using SURE FOOT please watch the Quick Start Guide at SURE FOOT Equine.

At this time, we are not sure exactly how standing on SURE FOOT Equine Pads brings about the changes observed in the horses both while standing on the pads and afterward. We hope to be able to research this at a future date.

SURE FOOT makes the horse aware of how he is standing, offers him comfort and allows him the opportunity to explore new ways and/or rediscover more efficient patterns of standing, calmness and greater confidence.

View the Quick Start Guide to SURE FOOT Pads and watch the starter videos at SURE FOOT Equine for tips on how to begin using SURE FOOT Pads.

Yes, SURE FOOT Pads will get hard in cold weather but they still work in cold temperatures. If you prefer, you can keep them in a warm room so they do not harden in very cold weather.

Typically, I prefer the horse focus on the pads rather than eating. However, eating is an indication that the nervous system has switched from the sympathetic, “fight and flight” mode to the parasympathetic “grazing” mode, which is commonly observed when using SURE FOOT. Therefore, if you feel that the horse is still involved in the process it is fine to let them eat while on the pads.

SURE FOOT customers have used the pads with horses that have had EPM, a neurologic disorder caused by an organism after they have been treated, shivers, a type of nerve problem that is not fully understand, Lyme Disease and sweeny or muscle atrophy as a result of nerve damage. While SURE FOOT cannot cure an underlying medical issue, it can alleviate discomfort and help horses regain function. Therefore, we can’t say that SURE FOOT will solve your horse’s particular problem, however, SURE FOOT may help in the recovery. Always consult your veterinary before commencing SURE FOOT with your horse.

It’s not so much “best” as “different”. When a horse stands on two pads, they still have two on the solid ground. This will be a different experience for them than having all four feet on a surface that gives. It is important to recognize that not all horses can stand on four pads. Or it may take time before a horse can stand on more than one pad at a time. Horses will benefit from standing on one, two, three or four pads.
We can’t say what your individual horse will do as it is unpredictable horse to horse.

Absolutely! That’s why I made a Quick Start Guide. Our customers say it is very thorough. View the Quick Start Guide.

Once your horse is acclimated to the larger pads you can start using the pods. Your horse has to allow you to guide his hoof otherwise he is not ready for the pods. Aim the toe to the third row of dots from the bottom as you lower the hoof onto the pod.
Observe how the hoof loads. You may see toe loading (heel high), heel loading (heel low) or what I call “straight” loading, through the center of the hoof with the leg bones aligned.
The horse’s reaction can be totally different from the pads, which give under the horse’s weight. I have observed horses yawn deeply when standing on the pods even after many trials with the pads.
The pods are air-filled and, due to their small diameter, push upward into the hoof as the pressure inside increases with the weight of the horse. I often use pods in front with slants behind although I have had horses that prefer pods under all four hooves.

Please visit our SURE FOOT Equine Media page where you can find lots of photos of horses on SURE FOOT Equine Pads.

You can use SURE FOOT Pads with both barefoot and shod horses. Both may cause damage to the pads over time. The barefoot horses tend to cut the pads while shod horses tend to tear them. But the pads work equally well with or without shoes, as well as hoof boots.

You can use SURE FOOT Equine Pads in the barn or stall. If in a stall be careful around the horse especially if this is his first time on the pads. Always think of safety first and never tie your horse up when using SURE FOOT.

Please watch the Quick Start Guide and always let the horse tell you what he prefers in terms of which hoof and how long he wants to stand on the pads.

If at all possible, I prefer to walk the horse between sessions on the pads. This allows the horse to integrate the information gained while standing on SURE FOOT Pads and let him experience how his hooves meet the ground after each time. However, it is not always possible given weather conditions, the environment, or if the horse is lame or in severe pain. Therefore, you have to take your situation into consideration. You can always stop if you find you do not have enough space to work.

I typically let horses rest the toe or stand how they choose. I might ask a couple of times for him to put weight on the hoof but it’s ok if he doesn’t. Clearly your horse didn’t want to load the hoof but liked resting the toe, otherwise he would have moved his hoof off right away.
Often the horse will shift to stand fully on the pad if I allow them to stay in their position of choice for a few minutes.
You might also try putting a pad under the lateral front leg first. Then that hind hoof. We never know what is really going on inside their head, so I always assume the horse knows what is best for him.
Remember that observing what they do is just as interesting and important as standing on the pads because they are showing you how they feel.

Yes, I have seen horses attempt to get both feet on one pad both in the front and rear. I am not sure why they prefer this to a pad under each foot.

That’s not a problem. You can mix and match as you like using the same or different colored pads either laterally or diagonally front and back. Each combination offers your horse a slightly different experience. Visit the SURE FOOT Equine Media page for photos of horses standing on pads..

Yes, I have a number of older horses that really enjoy their time on SURE FOOT Pads. Be sure to let them tell you, which hoof to place the pad under and do not make them stand longer than they desire. Older horses may stand for longer periods of time on the pads.

It appears that it can! I have a client with two 30+-year-olds that have stopped twisting their hocks as a result. This happened over the course of 2 years, the owner doesn’t really know when it stopped. She one day realized while riding behind them that they weren’t twisting anymore!

This depends on your horse. Some horses prefer to stand on the pads every day while others like them for several weeks or months and then no longer want to stand on them. Some horses will stand near the pads and position themselves to indicate which hoof they want a pad under. If your horse loses interest in the pads, I suggest you give him a break and offer them again after a month or so. Every horse is so different that you need to closely observe your own horse and see how he is responding.

Yes, if your horse is already familiar with the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program you can go right to four pads. You may want to experiment with the slants and pods at this point also.

Yes. First be sure to closely observe your horse. If you see a lot of swaying you may not want to use the pads every day because some horses can get body sore. While standing on the pads the horse is using his postural muscles in a different way, just like you if you were to stand on an unstable surface or sit on an exercise ball for the first time. If he has not been using these muscles efficiently for a while, he can get tired quickly. Therefore, if your horse does not want to stand on the pads the next day or two, be sure to listen! He may be tired.
Allow several days between sessions especially if your horse is older, has been on stall rest for a period of time, or does a lot of swaying when on the pads. This will give the postural muscles time to develop the necessary tone. If your horse does sway a lot in the beginning be sure to note if this decreases after several sessions.

You can repeat the process whenever you feel your horse is interested in standing on the pads. Some horses will walk over to the pads and indicate the hoof they want. Older horses will seek the comfort of SURE FOOT on a regular basis.
If you have a horse that has a particular problem, going into a corner of the arena, walking through a gate or standing on cross-ties, or at a horse show, for instance, you can use the relaxation you have developed by moving the pads to the location where there is an issue and repeating the process. This helps your horse to switch from “fight and flight” to relaxation and overcome the pattern of anxiety he has developed. Therefore, SURE FOOT can be applied to a wide variety of situations where you would like your horse to relax, be calmer, more confident and move with greater ease.

Every horse is unique. It is important to let your horse show you which hoof (hooves) he prefers, and the frequency. The only caution is that some horses can become body sore if they stand on the pads too long or too often in the beginning. Therefore, when starting out it is better to give the horse a couple of days off in between sessions if you are not sure how your horse is responding.

Regarding frequency, some horses can become body sore if they stand on the pads too often at first. Just think of yourself starting a new exercise program and using muscles you haven’t been using for a while. So, while I let the horses determine the program, I suggest 2 or 3 times per week with the pads. At a clinic I may put a horse on the pads every day but that’s for a limited number of days (3 – 4) and then they get a break afterward. Most horses are pretty clear when they don’t want to stand on the pads anymore for a while. I know some that only stand on them every few months but they have still made significant changes. Let your horse be your guide and do keep in mind that he may get sore using new muscles.

The duration varies with each horse. Some horses can only stand on the Pads for a few seconds or minutes in the first few sessions, while others will want to stand for over 30 minutes! When in doubt, shorter less frequent sessions are better. This will give your horse a chance to process the information and avoid the possibility of soreness in the postural muscles.

Actively neurologic horses will not want to stand on the pads because they can’t. Horses no longer active but suffering from the effects of neuro illness benefit greatly. I have a number of case histories of horses treated for EPM that really improved from using SURE FOOT Equine Pads.

It sounds like the SURE FOOT Pads put her in “grazing” mode (parasympathetic), which is a good thing. I generally try to avoid using food during a session as I think that is working through a slightly different pathway in the brain, but it is not “wrong” to let her eat. Every horse is so different as long as you are using SURE FOOT safely (see the Quick Start Guide) there are very few rules and most of those are, as my friend says, “written in sand”. Therefore, if it seems appropriate to give her tidbits that’s fine. Be aware that we often use food because it satisfies our own needs rather than those of the horse.

I cannot say that SURE FOOT will solve your horse’s hip problem. However, as long as he has an irregular stride, he is putting more stress on the other three legs. Just a person with a limp runs the risk of damaging the opposite knee because that leg takes over the work. In this instance SURE FOOT can be extremely helpful in supporting and easing the other legs. And in some cases, a lingering hitch is because the horse has gotten into the habit of limping. Using SURE FOOT Pads will bring your horse’s attention to how he is standing and moving. Therefore, SURE FOOT may alleviate the problem if the injury has healed and this hitch has simply become a habit.

The non-invasiveness of the SURE FOOT Program means that you can explore it with your horse for a wide variety of reasons. Since you offer the horse an opportunity to explore the way he stands and moves, the applications are endless! Whether you are looking to enhance your horse’s performance, improve gait patterns, overcome anxiety, make it easier for your horse to stand for the farrier or recover from illness, accident or injury and/or helping therapy horses do their job better, SURE FOOT can lead you to explore new avenues that you may not have previously considered.

Horses that appear to be neurologic don’t want to stand on the Pads, I think because they are already unstable. The pads magnify this and therefore are disconcerting to these horses.

In over 7 years of placing horses on SURE FOOT Equine Pads, I have had less than 5 horses react badly. Two horses blew straight up and then acted like the pad was the devil. I believe these horses were neurologic based on the reactions and upon consultation with a veterinarian who watched the videos, they confirmed this by of the way these horses moved.
Some horses are very suspicious of the pads, but if introduced slowly, quickly overcome their concerns. We never know how a horse is going to react the first time and therefore, it is important to know how to introduce SURE FOOT to your horse. Always watch the Quick Start Guide and visit SURE FOOT Equine for more information.

SURE FOOT may or may not help depending on the cause of the limited flexion. If, after standing on the pads you see that the horse is worse, stop. Use the pads only under the hooves where you see improvement or no change. The give in the pads may be too much for the body to cope with. However, if you see improvement then short sessions, every few days may help. HARD Orange Pads or the Physiopad may be best suited.

Associate memories in horses are just like in people. You experience something in a particular location. Every time you are reminded of that event you experience pleasure or anxiety depending on what happened.
SURE FOOT can be an excellent tool in overcoming these types of associative behaviors. First, start with the pads in a location where your horse is relaxed to acclimate him to the pads. After several sessions, where it is obvious, he goes into a parasympathetic response, deep breathing, lowering his head, softening his eyes, take the pads to the environment where he typically gets anxious.
Begin again offering the pads and do not expect him to respond as he does where he isn’t anxious. You may need to repeat this over several sessions. However, gradually the calmness always wins and, using the pads, you can switch his nervous system from “fight and flight” to “grazing” mode.
Then gradually introduce another element of the anxiety pattern repeating the pads as necessary to “switch” him from anxiety to calmness. Horses are quicker to let go of old patterns than people when you offer them a way to calm themselves and let go of old behaviors.

SURE FOOT has helped many anxious horses become calmer and more relaxed so it is definitely worth a try to see if it will help your horse. And, you are correct in that it can’t hurt! That is one of the keys to the SURE FOOT Equine Stability Program. Since you are offering this to your horse, she has the right to refuse the pads.

There are many reasons why your horse bucks when taking the canter and SURE FOOT may or may not be able to help depending on the cause.
Here’s how I work a problem:
1. Does he canter on his own in the field? If yes, go to the next question. If no, there is something that is already uncomfortable as most horses will canter once in a while.
2. Does he take both leads? Again, something he should do on his own. If he does not and can only take one lead, I suggest you find a “good” chiropractor as he may have structural problems.
3. Can he canter without bucking in an enclosed space (arena or round pen) a. with tack on?
b. with a rider on other than you?
c. with you on?
By using this process, you will see whether it is the horse, the tack or the rider that is causing the horse to buck. Without this process of elimination there is no way of telling what is causing it and if SURE FOOT will help.
However, in regards to working with SURE FOOT while riding you simply have to get on and off your horse during your ride. I have one person who spent the better part of a month getting off her horse to put him on the pads but my oh my what a difference it made!
How often depends on the horse. They can get body sore so you have to listen and if he doesn’t want to stand on them, do not force him. As he was on for 10 minutes, I would probably give him a couple of days off before doing it again. Think what it is like when you start a new exercise program!

Yes. Please visit our Resellers page or contact us if your country is not listed.

Please contact your country Reseller for shipping and delivery times.

Yes, you can find more information on my website.

Look on my website to find a clinic new you. Contact the organizer for more information.

Please contact Emily Luciano at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out how to organize a workshop in your area.

Yes! Please place an order through the store www.surefootequine.com/shop. Shipping costs will be calculated based on the items you ordered, the speed of shipping and your location.

We are not sure of all the ways in which SURE FOOT affects the nervous system in the horse. Clearly there are a wide variety of receptors being affected and brain chemicals released as evidenced by the visible signs; eyes softening, licking and chewing, deep breathing, relaxation, neck lowering, etc.

We are not sure at this time.

We hope to be able to conduct some research studies on how SURE FOOT is affecting the horse’s nervous system. At present there are no studies being conducted.

Please go to www.murdochmethod.com and click on SURE FOOT in the menu bar. Read the story of Dante, the first horse to find out how Wendy came up with the idea for SURE FOOT.

Yes, farriers are using SURE FOOT to make horses more comfortable while they work on them. We are hoping to expose more farriers and bare foot trimmers to the benefits of SURE FOOT in the future