How to Attach a Tender Cushion

• Quick and easy method of attachment
• Ideal for short term wear such as overnight, during a trailer ride, or for first aid back to safety.
• Convenient to carry in a first aid kit or trailer.
• Affordable to buy in bulk to keep anywhere you might need.  
• A second and third layer of hoof tape, if available, can be used for additional strength and durability.
• Many other great uses and handy to have around.
• Hoof tape has a rough gritty exterior surface for traction.
• Tape can be safely removed from the hoof when finished.
• Available in multiple brands from many equine retailers
• Plan to use precut hoof tape as a short-term solution only
• Tender Cushion is developing a custom precut hoof tape for our pads, but it is not yet available.

1. Clean and dry the entire hoof for the tape to stick.
2. Check the size of the Tender Cushion pad against the hoof. Optional Size Stencil Avoid sticking out from the front of the hoof to avoid tripping.  A small amount of overhang on the sides and back of the hoof is ideal.  Tender Cushion Open Cell Equine Hoof Pads are shaped to fit most horses without cutting.
3. Remove paper backing from the hoof tape.  Prepare to keep the sticky side clean.
4. Place the Tender Cushion pad on to the sticky hoof tape in the center and press together.  Keep the flaps of tape flat.
5. Now with the pad stuck to the center of the hoof tape, place the pad against the hoof with the flat part towards the back.  Avoid excessive pad sticking out from the front of the hoof to avoid tripping.
6. Fold up the remaining tape to the hoof.  Keep pressure and secure the tape as tight as possible.
7. Add a second sheet of tape, if available, offset to the first for durability.
8. Avoid excessive tape above the coronet or hairline of the hoof.
9. Precut hoof tape can be slowly and carefully removed from a used Tender Cushion to wash and reuse the pad.  Keep two pads per hoof on hand to swap out when washing and drying.

• This method is the most secure and longest lasting
• Ideal for longer term wear including weeks of medical rehab and long-term quality of life use. 
• Can be worn up to one full week before cleaning and rewrapping.  A fresh pad, dry can be immediately reattached.
• 2" Elastikon cloth tape is used at most equine vet clinics and is commonly available at many retailers.  Any brand of cloth tape works. Use what is available for you at the time.
• Cloth tape sticks to itself and the hoof with a strong grip but gentle to the horse when removed.
• Cloth tape is used to completely wrap around the pad and hoof to secure the pad before any other tapes or wraps. 
• Cloth tape is easy to remove from the used pad so that it can be washed and reused.
• Duct tape strips are placed on the bottom of the pad after the Elastikon cloth tape to add additional durability and water resistance.
• Always use original name brand quality duct tape when available.
• Cloth tape and duct tape have unlimited uses and are worthwhile to have in stock anywhere you keep tack or medical supplies.  Buy it BEFORE you need it!
• Tape can be safely removed from the hoof when finished.
• Available in multiple brands from many retailers
• Elastikon on Amazon
• Original Basic Name Brand Duct Tape on Amazon

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1. Clean and dry the entire hoof for the tape to stick.
2. Check the size of the Tender Cushion pad against the hoof. Optional Size Stencil Avoid sticking out from the front of the hoof to avoid tripping.  A small amount of overhang on the sides and back of the hoof is ideal.  Tender Cushion Open Cell Equine Hoof Pads are shaped to fit most horses without cutting.
3. Hold the pad against the hoof and use the cloth tape to tightly wrap around the hoof and the Tender Cushion.
4. Wrap the cloth tape tightly around the pad and hoof until it is secure on all sides.  Keep a small amount of cloth tape until after the duct tape strips.
5. Check that the Tender Cushion is secure enough to the hoof.  It should not move around freely or move when wiggled.
6. Apply duct tape in strips outside of the cloth tape on the bottom of the hoof.  Duct tape on the bottom increases the strength and durability of the wrap.
7. Use the remaining cloth tape to secure the top edges of the duct tape strips.
8. Avoid excessive tape above the coronet or hairline of the hoof.
9. Cloth tape is easy to remove from a used Tender Cushion so the pad can be washed and reused.  Keep two pads per hoof on hand to swap out when washing and drying.
10. A Tender Cushion properly secured with cloth tape and duct tape can be worn for up to a week at a time before cleaning and rewrapping.  This method is suitable for long term quality of life comfort wear.  If you have a horse to needs to wear Tender Cushion pads long term, buy two pads per hoof so they can be swapped out weekly.