It is, usually, held by the nails that hold the shoe in place. A full pad covers up the bottom of the foot, trapping dirt and bacteria under the pad. H orses with full pads require packing in between the sole and the pad. Packing helps to prevent dirt and bacterial infections such as thrush. Pine tar and oakum, pine tar soaked peat moss and silicone rubber are the most common packings used by farriers.
Some farriers use antiseptics before the shoes, pads and packing are applied.
A wedge pad is a full pad that is thicker at one end than the other forming a wedge. It is used to effect a change in the balance of the hoof. It is usually held on by the nails that secure the shoe, but can be riveted to the shoe. Heel wedges are U shaped plastic wedges that are used like and have the same advantages of rim pads. However, they can only be used to raise the hoof angle at the heel.