Non-metal horseshoes - what are the options?

F

flintfootfilly

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 November 2010
Messages
611
Visit site
Have just had front shoes put on my mare for the first time in around 11 years (she is borderline Cushing's and no longer comfortable unshod). This morning's ride out was noisy and I could feel the concussion as I rode.

I've heard of Imprints and Epona plastic shoes, but I know very little about them.

Would be interested in hearing anyone's direct experience of their use (pro's, con's etc, glue vs nails, availability, need for specialist training for farrier to be able to apply them, cost et ) or of any other non-metallic shoe options. It's just shoes that I'm interested in at this stage - not hoof boots (which I've found very useful over the years with a variety of ponies over a variety of terrain).

Thank you!

Sarah
 
I have used the eponas briefly and my horse was comfy in them but as they were only glued on he got them off pretty quickly in the field, tried to nail as well, but at that time he did not have enough foot to nail too, so I gave up and put boots on!
I think if your horse has decent feet they would probably work well, its best to glue and use a few nails
They are much cheaper than imprints!
 
Eponas are great but only go up to size 5. I import Hoof-It plastic shoes for my cobs (they were barefoot for 10 years but now have problems, not diet related). These come from America and have sizes from mini to large draught. Been using them for 6 months now and am getting on fine. The company were very helpful and provided instructions for my farrier, as the mares are in work the shoes are glued on then 2 nails in each side. They are replaced every 7 weeks, there are no signs of nail hole stretching as with metal shoes and they are both much happier since having them. I buy the shoes and glue and my farrier charges £30 each horse for fitting to the fronts (hinds still bare). They both had boots for the last 2 years for when feet were showing signs of too much wear but the skin problems meant that their bulbs were not standing up to this and causing problems.
If you can fit in Eponas I would go for them but you can't get them from Sally in Bristol anymore, my last sets came from Germany cost about £35 a pair. The hoof-It cost about £25 a pair by the time you pay import duty and carriage but if you e-mail Hoof-It they will get a cheaper UPS quote if you say it's for UK delivery (the carriage in the online shop is really expensive).
Hope this helps :-) I always said I would never go back to shoes but they need them and at least it's not metal causing concussion to the joints
 
Thanks for the tips and suggestions.

Yes, I tried hoofwraps as a first option when it became clear that my mare was no longer comfortable wandering round the yard at home (that was BEFORE the case that deemed they are only to be fitted by farriers). They instantly helped her to be more comfortable, and allowed some thickness of sole to start to build up. I did several rides out with them, using a size larger hoofboot than usual over the top of them. However, shortly after a 10 mile ride she became very uncomfortable and developed abscesses and my impression is that while the hoofwraps are good for non-working horses, the pressures on the sole are too uneven for the horse (my mare at any rate) to be able to work for any length of time with them on under hoofboots.

I did wonder how (in)effective the glue would be at keeping shoes on a working horse, so it's interesting to hear people's experiences.

I wish some of these plastic shoes were either just rim shoes (rather than bar shoes) or that they at least had a removable centre for better access to remove gravel, grit etc and to be able to check frog health generally, but can't seem to find anything like that? My yard is partly hardcore and partly pea gravel, as well as concrete/tarmac, and I don't want to restrict her to a bedded down stable when she's not out on a hack.

Hmmm, bet there'd be a market for them if someone would invent them!

Thanks again.

Sarah
 
flintfootfilly said:
Have just had front shoes put on my mare for the first time in around 11 years (she is borderline Cushing's and no longer comfortable unshod). This morning's ride out was noisy and I could feel the concussion as I rode.

I've heard of Imprints and Epona plastic shoes, but I know very little about them.

Would be interested in hearing anyone's direct experience of their use (pro's, con's etc, glue vs nails, availability, need for specialist training for farrier to be able to apply them, cost et ) or of any other non-metallic shoe options. It's just shoes that I'm interested in at this stage - not hoof boots (which I've found very useful over the years with a variety of ponies over a variety of terrain).

Thank you!

Sarah
Click to expand...

Flinty I had imprints on my mare for lami you prob remember. They were very carefully trimmed-filed etc. Then the imprint was heated etc.. *PING* idea here watch the video .

I was very happy with them took a while to prepare foot ready but they gave her comfort immediately on her first walk

Andrew Poyton invented them he is a really nice easy guy to talk to and will answer any question you have, I spent ages on the phone and it was his phone call.


http://www.imprintshoes.co.uk/sequence/iss/index.html

[youtube]RXEyII2csj8[/youtube]
 
Last edited:
I had 3 sets of Imprints on one of mine last year, which took him from a shambling wreck into full soundness in about a fortnight. I was very impressed by them, but not by the price:eek::eek::eek:
They were put on by Andrew Poynton, who developed them, and he only does remedial farriery really. A normal farrier would be cheaper, but I can't see how they'd be quite as practiced and proficient as AP.

(When the money ran out we went into metals in front, but the balance and hoof shape went to pot in 3 cycles and we are now barefoot and booted again).

So if you can afford Imprints, go for it but make sure you get a farrier who's been properly trained by AP to apply them.

Oh, they stay on well, as well as normal shoes I think. 6 weeks no problem, including on hard frozen rutty turn out and deep mud. Also, they wear very well (although we didn't do that much road work, to be fair).
 
Hi, I know about Imprints.
Andrew Poynton runs courses for farriers to go on so quite a lot of farriers do know how to use them, and they are quite simple really to fit. However if you do want them you need to have a good place for shoeing. It must be dry, clean and level and electricity.
They are very expensive, just because they cost a lot more as a unit that a metal shoe and take a lot longer to fit and then the glue, heat gun, freeze spray etc that you also need cost a lot. If your horse does loose a shoe then it will also cost a lot more to get it put back on as you can only buy them in pairs.
They only last as long as metal shoes and can not easily be refitted.
They are good for laminities and cushings horses though, and there is not the concussion of nailing on.
If your horse is spooky they would not be great as a dreminal is ususally used to make little holes in the hoof for the glue to stick on better and a heat gun/hair dryer tyoe thing is used to dry the hoof out if it is wet (so glue sticks better)
Thats all I can think of so far!
 
Just fitted a set of Eponas to our little Shetland at a cost of 44Euros from France including postage. It works out about the same if I got them from the USA.
 
Have a look at http://www.soundhorse.com/

Glue on aluminium compound with a built in rim pad to reduce concussion. They do not come off - one of mine wore them for about 4 years, being shod every 6-8 weeks, showjumped and hunter trialled in them - and never lost one.
Expensive, as come from USA, but worth it if they do what you want!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top