rubber horse shoes?

[Morgan123]

Anyone tried them? Why aren't they more popular?! I have an Arab who is getting old and doesn't want to admit it - looking at gel pads for between his shoes, but someone non-horsey suggested using rubber shoes (whihc she invented) and i've just seen that they actually do exist! Genius! Where do you get them and can a normal farrier fit them?!

 

[welshcobmad]

I'd be interested in this too!

 

[cm2581]

Glue on plastic/rubber shoes such as imprint shoes - brilliant but VERY VERY expensive. More than double normal set.

Nail on (used some trendy green/yellow ones can't remember the name!) cause the nails to move in the hoof wall due to the flex of the rubber and fairly quickly knacker the hoof wall.

As an alternative, why not try boots and pads either over the shoes (invalidates warranty but loads of people do this with no ill effects) or without shoes. Shock absorbing trainers! If only nike did some!!!

 

[Ibblebibble]

ohhh i have a mental image of horses all boinging along on rubber shoes, be good for showjumping

 

[kerilli]

yes, i used the rubber-covered metal shoes for a year or two about 12 years ago, they're called Ollov iirc. my farrier hated them because you can't heat them (obviously!), so they have to bent in a pipe-bender to get exactly the right shape, it took him ages. luckily he was my boyfriend at the time so i got away with it!
they were good, could use studs with them and everything. i think i limited the roadwork a little but they were good.
i used Imprint plastic shoes on Katy a couple of years ago and they were fiendishly expensive, fell off all the time (one after only being on for a week), cost £50 each to put back on, and overall did her feet no good whatsoever, so i wouldn't recommend those. i hear better things of the Sigafuss ones though.