Versa Octo Glue on Shoes

I haven’t used the Versa’s but when I took my Connie out of steel shoes due to hock arthritis and before he retired I used Duplos which are another composite brand and they were brilliant. They were nailed on rather than glued and they regularly lasted at least 3 cycles which is good as they were £180 for a full set. If he ever needed shoes again I would put him in glue ons.
 
I'd be interested in how the grip compares. I have spent 3.5 years mostly hacking in hoof boots (models with as good a grip as possible). I have found issues with lack of grip on grass when damp / dew / frost / muddy etc.

My horse has recently had simple metal shoes back on, and instantly has much better grip on winter grass. The extent of the improvement in grip has astounded me, changing nothing else at the same time, winter hacking

I avoided the various composite options, as I am not convinced the grip would be as good on wet grass as steel. The ones offered locally did not look like better grip than hoof boots. But werent the versa octo which I have long fancied trying. But dont know anyone local that uses them.

It is really hard to judge though, as some of my friends' horses seem okay on wet grass in basic (not designed for good grip) hoof boots. Though I know lots of horses that arent okay on wet grass in any hoof boots too.

Whilst I know there are successful endurance riders in boots and in composite shoes, especially in America, I am not convinced that fast work on wet grass is safe for all horses in boots / composites etc. Maybe it depends on the movement type / style of the horse? I have a fairly large, extravagant warmblood, who fails to be economical with his movement.
 
Yes I used versas once. They stayed on for 8 weeks and I evented in them. Didn't intend for them to be on that long but my horse got pneumonia and we were worried about toxic lami, vets felt the shows were supportive.

They are quite "thick" and I guess some horses with thin soles may have an issue with the pressure.
 
HappyHollyDays said:
I haven’t used the Versa’s but when I took my Connie out of steel shoes due to hock arthritis and before he retired I used Duplos which are another composite brand and they were brilliant. They were nailed on rather than glued and they regularly lasted at least 3 cycles which is good as they were £180 for a full set. If he ever needed shoes again I would put him in glue ons.
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I also used Duplo. They last for ages, I seemed to keep going with just getting removes.
 
What's your ground like? I'd be interested to hear how they perform in sticky mud, I mentioned glue ons to our farrier (to minimise concussion, arthritis) but he felt that with our clay-ey ground they'd be difficult to keep on.
 
SpeedyPony said:
What's your ground like? I'd be interested to hear how they perform in sticky mud, I mentioned glue ons to our farrier (to minimise concussion, arthritis) but he felt that with our clay-ey ground they'd be difficult to keep on.
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Our horses are in on pea gravel pens over winter so not much chance to check them out in mud.
I can say that she jumped in them last night and looks extremely comfortable!
I have joined a Facebook group for glue on shoes and a few have mentioned beveling the breakover but I haven't a clue how or where to do that!
 
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