Who has evented in plastic shoes???

cundlegreen

cundlegreen

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 February 2009
Messages
2,224
Location
Suffolk
Visit site
Opinions please, and what type did you use? My mare has very thin soles (same as her mother), and after having to withdraw her at Pulborough where I think she bruised her heels badly, I'm thinking of trying some sort of polymer shoe for next season. She doesn't do concussion well, as she has bone spurs on both hocks, so is transferring more weight onto her front end, which has resulted in one heel contracting too. Xrays of her feet are normal. Before the BF's start about diet, she is a natural "fatty" so when eventing would be unlikely to get more than 3lbs of H&P nuts (12% protein) and a small amount of grazeon. If I ever use sugarbeet, its unmollassed. She is checked for mineral deficiences on a regular basis.
So, does anybody use things apart from normal steel shoes?
 
One of mine was lame at the start of the year due to some shocking farriery :( Once we sorted out the major issues he was very sensitive & prone to bruising. He had a couple of shoeings with equity-pak which worked absolutely brilliantly. He now doesn't need it anymore because the feet have improved.
 
My farrier has already suggested equipak, but it doesn't solve the problem of the heels contracting. She's only 7, so I need to look at alternatives. I've checked out the imprint, and also epona. The big thing is that I want her heels to be able to open out more, and some of the videos of certain plastic shoes seem to allow this to happen. There are a lot of endurance people who use them, so they must stand up to wear well.
 
cundlegreen said:
My farrier has already suggested equipak, but it doesn't solve the problem of the heels contracting. She's only 7, so I need to look at alternatives. I've checked out the imprint, and also epona. The big thing is that I want her heels to be able to open out more, and some of the videos of certain plastic shoes seem to allow this to happen. There are a lot of endurance people who use them, so they must stand up to wear well.
Click to expand...

As a guide 2 of the people I know using imprints are done every 3-4 weeks, shoes last easily this long, they aren't doing roadwork although they are hacking and jumping regularly. Sounds like barefoot rehab may be best for your mare, is this an option over the winter months? if not then give plastic shoes a go
 
maxine1985 said:
As a guide 2 of the people I know using imprints are done every 3-4 weeks, shoes last easily this long, they aren't doing roadwork although they are hacking and jumping regularly. Sounds like barefoot rehab may be best for your mare, is this an option over the winter months? if not then give plastic shoes a go
Click to expand...
She's going to have 3 months off without shoes, then we'll see. I find that she has the same trouble every year with chunks of hoof breaking off rear quarters, hence another reason to try alternatives.
 
I have no experience eventing or riding wise regards glue on shoes but currently have an ex-brood mare who has gone straight to chronic laminitis without any preceding developing or acute laminitis symptoms (farrier & vet both reasonably thought it was bruising only) and who has tested negative for cushings and EMS.

As part of her treatment the vet has requested glue-on shoes and I had a long discussions with my very experienced farrier about which ones to use. He has found the Sigafoo shoes have worked a lot better for him when needing to fit glue on shoes to working horses, might be a brand to take a look at as well. Good luck I hope you find something that works for her :-)
 
I think your plan for 3 mths recovery time is the best option.

I'd use the time for a " barefoot rehab"; so keeping her moving comfortably to build up her soles and develop/ decontract the back of her foot.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say her mineral level is tested regularly. Do you mean you're getting regular blood tests?

Oberon would be the user to contact about " diet for hoof health". I'd guess at unmolassed chaff, beet, linseed and a supp like pro-balance/pro-hoof/forage plus.

I reckon if you do this then you'll have healthy feet with thick(er) soles to nail " normal" shoes onto when you need to stud for eventing.
 
Yes I do - Epona Shoes

http://www.eponashoe.com/

Admittedly only 90cms unaffiliated so far, but I've had no problems. Important to note though that I have them glued and nailed on - I'm pretty certain they wouldn't stand up to it with just glue. I haven't yet competed in wet conditions which will be a good test as I'm concerned about the grip, but they do a version which allows for studs so I may look at those next season when hopefully we will be able to build on this year's experience and do a bit more. Our hacking is over very hilly farmland, with plenty of fast work, and although the ground's getting wetter now they haven't lost grip yet, either uphill or downhill.

My reason for using them is that we are failed barefooters - I tried for 2 years but quite simply couldn't get my sensitive TB comfortable enough. I tried everything I could - good diet, minerals, good trimmer, good environment, but he just couldn't cope, he's a sensitive soul! I didn't want to put metal shoes back on as he has had the kissing spine op and a fetlock arthroscopy to remove a bony spur. That joint has early stages of arthritis, so in the interests of trying to make his ridden career last as long as possible I thought I'd give them a try. I'm lucky enough to have a farrier near me who worked with a barefoot trimmer to get them to work well, he's very meticulous when he puts them on and it takes him 2 hours to do a full set. They are expensive but he doesn't charge the earth considering the time it takes him to do them and he has a reasonable amount of travelling time to get to me.

Since using them his feet have actually improved, his heel has beefed up considerably and the basic structures are as good as barefoot, obviously though without the sole exfoliation. He has a better heel first landing than he did barefoot. The sole is not pared back as for normal trimming so if I wanted to go back to barefoot the transition shouldn't be too difficult. The trimmer who used to do my horse has actually recommended them to one of her clients who was struggling with her horse, based on what she's seen with mine.

I highly recommend them but I think it's down to the farrier that they work so well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top