Does anyone here use composite shoes on their eventer or know of folks using composite shoes in eventing? Either glue-on or nail-on? I would like to hear your experience with them. Particularly interested in anyone’s experience using composites with studs.
I know composites are somewhat popular in the dressage world, and have gained traction in the jumper ring, but I’d love to know if folks are using them for eventing.
Not super applicable to Eventing specifically but I have used composites with studs but not the studs you eventers use (the interchangeable type). Instead these were like tiny road studs set into the Eponas my horse wore. I’m no eventer but ride exclusively on a grassy hill at home as that’s all the clear land I have to work with, and the small studs gave my horse plenty of traction for smaller jumps in that area (2’6-3’). A friend of mine has a horse in composites but horse is mostly a dressage horse, though he ran starter in the shoes last year I don’t think she used studs.
My horse is currently in glue ons (Polyflex) and was in them for several years (we took a short break from them due to an injury).
There is an option with stud holes, but we’re just getting back to eventing after spending the last 4-5 years in jumperland, so I don’t feel a need to use studs yet.
My horse does really well in the glue ons. We have no issues with traction or slipping, and he can’t pull them off like he could with a standard nail on shoe. He’s more comfortable in the glue ons than standard nail on shoes, nail on shoes with pads/Equipak, etc. They do offer some pad options, but I have no experience with them.
The only downside is the cost, they’re significantly more $$ than standard nail on shoes, but having my horse be a lot more comfortable and not worrying about sprung/lost shoes is worth every penny, 10/10 recommend. Application is KEY. Glue failures happen because they weren’t put on properly. My horse goes out every single day in every kind of footing, snow/ice/mud/hard+dry/grass with no issue. Not every farrier can do glue ons well, just keep that in mind.
Photo of a freshly done pair just because it’s so satisfying 
There’s nothing more humbling than paying more per year in shoes for your horse than you have spent on a vacation for yourself. Ask me how I know… 
Ahhh that photo is so pleasing to look at haha!
I have a great farrier that specializes in composites/plastic shoes both glue on and nail on.
Basically I had my horse in professional training with my eventing coach for 6 months and just brought her back home. In those six months she was away, their farrier took her feet from lovely barefoot feet with good heel and nice angles to long toes, collapsed heels and a negative angle in her right hind. I put her in steel shoes all around because she just needed some extra support and the confident change in her step was immediate so I’m glad I listened to her body and did shoes, but (and for some reason this seems to be a trend in the sport world around where i’m at…) the farrier grew out her toe, didn’t address her angles at all, and her right hind that I had been working on with my vet and farrier before i sent her away, went from positive to neutral to negative. So when I brought her home I pulled the steel shoes and had my personal farrier put her in composites. She is ordering me nail on composites with clips and stud holes, so for now we are in glue ons. Already my mare seems very happy with them and is moving comfortably so I’m happy with the easy transition. But am curious if anyone else out there has used these shoes out XC and how they fare. Thank you for your feedback!
Oh dude, right? Ugh I just paid $350 for her new composites.
Sorry I didn’t clarify: I used the Poly for a few years back when I was eventing previously and had no issues XC. We were going Novice at the time and had no problems with traction, etc. and I wasn’t using the stud option Poly.
@LeAnnabama - if you don’t mind me asking, what shoes is your farrier ordering to nail on? I have been wanting to put my TB in composites on his hinds, but want regular nail on, and my farrier (who is self-admittedly not a composite expert at all) has said that he has only seen the type with the cuff to glue that say “glue or nail”. Wondering if there’s something better out there that I can show him.
@PNWjumper Hi there! I’m looking at the Duplo line of composites. Easy Shoe also makes a clipped shoe with stud holes. Good luck!
My horse went in polyflex for over a year on XC. I studded every time I jumped on grass as they are super slick if the grass is any bit wet and he is long, big and green. He’s a horse I would stud for XC 90% of the time anyway- maybe if it was my old dude who was a pocket rocket I wouldnt have needed to but this guy I don’t take chances on.
I didn’t read all the previous posts so forgive me if someone else said this, but one thing to mention in any of those shoes (that I learned the hard way) is don’t tighten your studs all the way as you can break the glue and they will get stuck. I just would turn barely a quarter turn with my wrench after screwing them in my hand.
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