Feel free to PM me if you want!
I clearly struggled with retention at first, but it’s all spelled out here. I’m happy to rehash my experience with anyone though.
I’m no pro. I’m not a HCP. But I plunged in with both feet, and my horses have benefited greatly. One day I’ll be happy with every aspect of a set, but for now I learn every time.
Has anyone tried the superglue with the versa cuffs? This is going to set me back a pretty penny, sigh. I mean, less than boots probably, but I need it all. I have reams of tips and a gun, but not the right ones.
I’m finally going to get the right plastic wrap. I’ve been using an industrial saran wrap I found and it is maddening as the roll is way too long. But I was too cheap to buy the proper stuff until this was gone.
I’ve used the Stealth cuffs/tabs with superglue. The cuffs with holes need a thicker glue. I’d recommend using electrical tape rather than plastic wrap. A little bit of plastic wrap first can give a cleaner application, but the electrical tape is what really holds the tab/cuff in place while the glue sets.
Yes, I started doing that with the octos and it really helped.
Yep. They aren’t completely flush with the hoof wall, so thin super glue likely won’t work.
Totally worth it to me. I don’t feel the need for electrical tape, but a bit of tape to hold the tail of the plastic wrap if you can’t get it tucked in won’t hurt. I think the tape is more helpful for the superglue applications.
Also that roll has lasted me… ages? Since set 1? And I’m not conservative 
If you want to start with a slightly smaller investment, you can get the Equilox stubbies and adapter. They just use a cheapo caulking gun from a hardware store.
Stubbie (in black, also available in tan): https://www.well-shod.com/EQUILOX-STUBBIE-150ML-BLACK
Adapter: https://www.well-shod.com/EQUILOX-STUBBIE-150ML-CONVERTER
The glue is a little more expensive vs buying in bulk, but it’s a ~$75 experiment instead of a $250 one.
As for using superglue on the versa cuffs, I’ve never tried it. I’ve seen some folks on FB mention trying it, usually either on a set they’d already glued with acrylic and are resetting, or folks who ground down the little nubs on the inside of the cuffs. There’s also a new shoe coming out in January that will have a cuff adapter that can be used with superglue. Garrett has posted about it on FB the last few days. He’s calling it the EasyShoe One.
Thanks for this - I see the stubbie on the site I buy supplies from, but wasn’t sure what it was.
We’ve been dumped on with snow so now I’m second guessing my winter plan. He’s popping out the snow balls with such ease I am hesitant to put on shoes that will keep the snow packed in. I’m considering just doing the boots for the winter and back to shoes in the spring or if the snow melts and we’re left with hard rutted ground.
A good snowy winter just cleans up all thrush and gunk and offers so much engagement for the frog and heels, I hate to take that away and leave him with snow balls in his feet more often then not.
FWIW - if scoots work for you, they’re great winter hoof boots! They don’t offer enough support for my guy, but a lot of people like them.
That’s the one boot I haven’t tried…
I had Flex boots that I really liked and might try those again. I hesitate to buy anything I haven’t used before in case they don’t work.
His issue is just thin soles. He’s a big fat baby and for whatever reason won’t grow strong enough sole to be comfortable enough to work barefoot. I’ve been trying for years.
BTDT. The composites grow sole like no one’s business - I’ve not had the same luck with boots. Probably because boots rarely stay on 24/7. But boots are better than bare for a lot of horses!
New development - I think the Versa plugs are causing retention issues with mine. CAVEAT - he twists a bit behind and would twist out of nail shoes and/or fling them everywhere. I got about 10 days out of the last set of hinds - the difference was I added 2.5 degree wedges… and plugs. Initially I had plugs in all the shoes, but I stopped having retention issues about the time I stopped ordering plugs. I also upped my hoof prep game at the same time though, and chocked it up to that rather than the equipment change.
Also. This is the first set I’ve done in the cold; the fronts are on solid though and they’re currently Speeds… 
I think the plugs reduce some of the flex based on how they screw in and thus can make a shoe pull away easier when you’ve got a horse that is… talented… like mine
Anyway. An observation. I doubt a pad and packing would have the same issue, but I’m lazy
That’s super interesting! I haven’t had a problem with plugs on my super twisty-hocked guy, but I almost exclusively use Octos on him behind. He did straight up twist out of a pair of Versa Grips (with plugs) behind the one time I used them. I didn’t have a problem when I used the Speeds on his hind feet, either. I usually superglue the plugs in, but I’ve had some weird failures where the plugs fall out with just superglue so I’ve started adding a couple screws for added security.
That’s interesting. I always screw them in, and in the process I can see the shoe bending a bit. The screws are load bearing I think!
I don’t use Octos, only Versas and Speeds right now. If I was committed to the plugs, I might try Octos - but that’s a HUGE change in application process and I’m not up to it yet
I was using the 3ds and quite liked them. Lower profile then the octos it seemed, maybe that would help? I don’t have any experience with the plugs though.
Still haven’t gotten hinds back on my horse - the rollers I ordered were too small and the next size is out of stock everywhere. I’ll just reset with Versas I think.
And on that note - holy hoof growth Batman! I’ve had speeds on the front for 3 weeks and we have HELLA growth, including heel height. I’ll pop the shoes off this week for a reset, I think if I switch to a hind pattern shoe for a little extra length in the heel I could get to 4 weeks just for convenience. I am not seeing the same/usual amount of growth with the bare hind feet.
I’m sure some of this is natural for this horse to grow more foot in front, but if anyone is struggling with getting heels growing barefoot the composites seem to really help.
I just did my first reset after about 6 weeks from my first set. Very pleased how well they stayed on, I had a devil of a time getting them off!! And once they were off, it took even longer to pick off the leftover urethane, lol, but it got done.
I did plastic wrap first on both fronts this time. I didn’t get quite as much glue as evenly distributed as I’d like; I know I overdid it with the glue on the first set, so I tried to be more conservative this time. Perhaps too conservative…hope this set stays on at least 4 weeks, we’ll see. It definitely is a prettier job than the first attempt. I still didn’t get the RF shoe set back as much as I want; I probably need a heat gun to mold the tabs back properly to get the toe where it should be, and I think the shoe shifted slightly forward anyway when I was plastic wrapping. Its not ideal, but I should be ok if I reset at 4 weeks. The left front foot turned out well.
My horses absolutely loves his glue on sneakers, there was so much licking and chewing when I put them back on after cleaning. He was in easyboot clouds in the meantime, but was so much happier when I slipped his Speeds back on. He moves great and has confidence over fences. I can’t say he really grew a ton more sole or heel yet, but he had significantly more concavity in both feet. When I first applied the Speeds, his feet were pancake flat and splayed. He grew a lot of toe, not unexpected, but the wall was so much straighter without dishing or flaring in every direction, which is what led to the improved concavity. He has been on a forage based diet his whole life, with ration balancer and added copper and zinc. His field mate, same age same diet has beautiful bare feet with strong walls, heels and digital cushion; with this guy it’s just genetics. I’m thrilled with the results with the Speeds so far.
Before trim/after reset
Wow, nice work!
Fantastic work! Looking much better!
Resurrecting this thread to ask a question about the application of the tabs with urethane. I’ve been using the Versa Grip Octos with variable success throughout the winter (have had shoes last as long as 5 weeks and as little as 1 lol) and am going to make the jump and buy a glue gun to try the metal speeds with urethane.
What I am confused about is the mixing tips. It sounds like you need a new tip for each shoe? Is this because the tips get gummed up if they sit too long? If both shoes were prepped/fitted at once could you theoretically use one tip to fill both if you were quick?
If you work fast, you don’t need a new tip for every shoe! The issue is if the glue starts to set in the tip, you need a new one. I can get 2 shoes easily especially in the winter. 4 if I’m super efficient. In the summer, sometimes it’s 1.5 shoes per tip 
If you need time between shoes to smooth everything or if your horse can’t be trusted to stand still with four shoes just slipped on, you may need a tip for each one. You have to be set up to essentially glue everything and then go back and wrap. People who wrap the shoes and then glue through holes in the wrap can get a whole set done (because the wrap holds everything together), but I have never had good luck that way.
Ok perfect, that makes sense. I’m only doing fronts for now so hopefully shouldnt need more than two for my first experiment. Thank you!!
ETA: How many shoes do you typically get out of a 200ml thing of glue?
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
