Shoes/Boots for MAX shock absorption

[FjordBCRF]

Linking Charlie’s neck thread but wanted to start a separate one just for shoeing - Tripping Problem - Vet/Vaccines/Shoes/Shockwave Update

When the vet was out for spring shots, we were talking about next steps for things we can try to keep Charlie as comfortable as possible. His rehab vet (different from routine vet) that we have been doing electro-acupuncture also does shockwave, so we’re going to see if we get anywhere with that.

Routine vet also thought it could be worth a try to see about putting him in some combo of a rocker shoe with some additional padding to help as much as possible with shock absorption.

I do my own trimming, but shoeing is very much out of my wheel house. Should we hold off on shoes until we see how the shock wave goes? Any particular shoe/pad combo really helpful for you horse?? Hit me with anything ya got.

[Kyrabee]

I am going to try some Equine Fusion boots with my girl. Last summer, she developed sore hocks. Had them injected and she slowly improved. I moved her to a new barn and she improved a lot more and my thinking is that the footing at the old barn had gotten hard. This is high desert and summer is just dry and despite water and regular working, the arena was hard.

Unfortunately, she did not get along at the other barn and was causing a ruckus and I had to move her back to the previous barn. So far, so good but I was looking at things to mitigate the harder ground. I haven’t shod her…she hasn’t had shoes since she was 6 (now 23). She is a bitch to shoe and I am not ruling it out but really don’t want to do to sedation in addition to getting her shod. Not to mention finding a competent farrier. The Equine Fusion boots claim to have better shock absorption. I am currently using Renegades on the front and Flex boots on the hind but both pair are nearing the end of their life so thought I would try the Equine Fusions.
Caveat…if they fit. She has a skinny little narrow foot which kind of limits our boot choices.

Anyway, these boots look to have a fair amount of shock absorption capability so they might be worth a look.

[Festivity]

If you’re happy trimming your own you should look into doing glue-on shoes. I particularly like the easycare glue-ons, I trim my own and learned how to do the glue-ons last fall for my husband’s mare. They have a bunch of different options including a rocker add on. For the laminitic pony I used the softest of the vettec hoof packing and put down a layer across the shoe, as thick as I could get to stay on the shoe, probably about 1/4”. I let that setup completely and then glued the shoes on the pony. She was super happy with that setup. More so than using the packing more traditionally.
The other nice thing with the glue-ons is if they aren’t working you can take them off and try again without damaging the hoof wall.

[kaya842]

Tried the Equine Fusion boots - they were no good for 24/7 wear because they did not breathe/ drain well at all. They held moisture so badly.

Soft rides are very soft indeed but only good for short term use as well.

I’d say it’s a tie between some type of steel shoe (rocker or egg bar) with pour in pads and composite shoes (Eponas seemed better liked than the Easy Shoes by horse) and DIM. Both were very cushiony for horse. The Eponas have a gel middle. I think the Easy Shoes have a new shoe with a similar soft middle but I have no experience with it. DIY glue ons are possible but a huge PITA, IMO. There’s a learning curve to the prep of foot, prep of the shoe, application of shoe, removal of shoe, etc. Not impossible by any means but depends on how much you feel like messing around with reapplying in the first few cycles/ months.

[Peggy]

A friend has used these composites on two horses with good results. She has the shoer apply bc she doesn’t do her own trims but they are apparently easy to apply and remove.

N & U Sport Horse Shoes | US Store

I have used Eponas. One thing I like better about the above is that the sole is more open. Another is the ease of application.

[GraceLikeRain]

I think glue on composites are by far the best shock absorption

[FjordBCRF]

Alright, so we’ve got some things in motion. We are starting shockwave therapy next Monday for the mineral deposit in his nuchal ligament, and Im expecting a few rounds of that. I’m going to keep him barefoot until we are through that since that (and hoof boots) are my major baselines. If we luck out, we are probably ok as is.

He did have a round of glue ones last spring when he flared up and we thought it might be feet and not soft tissue. They did help some, but didn’t make a major difference. It’s also hard to tell since everything was so fresh. We were going to set him up with more breakover if I was going to do a second set, but we ended up not needing to.

@Peggy

A friend has used these composites on two horses with good results. She has the shoer apply bc she doesn’t do her own trims but they are apparently easy to apply and remove.

N & U Sport Horse Shoes GmbH

N & U Sport Horse Shoes | US Store

The revolutionary glue on horseshoe crafted by thermoplastic materials

I have used Eponas. One thing I like better about the above is that the sole is more open. Another is the ease of application.

These look SUPER interesting. Im going to send the link to my backup trimmer who did his glue ons last year and see if she’s had any experience with them. They definitely seem less fussy than the glue ons we tried last year. If it turns out he needs shoes, Ill learn how to do glue ons myself; that was pricier than traditional shoes!

[FjordBCRF]

Before I go down the glue on rabbit hole…I spent some timing going down the rabbit hole on hoof boots we haven’t yet tried. I was between the Equine Fusion Ultra and the new Scoot Boot Theraride.

I just ordered a pair of the Equine Fusion Ultra boots. They seem to have the softest, most flexible sole and shock absorbing ability; moreso than the Scoots and VERY much moreso than the Renegade Vipers Im using now. The Fusion Ultras look like they will mimic the feeling of being on grass, and that is where he seems the most comfortable. Going to give those a go and see if we have any luck there.

We will be done with Shockwave at the end of May which should give us some time to experiment before deciding on glue ons or not.

[ParadoxFarm]

Good luck! Keep us posted.