Update post 252: I did it! 😅 Has anyone done this: DIY glue ons after farrier trims

[barnesthenoble]

I am regularly getting 12-16 weeks on my sets, and could use them for longer but the tabs are pretty worn out by the the end of a 4th reset and I can grind and weld new ones on but find it a bit annoying. This is on a lot of roads, hardpacked dirt, rocks, and coarse sand, not in arena footing.

I need to pull, trim, and reset the pair from my most recent picture this week; they’re at 13 weeks I think. I’ll try to remember to get a comparison of one side by side with a brand new shoe so you can see the amount of wear.

This is on a horse who absolutely annihilated his steel shoes every 6 weeks, so overall these wear much better IME!

[wtxhunter]

Oh great! Thanks for passing along!

[Inimitable]

Good news/bad news.

Good news: Mare #2 felt great in her first jump school in these! And the footing was harder than usual, so I was very happy to have them on.

Bad news: Mare #1 and Retired Gelding have both ripped tabs clear off of their shoes. Mare ripped both rear tabs off of her right front yesterday; I figured it was a fluke and she caught the heel being a dumbass. But today my gelding has also ripped off a couple tabs, and my mare has ripped off a front tab on the OTHER hoof. What the what. So much for resetting these.

Anyone else have this issue? Are my horses extra destructive? (I think I know the answer to this )

[outerbanks77]

My horse came in from pasture yesterday with her LF shoe ripped right off (right before my lesson, of course). I was using the Sticky Fingers, but had switched back to Stealth Cuffs on back, and will be doing the same on the fronts next time. I don’t know if the Duplo tabs are any better, but it seems that the solid connection with the cuff is just more durable, they are just a little tricker to get a good fit and glue adhesion. Most of the tabs had ripped off right at the shoe and were stull adhered to the wall, so it wasn’t an issue with my glue work or hoof prep.

As an aside, with all these new supplies, I just splurged on a Rigid 2.0 modular rolling tool box set. One box has drawers, which I put on the bottom, with a toolbox on top. Looking forward to better organization on the next re-sest.

[barnesthenoble]

Can you clarify what “ripped clean off” means? Are they still attached to the wall, but not the shoe? Or are they totally gone?

One thing to check if they seem gone but you can’t find them is to see if they popped off the hoof wall and got folded under between the foot and the shoe. You have to kind of poke around to see it sometimes because it really can look like they’re just gone!

Typically in my experience this has been a sizing issue when they pop off. Sometimes an accident happens and they yank a couple, and I do have a few horses where the rear tabs will pop loose mid-way through a cycle and if I can be bothered, I’ll reglue them, sometimes I just leave them be, though. Haven’t had a retention issue with them loose.

Other options could be them catching it on something, or overreaching. Usually though in my experience it’s a sizing and glue bond issue.

[Inimitable]

@barnesthenoble

One thing to check if they seem gone but you can’t find them is to see if they popped off the hoof wall and got folded under between the foot and the shoe

Omg!!! You’re a lifesaver. I just checked before I came back to reply and, sure enough, they got folded under. Man, those suckers can hide. Well, I know what I’ll be doing this afternoon - practicing cleaning and resetting. Thank you!

[Demerara_Stables]

@Inimitable can you share why you chose the octos over the Versas?

My older mare has always been in the nail on versas (going on 7 years) so when I wanted to try glue on for a different horse I ordered the versas (they arrive tomorrow), but curious why someone would pick one over the other.

[Inimitable]

@Demerara_Stables

can you share why you chose the octos over the Versas?

Well, I read in multiple places that the octos were the easiest to apply for beginners with no gluing experience since they use super glue and not fancy, $$$ adhesives. It sounds like Easy Care is developing a cuff for the Versas that will allow them to be used with super glue, and were you the one who posted in the other thread that double sided tape is now a thing?! That’s pretty cool.

Honestly, I see a ton of experimenting in my future. I think my main mare is going to be a tough fit for the Octos, she just doesn’t seem to have the correct hoof shape. But I am sooo early in the journey I really have no idea yet what’s going to work best for us. The next time I do a full reset will be directly after a farrier trim, so I am anxious to see what difference that makes in terms of fit/retention.

[Demerara_Stables]

Oh ok that makes sense!

Yes, here’s Garret’s post about the tape. Apparently it’s called “VHB” and it’s made by 3M. Going to give it a try as soon as I can find some! https://www.facebook.com/541967422/posts/pfbid02QY4GgCFPnyvp4VhWSbqQgsUmWD4YN3mX96Tyywe45rN6ShJFm78Pc1kKsWnYkEuKl/?app=fbl

ETA found it on Amazon. Arrives Thursday

I’ve been thrilled with the nail ons for my mare, and having 7 horses now that are basically out 24/7 (even in winter) makes glue ons very attractive so I’m not waiting for the farrier to tack lost shoes back on! Super excited for everything Easy Care is doing.

[Inimitable]

@barnesthenoble I have an outrageously dumb question for you. I got a butane torch to heat the tabs to help shape them and get a better fit against the hoof wall. How exactly do you mold them? They’re hot … lol. Also, there was a microscopic piece of electrical tape on one tab I was trying it on today and Mare #1 was very briefly on fire. This is fun. I’m having fun!

[RhythmNCruise]

Oooo! I see the VHB tape on Amazon too.

I need to measure feet and get my thoughts together about which shoes to order. I’m all about trying this.

[barnesthenoble]

Not dumb at all! A couple things:

1. I use a thick pair of cowhide or deerskin gloves for gluing, so it doesn’t get on my skin and everywhere, and they don’t leave behind gunk the way that nitrile gloves will.
2. I have a long hoofpick, like one of the Ultimate Hoofpicks, on hand. Anything similarly shaped would probably suffice!

I can usually press them against the hoof wall well enough with the glove, but some of them I get hot enough that I need to deploy the rapidly-press-to-hoof-then-pin-in-place-with-hoof-pick strategy.

When I’m heating tabs, I usually put the shoe on, pushed as far back as I can get it, and the tabs are usually sticking straight up or out. Then I’ll heat with the torch until stretchy and press. If it’s a really tight fit then I sometimes do it off the horse before applying, but that increases the risk of overstretching them IME. There’s a lot of genuine trial and error

I hope this helps! I’ll see if I can have someone grab a video next time I heat fit one.

ETA: Also yes, sometimes there is some minor scorching. Early on, one of my horses suffered a bit of a bowl cut of singed coronet hair. Nothing was properly on fire, but the hair just kind of evaporated much like a set of eyebrows would.

[Inimitable]

Sooo helpful! Thanks!

I also used the glue accelerator for the first time today. That stuff is life changing.

[Feathered_Feet]

I’m about to put on my first set of Versa’s on this weekend. Does anyone have good videos to recommend? I’ve seen the process several times and don’t feel intimated, but a good video to watch the day of application would be helpful.

Maybe I missed it, but how are you all using the double sided tape? Between the tabs and the hoof, instead of glue? Unless this is magic tape, I can’t see how that would be more secure than super glue or epoxy (but probably not a bad idea to have on hand as a quick/easy repair). I was planning to use the super glue recommended by Easy Care, then add equilox epoxy to fill the gaps (like you would in a hoof patch/repair).

Also, does anyone put casting over the glue/tape/shoe combo, as an added layer of security? I feel like that combo would be a shoe-in (pun intended).

[Ziggy793]

I’m also very interested in the idea of indirect glue-on + casting. My older gelding is growing out some horrible, shelly, compromised hoof wall (he had a rough summer last year ) and is flaring out his toes badly in boots. Casting has given him immediate comfort but he’s wearing through the soles in less than a week walking on pavement/gravel to and from turnout. I know direct glue shoes like eponas are very commonly and successfully used with casting, but I don’t feel comfortable doing the direct glue shoes with acrylic myself.

I’ve found a couple posts in the composite glue-on facebook group with people casting over the easy cares, but it doesn’t seem too common. Concerns raised are bulk on the hoof and the general risk of over-restriction of the hoof with casting (but for my guy, he needs that restriction right now):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/154737111905269

This week I’ve actually been keeping boots on over the casts to see how long that extends their life, but if I try the easy care + casting I will report back!

[outerbanks77]

I’ll be super interested if anyone tries the double-sided tape! I’m going to order some; it seems like it would work well for sticking the leather pads to the shoes.

I thought I was on the right track going back to the Stealth tabs after having the Sticky Fingers tabs rip off at the shoe, but then my mare came in with a missing shoe and one Stealth tab still mostly glued on. I was a little lax on my hoof prep last time since she was taking a bit to settle in at the new barn, so hanging around her back feet with a heat gun wasn’t high on my list of priorities. If the superglue doesn’t hold for a full cycle this time I think I’ll be switching to the VersaGlues and the VetTec Adhere or SuperFast, which is a bummer because the Stealths with superglue are almost invisible on her feet. Also thinking I might start dying the shoes orange, because the BO and I walked the pastures for half an hour the other night and never found either of the two shoes we know she’s ripped off out there.

[Inimitable]

I’ll be ordering some tape too. As someone mentioned upthread, seems like it would be a decent way to make quick repairs. I’m also wondering if taping under the tabs and then gluing/sealing around the edges might be effective.

[Demerara_Stables]

My Versas arrived two days ago and my tape arrives today! Hoping I’ll have time tomorrow to try it out.

I will say that there was a FB comment that the VHB tape achieves maximum stick at 3 days, so I might put it on the shoes and let it sit until Sunday then put it on the feet.

What # sand paper are you guys using for hoof prep? This is my first go with the glue ons. Planning on getting a sanding block and a wire brush. It’s pretty dry here so shouldn’t need a torch.

Fwiw I’m only doing tape instead of glue because glue seems like a huge pain, plus they have to stand so still. This horse is currently barefoot so I figure even if it just lasts a few days I’ll get a feel for how she does.

[barnesthenoble]

@Demerara_Stables

huge pain, plus they have to stand so still.

With the Versa grips, they don’t need to stand still. It’s not at all like the glue on shells or a direct glue application. The Octos require a little more stillness, but the grips especially, when they fit correctly, will stay on pretty darn well with fidgeting. And the actual gluing is way less fussy. Personally with the Grips, I like to put on the shoe then quickly plastic wrap it before gluing. Then quickly torch the end of my hoofpick and poke a couple holes in each side that correspond with the holes in the cuffs. Get my glue set up, insert, dispense, and voila! Already wrapped, and they can wiggle if they need to. I can’t promise it would stay on through real theatrics while the glue sets, but I glue with them loosely tied to a high line, not in cross ties or hard tied, and they can do a full circle if they want (and frequently do). Haven’t had a failure due to movement yet.

That said, the glue is expensive, and you need a gun, and tips, or to learn how to mix it yourself (if using acrylic), so I understand the reluctance. Just figured I’d reassure you about the standing still part! Good luck with the tape!

I think I use 60 or 80 grit on my hoof buffy, I’ll need to check when I get home.

[barnesthenoble]

@Feathered_Feet

Does anyone have good videos to recommend?

The ones on the EasyCare blog and I think the actual pages of the shoes are pretty good. I’ll try to find some links when I get home from work.

@Feathered_Feet

Also, does anyone put casting over the glue/tape/shoe combo, as an added layer of security?

I haven’t, because it’s just an added cost, but I don’t see why you couldn’t.

@Ziggy793

This week I’ve actually been keeping boots on over the casts to see how long that extends their life, but if I try the easy care + casting I will report back!

What about casting, then gluing to the cast? It would require you to size up and possibly get creative with a grinder for breakover purposes, but it would probably give your horse better hoof wall support. Other option is building in a rim with glue like Superfast to reinforce the heels and toes.