There are many people for shoeing horses and just as many against. The pros and cons can be argued back and forth for days. Many people consider steel shoes harmful to the horse’s hooves as they don’t allow for the normal expansion and contraction that occurs in the hoof. It is believed they can hinder circulation, amongst other damage to the hoof.
There are boots available and for some these work great. For others they don’t. So for those that need some sort of protection for their horse’s hooves they are left without much of an option. At least that’s what most people think. What they don’t realize is that plastic shoes may be just what they need.
Yes that’s right, plastic horseshoes. Plastic, or polyurethane, is the same material that is used to make skateboard wheels. So we aren’t talking about water bottle flimsy, but tough and sturdy, a material made to take a lot of abuse.
Some advantages are that they provide better shock absorption, so less concussion on your horse’s hooves and legs. They allow the natural expansion and contraction of the hoof. And if caught, usually don’t bend like steel shoes but flex back into place. Yet many people are hesitant to use plastic shoes for several reasons.
Usually the most compelling is cost. As someone said to me recently their farrier quoted them $145 just for the front shoes! For most, this just isn’t possible to fit into the budget, especially if you use shoes all around, or if you have more than one horse.
Other concerns are durability, traction, and protection. Are they slippery on concrete or pavement? Are the shoes going to have be reset more often? And are they really going to provide adequate protection for riding on rocky ground or other hard areas?
And if these questions weren’t enough, there is the concern as most plastic shoes are usually glue on. This means they often don’t hold up in muddy conditions or when really put to the test.
But there may be a horseshoe that solves many of these issues: the Ground Control Horseshoe. This horseshoe has a rather unique design. Instead of glue, these are nailed on, so they stay on better. They also have a support in the center for the frog, but with open sides to be able to clean out the hoof and for air circulation. Then there’s the grid to help provide traction.
And price? They’ve got that covered too. At $9 a shoe, you don’t have to break the bank in order to use these.
They are put on like a normal shoe, but then trimmed to fit the hoof using nippers or a file.
Make sure to get your horse’s hoof measurements before buying the shoes. They have a chart and sizes on their website so before you order double check this.
At the horse rescue I run we recently got a pair of these for one of our horses. We’d been using normal steel shoes on him but wanted something that would provide him with more traction and be easier on his feet than steel shoes. I think we’ve found our answer. Considering the way this horse can wear through steel shoes, so far they are holding up very well.
Ground Control offers a money back guarantee that if you do not believe the shoes outperform steel shoes for traction, safety, comfort, shock absorption, and a better overall ride they will refund your money.
While I do prefer my horses and the horses in my care remain barefoot, if I have to have shoes on them, then I won’t hesitate to continue using these.
For more information on Ground Control Horseshoes you can visit their website at: http://www.plastichorseshoes.com.
