I thought those new composite shoes were just a fad, but a client's horse in Denver proved me wrong.

This gelding had chronic lameness issues that we just couldn't pin down with steel. The owner insisted on trying a set of those polymer composites. I was totally skeptical, figured they'd crack or wear out in a week. That was six months ago, and the horse is moving better than he has in years. The owner just sent me a video of him trotting sound. I guess the shock absorption really does make a difference for some cases. Has anyone else had a specific horse change their mind about a material or technique?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade_brown182mo ago

Guess my old-school brain needs a shock absorber too, huh? (Nice point from @sethc12 there.)

sethc122mo ago

Yeah, that "shock absorption" point is exactly what my farrier was just telling me about.

finley9391mo ago

Notice how everything from shoes to car tires now pushes shock absorption as a key feature.