Have you tried Plastic Shoes?

[wpenfold]

I was just wondering what experience people have had with plastic horseshoes? What brands have you tried? Nail-on? Glue-on? Or both? Why did you choose them for the particular horse? How was application? Did they stay on? How did they wear? Did they help whatever problem you were trying to address?

[StephClift]

I have tried a couple of different kinds of Plastic shoes. 1 was the "Ground Control" came in clear plastic, nail on. I did not particularly care for them as there was too much flexing in and around the nail holes which caused them to move around alot, so after you think you have the nails set, clinched and finished, you can come back a few days later to find that you nails have all been shoved up and are now prone to snagging on anything and everything and also a hazard to injuring the horse.

The second ones that I have tried are the "Eponashoe" from EponaTech. They are out of California. I have had some real success using these shoes for a couple of different applications. They can be glued or nailed on. There are pros and cons. Some of the pros are that they are a stiff shoe around the nail holes and at the back of the foot, for great stability (can be used in place of a bar shoe), and flexible in the center. They are full coverage, use dental impression material for packing plus granules that can be added that have a drying agent and a antibacterial agent in it.

I have used them on a horse that had foundered and that I could not get nails in and had to glue. I glued them on for 3 applications and now I can nail them on. She had no hoof wall. The shoes flex just enough to promote healthy foot function, blood flow and support. Her feet are finally getting a bit of convection to them and where she could barely walk she is galloping around her pasture happy as a clam. She and 4 others that are on the shoes are Cart horses. Another pro is that they can be reset up to 4 times depending on the ware. They ware at the toe very naturally to ensure proper breakover. They have great traction on pavement and concrete. OK the cons, they are a bit expensive, and with the glue as with any glue ons if you are in a wet area expect to have to reset shoes on a regular (weekly) basis. Plus with the glue on, one of the funny (good) things that I was having an issue with is that the hoof grew and expanded so quickly that it was popping the glue and I would end up having to go up a size. good and bad I guess. Oh and another PRO. They have LOTS of sizes.
Check them out at www.eponashoe.com

So far these are the only ones I have tried. Let me know what you think.

[rayfleury]

i use the Hippoplast from HOOF-it quit often. www.hoof-it.us

it is true that you have to set your nails deeper with a punch when you are through nailing or they may come loose overtime.

I have had succeses using these shoes with navicular, ringbone and laminitic horses. I believe it is due to less concussion to the lower limb.