Shoes, Old Macs or Easyboots or Rubber Horse Shoes?

[BarbCeri]

I have a couple of driving horses (ages 11 and 8) that I intend to drive extensively on the rural roads near me to get them ready for CDEs and endurance drives. My concern is their legs and joints as well as their hooves. What would be the preferred method of keeping the concussion damage to a minimal? Right now, one of them is shod, the other is barefoot. I do know that if I drive extensively on blacktop, they will both need to be shod, and probably have tungstun applied to the shoes if they have regular metal shoes. My question is if it would be more beneficial to them to have Old Macs or Easyboots to be used when driving on asphalt? Or, what about Rubber horse shoes? I believe there are some made for horses used in city activities, but don't know anything about them. I'd appreciate any information and/or advice on this subject.

Thanks!
Barbara

[Forgewizard]

Barbara,

check out Ground Control Horseshoes, Epona Horseshoes, Easy Walkers, Pony W'Airs. Those are 4 kinds that I have used (besides the easy boots).

You might find info on this site by searching for any of those terms also. Seems like we talk quite a bit about synthetic horseshoes on this forum!

Remember that when you work on asphalt there will be a trade off on needed traction with how much "slide" your horse's hooves actually need. Any of the synthetic shoes will definitely give your horse traction. As will tungsten carbide brazed to the metal shoe.

The difference will be in the density of the synthetic used. Harder material will slide a tad more than softer materials. The tungsten carbide brazed to the shoe will NOT be as uniform on the ground surface as a molded shoe. Miles and miles of step after step on a slightly unlevel ground surface will take its toll on your horse's joints and limbs. You can get around this unevenness if you use drive in or tapped studs or pins, but then you may not have enough traction.

You'll find you've entered a grand playground of see what works best for your horse with your chosen endeavor! yeehaw! Jine the Cavalry!:D

Regards,
Kim

[luckshoe]

check out Ground Control Horseshoes, Epona Horseshoes, Easy Walkers, Pony W'Airs. [/I]

I have tried most of theses shoes but i have never heard of the Pony W'Airs.... Where can you find PonyW'Airs? I have never heard of these and would love to know more about them.

I have used the Big Foot Draft shoes from hoofit.com and they worked quite well on my clients horse and boy how nice it was not to have to turn a heavy draft shoe.