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The use of glue-on shoes is a growing idea, seeing more interest in the Endurance Racing industry than the Flat Racing industry. The company EasyCare Inc. has developed a vast variety of glue-on shoes, including those best suited for Pleasure Riding, Performance, Therapy or Competitions. To see the complete variety of glue-on or slip on shoes visit their website below. I would like to highlight one shoe in particular, the EasyShoe Compete, as it appears to be the most reasonable for acceptance by the Jockey Club. It is designed for use on both track or turf, focusing on the ability for independent vertical flexion, lateral flexion, increased strength through the metal spine and an open toe design to allow for the best break-over for the horse ("EasyShoe”). The story of Clunk, an Arabian Flat Racehorse describes the struggle to race in urethane glue-on shoes (Ford, 2011) (link below).
While this shoe should improve the hoof health of all the horses racing in them, they are still unsupported, however the polyurethane horseshoe is progressing forward slightly faster, with Big Brown racing in the 2008 Kentucky derby using Poly-Flex shoes (McGee, 2008). For horses with brittle feet, their front feet can have glue-on Poly-Flex shoes while their back feet still race with aluminum plates (McGee, 2008). Big Brown’s trainer describes his success with the glue-on shoes, “We got an opportunity to put these on, and since then, I haven't been worried about his feet. He carried kind of a heavier pulse, had some heat in his feet all the time. Now, his feet are real cold. So I'm hoping this ends all the stuff with his front feet” (McGee, 2008). To view the full assortment of Poly-Flex shoes available for Flat Racing visit the website below. The greatest problem seen with the glue-on shoes is their minimal backing. With their ability to reduce concussion and create stronger (nail-free) hooves ("Racing"), it seems hard to believe that they are so unpopular and even forbidden at most racetracks. With the support of Big Brown, Shackleford, Mucho Macho Man, Indian Blessing, Tizway, River’s Prayer, My Miss Aurelia and Curlin there may be hope for this more natural shoe to be seen at every racetrack across the country.
While this shoe should improve the hoof health of all the horses racing in them, they are still unsupported, however the polyurethane horseshoe is progressing forward slightly faster, with Big Brown racing in the 2008 Kentucky derby using Poly-Flex shoes (McGee, 2008). For horses with brittle feet, their front feet can have glue-on Poly-Flex shoes while their back feet still race with aluminum plates (McGee, 2008). Big Brown’s trainer describes his success with the glue-on shoes, “We got an opportunity to put these on, and since then, I haven't been worried about his feet. He carried kind of a heavier pulse, had some heat in his feet all the time. Now, his feet are real cold. So I'm hoping this ends all the stuff with his front feet” (McGee, 2008). To view the full assortment of Poly-Flex shoes available for Flat Racing visit the website below. The greatest problem seen with the glue-on shoes is their minimal backing. With their ability to reduce concussion and create stronger (nail-free) hooves ("Racing"), it seems hard to believe that they are so unpopular and even forbidden at most racetracks. With the support of Big Brown, Shackleford, Mucho Macho Man, Indian Blessing, Tizway, River’s Prayer, My Miss Aurelia and Curlin there may be hope for this more natural shoe to be seen at every racetrack across the country.