That $80 glue-on shoe I swear by that everyone else hates

I know most guys here think glue-on shoes are a gimmick for lazy farriers. But I put a set on a nasty foundered pony back in March and they held up for a full 8 weeks. No clips, no nails, just cleaned the hoof wall good and used the polyurethane stuff. The owner called me last week saying the pony is moving better than he has in years. I get that they're not for every horse but why is the hate so strong? Anyone else had a good run with them on a tough case?

3 comments

3 Comments

miamitchell1mo agoTop Commenter

Right, that founder case is exactly where they shine if you prep the foot right.

ruby4501mo ago

Have you tried soaking the foot in warm water with epsom salts first? That softens up the tissue way more than just a quick scrape, and it makes the whole prep process so much smoother. I usually leave it for about 10 minutes before I start cutting, and it keeps the founder from cracking or splitting weird. Makes a huge difference in how the case holds up over the next few weeks.

daniel59319d ago

That bit about soaking for 10 minutes changing how the case holds up over weeks is something I've noticed in a bunch of other stuff too. Like with leather work or even just fixing a sticky zipper, taking that extra little bit of prep time upfront saves you from having to redo or patch things later. @ruby450 your point about the founder not cracking is spot on, it's the same principle as letting wood glue set before clamping. I started doing longer soaks after rushing through a batch and ruining three cases in one afternoon. Now I just set a timer and walk away, it's made a world of difference in the final quality.