Conference noted::equitation

    I have heard about this new product but have never actually tried
    it, I am not sure of the benefit of using the "plastic" shoe over
    a regular shoe???
    
    I asked my TB and she had no comment - typical mare...
    
    
    - jenny -

    I've been curious too but haven't been able to find anyone that
    has actually used one.  I'll ask our farrier next time he's out.
    I can think of lots of positive aspects like... 
    
    It sounds rather flexible and as such should allow the hoof to flex
    much more.  I know they seem hard but they do flex without a shoe
    on.
    
    Maybe its better on hard surfaces because of the above point and
    plastic (or whatever it should be called) should absorb some shock
    especially if it is the consistancy of nylon?
    
    Its got to be easier on my stall walls when the old gray mare(s)
    feel like kicking up a storm.
    
    

    Another question regarding plastic shoes is whether they are legal
    for some horse activities. In particular, the competitive trail
    ride people have restrictions on the width of the web of a horse
    shoe. Does anyone knowledge on this?
    
    How are the shoes fitted and shaped? Can't pound theminto shape!
    Are they more likely to get ripped off if a horse steps on the front
    shoe's tails?
    

Well, since I asked the question, I'd better tell all I know since it lokks 
like there are more questions than answers:

	Natural Lite (TM) Horseshoes
	Adams Equipment, Inc.
	610 S. Jefferson
	P.O. Box 489
	Cookeville, Tennessee  38501
	(800)251-6857

I have some flyers from the company, one side of which is labelled
"Technical Data".  I picked my literature up at a feed store outside of
Santa Fe, NM (name and address upon request), but it should be readily
available from Adams.  I saw the shoes there, too.  They're available in
00, 0 and 1 sizes with no heel- and/or toecalks.  Adams sez in their
literature that other sizes and types are in design state (read Phase 1 or
2 for the engi folks here :-)) and will be available later (no FRS date
stated :-)). 

Some quotes from the Technical Data side:

	The material is cold-formable; hammer it into shape and it will 
	keep that shape without the usual "memory" exhibited by most 
	plastics.

	Shoes should always be shaped to the hoof before attaching. 
	Forcing the shoes to fit while nailing will result in residual
	stress, which can cause hoof-wall damage. 

	You must use a nail clinching tool to properly seat the nail
	head. 

	You must leave a nickel's width on the outer edge of shoe. Taper
	to flush by third phalynx. 

	If your horse has never worn a wide-webbed shoe before, the horse 
	may be sore when trimmed close for conventional shoes.  This will 
	disappear after he adjusts to web width.  Normal exercise is 
	reccommended.



Greg

    I did some research on alternatives to steel shoes and sent for
    info on the Pegasus company's plastic shoe, and the Natural Lite
    shoe from Adams Equip.  I sent the info to my blacksmith and he
    said 'throw away the stuff from Pegasus; but if I want to try the
    Natural Lite he'd be interested.'  He is very skeptical about these
    alternatives that keep coming up, and he said that the only one
    he thought might be worth it is the Natural Lite.  It probably would
    be expensive though, because the shoes themselves are about $40.00
    then you have to pay the farrier his usual fee for trimming and
    putting the shoes on etc.  I don't know how they'd be in the winter
    since I either put borium on the shoes or take them off the hind
    feet, and put pads in the front in either case.  The only draw back
    is if your horse needs special or corrective shoeing, I don't think
    they have Natural Lite shoes for that yet.
    
    - Julie -

    I asked our farrier (Chip Orcutt) about these shoes and whether
    he has tried any.  He has only used one type that is clear with
    a blue liner on the inside portion of the shoe.  His only comment
    was that while they seem to work fairly well on rough surface or
    in sand, he has seen a horse on wet grass that looked like he was
    on ice with smooth plates.  Given the cost mentioned, they would
    have to do lots more than the shoes I currently use.
    
    Bob
    

    The shoes that Bob mentioned sound like the Pegasus shoes.  They
    usually have ads in Equus and other magazines, and they have a blue
    plastic surface that covers most of the horse's sole.  The Natural
    Lite shoes fit like steel shoes, but are a bit wider.  Since the
    Natural Lite shoes are made of rubber (not plastic like the Pegasus
    shoes), they probably would not slip as much - certainly not more
    than steel shoes would, and they would probably be safer on a cement
    floor barn.  How many times have you seen a horse with borium slip
    on the cement and make sparks?  The only concern I would have is
    that they may have too much grip, and not allow the horse's feet
    to 'slide' the small amount that they do when he is moving (or landing
    from a jump or some of the western movements, etc.)

    
    
    The first I have seen of these in the UK was in a TV news item.
    Plastic shoes that are glued on are being used to correct leg problems.
    In this particular instance a foal, bred to be a top racer, had
    a left leg that was bent. The farrier cut out the shoe to shape,
    and slightly overlapping on the inside. This will apparently straighten
    the leg out and they expect the foal to be fit enough to compete
    as a yearling. I don't know what they are made of and whether they
    are meant just for remedial use, but it looked interesting.
    
    

    	See the latest issue of Western Horseman. There's a great article
    on the glue-on plastic shoes. They've used them on a race horse
    who kicks his stall door so hard that he tore his shoes off repeatedly.
    There wasn't enough hoof wall left to use nails, so they glued the
    plastic shoes on. These shoes took the punishment of the kicking,and
    outlasted the steel shoes. The horse became sound, and continued
    to train and race. The glue-ons take quite a while to apply properly,
    and are pretty expensive.
    
    	George