I was a believer
in plastic. Swore by GC shoes but have also gone back to steel. The
first year was perfect, no problems, never lost a shoe. Second year had
some problems with hoof cracking in the spring & lost a couple in mud.
This year the hoof was breaking up with every ride & shoes kept twisting
& coming off.
I did put them on
my young horse for 2 shoeings & they did cause his heel to grow
& spread & the frog thickened & became much wider but when the
shoe twisted during the first 20 mi of NY 100 CTR & he came up lame from
stepping on nails I realized the problem was too much traction. ( I was
pretty ticked off, too!) The shoe would actually stick in place while
the hoof would move.
So, back to steel
with pads. Just finished 2 days at Summer Breeze in KY & didn't loose
a shoe & hooves are fully intact.
