Re: shoe information

[WSAbg@t-online.de (wsabg)]

FranJurga wrote:

> I wonder if you know about or have tried the LUWEX pads in Germany? They have
> just been introduced here, and seem like a good product. I wonder how they
> would be for endurance horses?
> Also, have you seen the Softlie shoe from Sweden?

Hello Fran,

sorry, but I never heard about these two products.

> Do you think the Mustad Nailshu is a good shoe for horses doing endurance
> training on softer ground?

The Nail-Shu is a very good product for most horses. You can get it in the same 
sizes as the normal iron-shoes (i.e. Werkman). It is lighter than Werkman, but 
it is a bit thicker (17 mm Nail-Shu to 10 mm Werkman). I don't know about the 
effect which the less weight is giving to the horses gait. I know that riders of 
Iceland-Horses are using different types of shoes in training and competition to 
give their horses more action/movement in the front legs. I am not sure if this 
also effects on endurance horses as well as I am not sure if the weight 
difference is big enough to get any effect. The Nail-Shu has an excellent shock 
adsorbtion on hard ground but I think you can ignore the effect on softer 
ground. One point to discuss is the "flexibility" of the Nail-Shu. It is 
definetly not as rigid as an iron shoe. This could have effects on the 
hoof-mechanism. 
If you do have a "normal" gaited horse, the Nail-Shu could be a shoe to think 
about for your horse. I well remember Cathy Brown with her arab stallion "King 
Minos" - both are well known here in Europe. She uses the Nail-Shu and told me 
that sometimes they can use one set for 2 or 3 periods! The Nail-Shu did not 
wear out because of King Minos' gait. But in 1994 at the WEG she had been pulled 
and she said that maybe it is because of the Nail-Shu. The trotting in the VC 
had been on asphalt. The Nail-Shu is not slipping so the hoof is stopping 
immediately. Most of the other horses are using iron shoes and they had been 
sliding a bit. Maybe the vet interpreted the stopping as a kind of lameness!?!

> What is the material you use in your nails with the Werkman shoes? Do you use
> these shoes without pads? How long does a set of shoes last? Werkman shoes are
> widely available in the USA.

The nails we are using are normal Mustad ones. We add four pins of Widia to each 
shoe. Maybe Widia is know under another name in the USA. Here in Germany it is a 
kind of abbreviation for "Wie Diamant" -> translated it meens "liked Diamonds" - 
says everything about the material! I do not use any pads, but I have to say 
that the soles of my horse's hooves are very good. Other horses need pads when 
riding in our area. One set of Werkman is lasting for about 3-400 km, sometimes 
it can be used twice.

> All the best to you, and if I can be of any further assistance. Let me know. I
> can connect you with a USA retailer who can ship these shoes or pads overseas
> to you if you think they are not available in Germany.

Maybe you can try to find some prospects/broschures of the Sneaker and the Shock 
Tamer and fax them to me. My fax number is: +49.2932.27755.

BTW, what is a St. Croix Eventer?

Thanks for your help, hope to give you all the information you need.

Happy trails

Wolfgang + NINJA 11