Which Composite Shoe is Right For Your Horse

The hoof care industry is evolving rapidly, and glue-on plastic and composite shoes have revolutionized how I rehab and support horses in my business.

While hoof boots have their place, I often prefer more consistent support that doesn’t require frequent cleaning, avoids rubbing the pastern, and doesn’t extend the hoof print, which could add leverage to an already compromised hoof.

So, which composite shoe is right for your horse? With so many options on the market, I’m breaking down my top choices and when I find them most effective.

**First, a quick note on terminology:**
A composite shoe is typically a blend of materials, often plastic with a metal core or clips. A plastic shoe is 100% plastic, without metal reinforcement. While many use these terms interchangeably, I prefer the completely plastic variety due to its flexibility and reduced impact forces compared to metal. So, when I say "composite shoe," for the purpose of this post, I’m referring to plastic-only shoes.

In my business, I rely on six main styles of shoes, made by Duplo in Germany and Easycare Inc. in the US. These shoes share key features: they’re 100% plastic, provide frog support to utilize the digital cushion, and offer "artificial" concavity to the sole. Here’s my go-to lineup:

The Duplo Classic is probably my favorite shoe for your everyday needs; a horse with thin soles who is sensitive on rocky ground or for basic support. What I like about this shoe is the hardness of the plastic - hard enough to hold its shape and offer support, and yet absorbs concussion and protects the horse's joints from impact. This line of shoe is also easy to customize to fit the hoof shape perfectly, and I can plastic weld on my desired tabs for superglue application. I also use this shoe for rehab when working with foundered horses or horses with caudal failure and/or where I need to use hoof packing. This shoe holds up well for multiple resets which makes it a cost effective option as well. 

Easyshoe Versa Grip Light: A close second, with slightly softer plastic, making it ideal for healthy hooves that need a bit of protection without too much rigidity.

Easyshoe Octo: My top-selling shoe. It’s a slightly rounder version of the Versa Grip Light with pre-installed tabs, making it a convenient option for those who prefer not to plastic weld. It’s great when it fits perfectly right out of the box and can be reset multiple times. If needed, you can also remove the tabs, reshape the shoe, and add new ones. A word to the wise, this shoe tends to fit 2mm big so I generally size down. 

Duplo Base Plate: Similar to the Classic but with a closed solar surface, perfect for muddy conditions or when debris might get trapped between the shoe and the hoof. The closed sole helps keep hoof packing or thrush treatment in place, but be cautious when packing to ensure that you don't cause too much pressure to be applied to the frog or sole as the excess packing can't squeeze out during curing. 

Easyshoe Speed: An upgrade from the Octo, the webbing around the sole (the part the horse stands on) is slightly narrower, and this shoe provides essential solar concavity and frog support. It also has the ability for you to cut out a keyhole in the frog support to allow the shoe to bend and flex a little more. My only reservation with this shoe is that the preinstalled cuffs are meant to be used with acrylic or similar glue and not superglue. I favor the superglue for its ease of application, hoof prep and durability as well as it's ability to withstand moisture. When I use the Easyshoe Speed I tend to modify the factory cuffs to accept superglue or remove them and plastic weld on my preferred tabs. 

Easyshoe 3D: My go-to for healthy hooves needing minimal support. Its low-profile design allows the hoof to function naturally and absorb impact. Though it’s less cost-effective due to its tendency to stretch and wear out faster, it’s an excellent transition tool when moving a horse out of a more supportive shoe towards an end goal barefoot.

These are the shoes I believe in and use daily at OKSNHC.