Glue On Horseshoes

Does Gluing on Shoes Really Work?

Gluing on a Plastic or Aluminum with Equilox or Vettec works pretty well, but it is not a perfect system. Below I cover some of the factors for success for gluing on horseshoes.

Lateral view of a glued-on EponaShoe.

I have had glued-on shoes stay on the horse for 8 weeks, and still they had to be pried off. On the other hand, I have had cases where the shoe is lost within a week of application. Often, at least in my experience, glued-on shoes will stay on for 4 to 6 weeks. Results can vary and seem to depend on various factors.

Some Observations on Gluing Aluminum and Flexible Shoes

1) The glue bond, if it fails, fails from the hoof, not from the Shoe. Hence, hoof preparation is important. We clean the foot with denatured alcohol and let it dry.

2) We generally apply the glue to the shoe, then put the shoe onto the hoof. It is a good idea to get the shoe onto the hoof quickly. You can still modify it's position for many seconds, but it's important to get the fresh glue against the hoof surface soon -- before it starts to set at all. In hot weather, the glue sets faster, and this becomes more important to pay attention to.

3) The terrain and use of the horse. As with any shoeing system, difficult terrain and hard use of the horse can cause more shoes getting lost. This is why I usually only put them on horses that are lame, because they normally don't move around as much.

4) I have found that Equilox will work well both in wet and dry conditions. However, sometimes when conditions change (from wet to dry, or from dry to wet as occurs seasonally in Florida ), we may experience more loss of shoes. This is due to the hoof which changes it's physical properties quite dramatically as it's hydration changes.

5) After we've glued on the shoes, we sometimes also set a couple nails as well. Just adding 2 nails per hoof (one on each side) is enough to give the glue some help.
This can be a good compromise between using nails or glue only.

Glue On Horseshoes

There are several products that work really good for gluing on horseshoes Vettec and Equilox. They normally don't last as long as a nailed shoe but hold on great in dry climates. Usually when I glue on any type of shoes (Aluminum or Plastic) its because the horse is to sore to walk barefoot and the horse just cannot handle the pounding of the nails being driven in. This is a great alternative to nailing shoes on but it does cost more.

Adhere is a fast-setting urethane adhesive designed to bond aluminum or steel shoes to the hoof an to fabricate hoof wall repairs.

Available in 180cc and 20cc Syringe.

BLACK - REF 46150  |  BEIGE - REF 46155

• Glue on steel, aluminum and most plastic shoes as well as any hoof repair project.
• Initial set time of one minute and final cure time of six minutes
• Perfect for most every application.
• Sets hard with a superior bond, but maintains the flexibility necessary at the quarters and heels to allow the natural movement of the hoof.

SHOE PREPARATION

1. Clips are highly recommended for stability and accurate placement of the shoe. Have clips set before gluing.
2. Drill a 5/16” hole between the second and third nail holes of both branches, beveled on the ground side. If possible, enlarge the other nail holes also using a drill or pritchel.
3. Grind or rasp the top of the shoes to remove oxidation and roughen the surface. Clean with denatured alcohol to remove oil, grease, slag, dirt, and dry thoroughly.
4. Place 3 to 4 Adhesive-Spacers (REF # 46025) or pieces of wooden matchsticks around the web of the shoe to maintain approximately 1/8” space for Adhere.
   Optional: Apply Duct tape to the last 1” to 1 1/2” of the branches. This will prevent Adhere from locking the heels.

HOOF PREPARATION

1. Trim, rasp, and level hoof as normal. Remove any weak or soft material, especially at the white line area.
2. DRY HOOF THOROUGHLY using a heat gun or hair dryer.
   Do not overheat.
   Note About Cleaning: Only if hoof is oily, wipe the affected areas with a cloth moistened with DENATURED ALCOHOL being careful not to saturate the hoof.
   Dry thoroughly. DO NOT USE ACETONE!

GLUING SHOES

1. Apply Adhere to the shoe approx. 3/8’’ thick and the width of the shoe.
2. Quickly and accurately place the shoe. Adhere will set in approximately one minute.
3. Keep the hoof elevated taking care not to move the shoe for 3 1/2 minutes until the Adhere cures.
   Hint: Wrap the hoof & shoe with pallet wrap after 1 minute and set down. Remove wrap later.

HOOF WALL REPAIR

PLEASE NOTE

• Areas of wetness, bleeding, or infection should not be covered. Once healed, commence using the product.
• Adhere can be applied with the shoe on or off, but will bond to the shoe. A coating of oil or petroleum jelly to the top of shoe will prevent this from occurring. Take care not to get any on the area of the hoof being repaired.
• Adhere may not bond to hooves that have been heavily treated with products containing: oils, grease, pine tar, etc. In these instances a thorough Denatured Alcohol scrub and drying should be performed to ensure adhesion.
• For a large application where heat transfer to the hoof is a concern (above 150 °F), limit the initial layer to 1/4 inch. After the initial cure (2-3 minutes), apply to the desired level and shape as necessary.

HOOF PREPARATION

1. Trim, rasp, and level hoof as normal. Remove any weak or soft material, especially at the white line area.
2. DRY HOOF THOROUGHLY using a heat gun or hair dryer.
   Do not overheat.
   Note: Only if hoof is oily, wipe the affected areas with a cloth moistened with DENATURED ALCOHOL being careful not to saturate the hoof.
   Dry thoroughly. DO NOT USE ACETONE!

PROCEDURE

1. Trim, rasp, balance, and clean the hoof around the damaged area.
2. Using a hoof knife or Dremel™ tool, rout out the damaged areas.
3. Create an undercut on the hoof wall.
4. Protect the coronary band with hoof tape or damp gauze.
5. Clean and thoroughly dry the prepped area per instructions. If wet conditions exist, horse should be stalled overnight with dry beding.
6. Dispense Adhere directly into damaged area over-filling around the repair and onto sound hoof wall. Do not feather or "thin-out" the material around the edges. This will slow the set time and can lead to failure. Contouring Plastic (REF #46904) can be utilized to push the material into the void. Leave in place until Adhere cures, then peel off.
7. Allow a working time of 55 seconds for molding and shaping.
8. Allow 7 to 8 minutes for a full cure, then shape by trimming and rasping toward the hoof.
9. Nail shoe on. Nails will penetrate without damaging the repair.
10. If necessary, after rasping and shoeing, fill any voids or holes

COLD CONDITIONS (Below 65° F)

• Failure to keep the hooves, shoes, and Adhere warm will dramatically slow the cure time.
  Example: At 32° F the cure time advances 7 - 8 minutes.
• Store the cartridges in an insulated “cooler” warmed with microwaveable heat pads or 1 to 2 tightly capped gallon jugs filled with hot water.
• In freezing temperatures, 32° F or less, the shoes must be warmed to keep condensation from forming on them and preventing the bond.

HOT CONDITIONS (Above 85° F)

• Adhere will set very quickly. To retard the set time, store the material in an insulated cooler with 1 or 2 freezer packs.

Equilox I

Slower Setting Formula Adhesive

Hoof Repair System

Equilox II

Faster Setting Formula Adhesive

Hoof Repair System

Equilox II Faster Setting Adhesive is an extremely strong resin that can be used for anything from repairing small quarter cracks to reconstructing an entire hoof wall, yet flexible enough for easy filing, shaping, and even nailing. Equilox II Adhesive has the same properties as our Equilox I formula, but a faster cure time for colder weather.

Set time: Sets in 4 - 6 minutes, final cure in 6 - 8 minutes at 70° Fahrenheit
 

Shoe and Hoof preparation are the same as above with Vettec.