ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Slypner Shoes

Re: Slypner Shoes

Linda S. Flemmer (bluwolf@earthlink.net)
Fri, 05 Dec 1997 17:14:24 -0800

Rita,
You wrote:
> Has anybody tried the Slypner shoes advertised on the endurance net home page. They claim the shoes last longer than normal steel shoes and absorb some of the impact shock. My horse is 19 years old and wears his back shoes out in 4-5 weeks. I would like to find some shoes that last longer

First, let me advise you to check the archives from about 1 - 1/12 years
ago. These shoes were discussed then.

We tried the Slypners & gave up on them about a year ago. The horse's
foot must match the shape of the base shoe fairly well as the base
cannot be shaped much. (If it is "over shaped", the insert will not
fit.) Even if the base needed no shaping, we found that the inserts
popped out so frequently on rough or rocky terrain (and sometimes plain
old dirt!) that we were on the ground more than in the saddle. Most
times, we didn't find the lost insert - $$$$$ If it wasn't noticed
immediately, then the studs that hold the insert were damaged and the
base plate had to be replaced - $$$$$. This became a problem at a ride
if we went thru more base plates than we had brought along as the ride
farrier very seldom carried these. If we lost one base plate, we'd have
to pull 2 shoes & get regular plates to even the weight out from one
foot to the other.

Our answer has been to use St Croix eventers - best lasting shoe to
date. We couple that with either the Shock Tamer full pads or rim pads,
depending on the anticipated terrain. They are a composite pad (much
like a runner's shoe) that absorb impact. We can see a tremendous
difference in our older gelding when we use something other than Shock
Tamers. I believe that Roger Rittenhouse carries these.

Good luck with your older guy!

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Bruceton Mills, WV

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