The Farriers’ Quandary

Yesteryears Blacksmithing vs. Today’s Alternatives

Today’s Farrier teaching relates mainly to the art of blacksmithing with only minimal instruction in the anatomy of the horses, and/or the diagnosis of the horses’ hooves. Seldomly, alternative hoof protection is mentioned, and how to apply it.

Over centuries, forging iron to create horseshoes was the most commonly used method to protect horses’ hooves. Blacksmithing became an occupation that still exists in the teaching of today’s Farrier.

Despite that in the past decades’ alternatives of hoof protection for horses sprung up, the teaching of blacksmithing and the application of the conventional horseshoes remains without changes.

Even though alternative hoof protection proves to be more beneficial for horses, riders/owners, and farriers, it is not included in today’s teaching of the farriers’ work, and often is ignored or even condemned.

Alternative hoof protection requires additional know-how, as the synthetic material is flexible, the application will differ compared to the conventional horseshoe.

Without having an understanding of the material, and the correct application, the farrier may question the concept of the alternative shoeing process. A small amount of training in the correct method of fitting the polyurethane shoes will prevent a bad experience and a negative attitude towards alternative (synthetic) hoof protection.

It pays to watch the instructional videos provided on how to apply an alternative (synthetic) hoof protection, like the TERRAFLEX™ horseshoe.

BP Horse Shoes Outperform all Other Options

by Tara Nicklason – Tasmania

I am an endurance rider who has around 6000km competitive tallied up on a variety of horses.
Coming from a barefoot trimming background, I have competed in endurance using a range of hoof options including barefoot, several kinds of boots, easy boots, and renegades as well as steel shoes. Whilst I had some success with these options I was still frustrated by lameness and fitting hassles as well high costs involved.
Thankfully around 5 years ago I finally gave BP a try. Since then, my horse’s hoof hassles have completely disappeared.
I love them because:

• My horses excel in them.
• Lameness issues are a thing of the past.
• Both my body and my horse feel less concussion with them on.
• My horse’s stride increases.
• They go the distance.
• They stay on.
• They are affordable and cost-effective.
• They can be used on all surfaces
• You can use the plates if you need to pad for a stony ride.
• They are easy to use, my husband is a novice farrier and he loves that he needs only a rasp to shape the shoe if required.
• BP is safer than steel should your horse kick you or another horse the potential for serious injury or broken bones is highly unlikely.

During the 2018 Australian Quilty I hosted an American Rider Amy Atkins.
A short way into the ride we were traveling down a bitumen road, BP allowed Amy and me to safely fly through the large field as our horses had grip and no jarring on the hard surface. Both horses were successful completions.
One of my favorite mounts is Legend a 16.1h waler cross. Not your typical endurance mount he is a big strong horse. His career has been in BP and he has been State champion middleweight points and distance horse twice as well as 2020 overall winner in the 160km State Championships.

Legend is also used regularly on farms to work stock and traverse our very steep and challenging countryside all easily in BP.

Blue Pegasos are unique, don’t make the mistake of thinking that all polyurethane shoes are the same, they are not.

BP enables me to ride my horses with peace of mind knowing that they are protected and cushioned at the same time. BP allows me to ride out and enjoy the long distances with confidence.
So glad that I gave them a try and have proven their performance over time, distance, and a variety of beautiful steeds.

Tara Nicklason.
Endurance Rider – Tasmania

Blue Pegasos Horse Shoes

by Duncan and Caroline Woodhead – New South Wales

Discovering Blue Pegasos shoes has been a life-changer. With a background in pony club and polocrosse, I thought steel shoes were the only options.

I then got interested in barefoot riding but with the distances covered in endurance riding and training and riding on the rocky ground barefoot became unfeasible. I tried boots and glue on but they either fell off or had a short life.

Blue Pegasos ticked lots of boxes for me. They are lightweight, shock-absorbing, flexible on the hoof, and cost-effective.

I had a few teething problems firstly trying to glue them on. In our wet conditions, the horses just kept losing shoes in the paddock and I would spend hours wandering around trying to locate them. I then tried nails but after a long ride, I found the steel nails had a tendency to break off as the Blue Pegasos shoes allow the hoof to flex as nature intended. I then tried copper nails and have had no problems.

The other deterrent was the difficulty in cleaning out the horses’ hooves, especially when it’s really muddy and the soles get compacted. However, in the competing season, I put on Pegasos sole plates. I fill half the hoof with a Vaseline bluestone mix and seal with a squirt of commercial mould-resistant silicone and then just screw the plates on. They stay in place with no problems and can be easily removed or checked within shoeing periods if required but I have found the hoof keeps healthy and clean. No worries of stone bruising and little hoof cleaning required.

We now use Blue Pegasos shoes on all our endurance horses. The sizes and choice of the shoe give plenty of options for instance one horse needs the roll-over shoe to prevent forging. Our usual farrier is now a convert and happily shapes and fits the shoes to suit the horses.

Since using the Pegasos shoes my mare San Ella Naviit has had no lameness and we have been highly successful, consistently winning heavyweight divisions. It’s great to be able to concentrate on managing my horse and increasing my speed knowing that her hooves and legs are being cushioned.

BLUE PEGASOS SHOES

By Peter Holmes – Queensland

I first met Marko at 2012 Lake Manchester ride where he introduced me to a revolutionary horse shoe made of Polyurethane…

I have been using Blue Pegasus shoes since 2012 and have found them excellent for impact resistance & wear resistance plus easy to apply.

They are wonderfully secure on cement & tarred roads …. can be a teenzy slippery on wet grass.

They are the very ‘best’ for hard concussive surfaces, giving the foot concussive stress relief

The choice of different density grades and sizes means any horse can be outfitted with them.

I have not used any other shoe in the last 10 years & would never swap to using anything else.

My horses have all performed exceedingly well wearing Blue Pegasos…

It is my opinion anyone not using these Poly shoes are unwittingly penalising their horse.

Peter Holmes {Holmbros}

Victoria Clarke – Marvel Endurance

My endurance journey began in 2011 when I did my first 40km. When I got off my horse that day, I just about fell to the ground with how sore my knees were and I remember thinking to myself, “If this is how I feel, how are my horse’s legs!” The following morning his legs were tree trunks. I began researching what options were out there and after two years of trying different booting options and shoeing in steel for rides, I discovered Blue Pegasos shoes and we have never looked back. The days of seeing my horses legs swollen and puffy after rides were gone – and my knees are also grateful! When I rode a friend’s steel-shod horse in a 40km a couple of years back I was barely 5km in before the concussion hit me and I lost the feeling in my toes for the rest of the ride – I was so glad when I was back on my Blue Pegasos horses!

Ten years later I am the proud holder of two 160km buckles, including a Tom Quilty finish and my sister recently completed her first 160km at Bony Mountain – all on board our horses shod in Blue Pegasos Horseshoes. I’ve even managed to convert more than one farrier into a Blue Pegasos fan – one used to take my horses used BP’s to put on his laminitic client horses with fantastic results! I wouldn’t use anything else, we will be die-hard Blue Pegasos fans to the end!

TESTIMONIAL FOR BLUE PEGASOS POLYURETHANE HORSESHOES

By John Dugan – Queensland

I have been using Blue Pegasos Horse Shoes since they were created.

All my Endurance Horses get shoed with Blue Pegasos Horse Shoes they are simply magnificent, no shock for horse’s legs, no shock for the horse’s hooves, absorb concussion.

I am an Endurance Rider I used steel shoes before, gave great vibration and aches to my body.
Changing to Blue Pegasos Horse Shoes, less jarring for me giving a more comfortable riding experience. I don’t have any issues with Blue Pegasos Horse Shoes a great Horse Shoe

John Dugan
QERA 42272

Blue Pegasos Shoes are Outstanding!

My mare ‘Rosevale Park Princeton’s Melody’ completed her first full season wearing Blue Pegasos Shoes at the end of 2021 winning her final ride, a 160k in 10 hours 47min and I couldn’t be happier with Blue Pegasos Shoes.

My mare just didn’t feel “quite right’ in traditional Steel Shoes including using Equi-Pak for bigger rides, she was sound and even but just wouldn’t fully extend and stretch out, I tried barefoot/boot’s with some improvement but still was not convinced she was 100% comfortable and prepared to stretch.

Then we tried Blue Pegasos Shoes! she now feels absolutely outstanding, stretching and extending to her peek and pulling up in brilliant shape after rides!

And the difference I’ve noticed in my own body is hard to believe, I have gone from pulling up with a terribly sore/aching upper-middle back after ‘big rides’ for a number of years to feeling barely any different to if I had done an average training ride, it’s too obvious to be a coincidence!

Blue Pegasos has been helping me and my horse for nearly 12 months now and I won’t go back! I recommend everyone to give them a try and feel the difference for themselves! (Image Sarah Sullivan Photography)

Leah Robertson

A Farriers’ View
by Nathan Kerrison

I have been a farrier for the past 36 years. I trained in NSW, working in many disciplines, racing, pacing, eventing, reigning, western, and endurance. I have worked closely with many vets doing corrective and rehabilitation work on hooves.

About 10 years ago, I was introduced to TERRAFLEX™ Polyurethane Horseshoes by one of my endurance riding customers. Being a traditional farrier, I was skeptical. However, after a few consecutive shoeing, I began to see the improvements in the horses’ hooves.
1. Hoof walls thickened;
2. Soul density improved;
3. Coronet/Periople relaxed;
Now, I use these shoes to rehabilitate horses with
1. Laminitis;
2. Navicular Syndrome;
3. Arthritis;

In the past few years, I have transitioned many horses onto TERRAFLEX™ shoes, and none of my customers will go back to steel after they have experienced the improved comfort and soundness in their horses.

But probably, the best recommendation I can give you is that I use TERRAFLEX™ horseshoes on all my own horses.