ShoeSecure Conquers Lost-Shoe Season, Now with Global Patent Approved to Keep Horseshoes On Hooves Everywhere

Spring means lost shoes. Instead of wondering if there’s a shoe at the bottom of that

puddle, rely on ShoeSecure to hold horseshoes on hooves that tend to pull shoes, lose shoes or that require a particularly full fit. Developed with the assistance of two world champion farriers.

                                        SHOESECURE SPONSORED THIS ARTICLE.                           

It’s a sure sign of spring when horses lose their shoes. But this year’s lost shoe count could be higher than usual, as American horse farm pastures thaw out after the longest, coldest winter in years.


Someone, however, is trying to do something about it. ShoeSecures, the clever screw-in Scottish horseshoe heel-bulb guards, have been quietly at work finalizing patent approvals in Europe, Australia and the United States. All the better to keep shoes on this spring.

A simple piece of plastic, held in place with two studs, requires only that the farrier drill stud holes in the shoe. Horses in muddy turnout with these on their heels won't be able to pull shoes, no matter how much they play. ShoeSecures are also popular with reiners whose horses pull shoes during slides. They come in more subdued colors, as well, and they are now protected by patent in most countries.

ShoeSecures are in stock now to prevent shoe loss during turnout or for performance horses with reach problems, like reiners. They install in a few quick turns of a farrier's drill press, and horse owners can screw them on and off for turnout, even in mud.

Duct tape, bell boots and metal detectors have met their match in this product.

They’ve raised eyebrows, and more than one farrier has muttered, “Well, I’ll be darned” but the most important result is that the simple Scottish exports have enabled so many horses to stay in training and grow out healthy hoof walls instead of pulling shoes.

Not even the shoeing services of two world champion farriers, David Varini (left) and Paul Robinson (right) could keep Muriel Colquhuon's horse's shoes on. So they helped her invent a guard for the horse's heels. ShoeSecure was born.

Today we're checking in with some of the ShoeSecure support team. Head inventer Muriel Colquhuon has way too much time on her hands now that she doesn't have to be searching her fields for lost shoes, or handwalking her horse because he's only wearing two of four shoes. She's probably forgotten her farriers' phone numbers by now. They used to be there every day, replacing shoes on her eventer who ripped shoes off with abandon whenever he was turned out.

World Champion farriers Paul Robinson and David Varini decided it was in their best interest to help their client with her fledgling invention, so they could get more work done. Here's what David had to say:

"Using ShoeSecure allows the farrier to maintain the normal balance of the hoof, providing appropriate support to the back of the foot without fear of the shoe being pulled off. This in turn helps promote a healthy conformation to the heels, helping protect against concussive injuries and palmar foot pain. 

"Without ShoeSecure, the farrier is forced to ‘hide’ the branches of the shoe under the heels and this eventually leads to collapsed heels and lameness due to corns and other forms of palmar foot pain."

 --2013 World Champion David Varini

Scottish FEI vet Tim Watson

The services of Scottish FEI veterinarian Tim Watson filled in some key expertise in product development: 

"Congratulations to Muriel achieving a US Patent for ShoeSecure - the horseshoe shield. Having been in on the project from the beginning, I fully felt Muriel's determination to invent a product that would prevent horses pulling their shoes off. Knowing Muriel's horse Banjo, she would have been forced to hand graze this horse unless she could prevent him from "erupting" in the field and losing shoes, which was a daily occurrence.

“From her germ of an idea, we made a cast of Banjo’s hoof and Muriel used this is to shape and mould the product that is now ShoeSecure. It has proven itself time and time again with horses prone to losing shoes in the UK and now reining horses in Texas are using them in competition – hence the need for Muriel to extend the Patent Worldwide. Scotland to Texas - quite a jump!"

-- Tim Watson BVM&S, PhD, MRCVS

Director for International Affairs, British Equestrian Federation

Joy Ream of Palm Beach Farrier Supply has a Scottish connection. Here she is working 
on a shoe for a very big Clydesdale with the late Edward Martin of Scotland. You know he's saying:”Hit it, lassie!"

The plastic guards have been through the ringer of government patent offices and came out with clear title to the idea and design. They are made in Scotland, designed in Scotland, and used in Scotland--but now are being adopted all over the world. This week the first ShoeSecures headed to South Africa--another continent conquered.

Shoe Secures are imported and retailed in North America by Palm Beach Farrier Supply in Wellington, Florida. Owner Joy Ream reports that the guards are selling especially well to reining horse owners and trainers. They were endorsed by leading trainer Tim McQuay, who continues to compete and train with them on his horses.

“We’ve got them! They’re selling mostly to reining trainers but they will work for anyone whose horses lose their shoes!”

--Joy Ream, Palm Beach Farrier Supply

North American sales agent for ShoeSecure

ShoeSecures (left) in their injection mold at the factory. On the right, you see the back side of the mold, created from a casting of Muriel’s eventing horse Banjo’s heel bulbs with David Varini’s shoes attached.

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Horse owners: Try the toothpaste trick to get ShoeSecures on your horse!

1. Have your farrier drill stud holes in your horse's shoes.

2. Order ShoeSecures and prepare to install on shod feet.

3. Remove stud hole plugs and squirt toothpaste in.

4. Press the ShoeSecure carefully in place.

5. A spot of toothpaste will transfer to ShoeSecure.

6. Punch a mark on the plastic where the toothpaste is.

7. Use a 12mm drill to make the hole for the stud.

8. Screw the ShoeSecure onto the shoe and foot.

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For centuries, people have wanted to find a way to prevent shoe pulling without interfering with the horse’s comfort or movement. Tests show that ShoeSecure is safe when used as directed and that preventing shoe loss can spare horses months of layup time from broken hoof walls or coronet and heel bulb injuries.

Plainly put, ShoeSecure horseshoe guards save horses from injury and pain, they save horseowners money and aggravation and they save horseshoers time and trips.

They’ll be as welcome as spring this year in horse country.

Call Palm Beach Farrier Supply at 561 204-5022 to order ShoeSecures in the USA.

Visit ShoeSecure.com for a vast amount of information, and like ShoeSecure on Facebook for updates as they happen.

                                SHOESECURE SPONSORED THIS ARTICLE.                               

  

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Disclosure of Material Connection: The Hoof Blog (Hoofcare Publishing) received one-time direct compensation for writing this post for ShoeSecure. However, Hoofcare Publishing has no material connection to the brands, products, or services mentioned, other than products and services of Hoofcare Publishing. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.