Glue-On Shoes as a Last Resort
"For me as a leisure rider, this is the best alternative for long-lasting healthy hooves, but also for competition riders or horses with hoof problems, this is the most natural hoof protection you can offer a horse."
Hallo,
I'm Michelle, 16 years old and have had my horse since February 9, 2019. I've been in the saddle for about 8 years now and ride in various disciplines.
My Baden-Württemberg mare by Con Spirito x Gräfin, named Golden Star (Goldi) is 7 years old. We compete up to M-level show jumping and dressage, which corresponds to her training level. I currently ride her mainly for leisure, as the current hoof problems don't allow anything else. She was awarded as a suckling foal and has good papers.
Since April 3, 2019 we moved to a new barn (open stable with indoor box overnight), where she has a huge box without bars. At 5 AM she goes out with two draft horse ladies to the large paddock, where she stays until evening, summer and winter. She has hay and straw available 24/7 as much as she needs. I chose this type of housing because I believe it's the best for horses. :)
She had solid, healthy hooves - except for the misalignment front left (Bockhuf) - but due to the lost horseshoe on the club foot front left, the hoof became brüchig and cracked / hoof wall broke out and she was constantly lame (for almost half a year). After that we briefly had hoof boots. Then shortly after came the diagnosis from the veterinarian after X-rays: She immediately said: "put her down." But I didn't give up hope and discovered Goodsmith.
Until then we had horseshoes, then hoof boots. With the latter she unfortunately went lame because the hooves were too short. That's when I had the idea to have Goodsmiths put on. I had already seen the company on Die Höhle der Löwen and admired them back then. I had even planned to get the Goodsmith at that time. Now it was more or less involuntary, since Goldi needed protection. And not just for jumping, but also for trail rides and cross-country.
Through the Goodsmith website I found Thomas Kühn, whose work I am very happy with. Not only are the Goodsmiths applied cleanly and hold perfectly - the hoof trimming is also really excellent!
We have been using the Goodsmiths since November 7, 2019 and initially had to change them every 6-8 weeks due to the misalignment. The intervals got longer each time and the alignment improved. Goldi is also finally sound again.
I chose Goodsmith because I believe the system is the most natural for the hoof (apart from barefoot) and it does my horse good. I currently use it in jump and dressage training and hope to be able to compete again soon.
FAZIT: Since the Goodsmith, Goldi has been moving sound and the alignment of the problem hoof front left has improved significantly. Not least thanks to the intensive care by Thomas Kühn. She was able to walk pain-free again and even in rhythm, which was not possible with horseshoes back then. (I got her with horseshoes but was never a fan)
All in all I am more than satisfied with the Goodsmith and also a little proud that my horse gets to wear this great product. For me as a leisure rider, this is the best alternative for long-lasting healthy hooves, but also for competition riders or horses with hoof problems, this is the most natural hoof protection you can offer a horse.
