Application Instructions

Application Instructions

Sneakers can be applied with ordinary farrier tools but the application is greatly facilitated using power tools that are common to many farriers.

Minimum Tools Required For Shaping and
Punching the Holes:

Recommended power tools are:

A vise

A sharp rasp

A sharp pritchel

A drill with 5/32 or11/64 bits

A saber saw or a band saw

A grinder with a flexible disc or belt with 24 or 36 grit

Step #1

Trim the hoof as usual and remove the distortions around the perimeter of the hoof. Select a Sneaker that gives the best fit of the side clips. Sometimes a hind pattern fits best and on rounder feet a size larger will give the best clip fit. Align the toe of the hoof with the toe of the shoe. Sometimes it may be necessary to remove some wall with the rasp or notch the wall with nippers for the clips to fit and have the toe positioned correctly. We recommend removing the plastic covering on the clips for the best fit and security of the shoe. Trace the hoof shape on the Sneaker.

Step #2

Trim the excess shoe. Use a band saw or a handheld jigsaw to remove larger pieces of the shoe. Round the edges and fine tune the final shape with a flexible grinding disc, belt sander or rasp.

Step #3

Drill the holes with a 5/32" or 11/64" drill bit. Make sure to place the nail holes over the white line for secure nailing. The molded lines on the foot surface of the shoe help to line up with the nailing grooves on the ground surface. However nail holes can be placed anywhere needed. If you are using a pritchel to make the holes, punch from the ground surface as with a standard shoe. Be sure the pritchel end is sharp and square to make a clean hole.

Step #4

Nail as usual. Any nail style will work but be sure to drive the nail head through the tread into the aluminum base shoe with a punch. Failure to do this critical step will result in the shoe becoming loose.

Step #5

Clip the nail ends, clinch and finish as usual.

Helpful Hints:

Sneakers can be reset multiple times. As long as there is tread to cover the nail heads you can continue to use the shoe.

Toe studs showing through the tread is normal wear.

The edges of the shoe break in quickly to the horse's way of going. This rounding of the tread occurs fairly quickly and is beneficial for the horse. If the horse travels unevenly the shoes will reflect that wear pattern.

Large jawed pull-offs will make the job of removing the shoes easier.

Do not drill the nail holes too fine, this makes nailing difficult. On flat-footed horses the holes can be angled inward (pitched) while drilling to get more secure nailing.

If sole pressure needs to be relived, hammer around the center hole on the foot surface to concave the shoe. If further relief is required use an angle grinder to remove some of the sole surface material.

Corrosion around the nails is unavoidable, a little silicone applied to the hoof surface before nailing will reduce the amount of corrosion.

Under most circumstances no packing of the center hole is necessary, however the center hole can be filled to prevent infiltration of debris under the shoe. We recommend Equi-pak manufactured by Equithane for this purpose. Silicone may also be used. The plug may be removed at any time without removing the shoe for inspection and cleaning.

Materials

Disposable gloves, solvent, tongue depressor or putty knife and a hot air source (optional for cold weather).

Hoof preparation

Trim the hoof as normal paying close attention to removing as much exfoliating sole as possible. Rasp the bottom ½ of the hoof wall to remove all traces of dirt.

Rinse with a suitable solvent such as Acetone, Isopropyl alcohol or Denatured alcohol and let dry.

Sneaker preparation

Step 1:

Shape the Sneaker to the hoof as per the application instructions. Leave a small margin of shoe extending around the perimeter of the hoof, about 1/8 “(3mm). Bend the clips so they contact the wall.

Step 2:

Roughen the hoof surface of the Sneaker with an angle grinder and rinse with solvent and let dry.

Warm the shoe by heating with a hot air gun if the ambient temperature is below 50° F (10° C). Do not overheat and melt the poly-urethane.

Application:

Apply a heavy bead of Equithane Adhere (yellow label) to the sole of the hoof, enough to cover the entire surface of the Sneaker. Press the shoe into the glue making sure to keep an even layer over the hoof. Hold the shoe in place till the glue sets, about 2 to 3 minutes. Place the hoof on the floor and apply a rim of glue up the side of the hoof wall about 1 – 1 ½ inches (25 – 35 mm). If the ambient temperature is cool continue to warm the glue to accelerate the cure rate. Rasp smooth after the Equithane has cured.

This is an example of the useful option of reversing the Sneaker for a ring bone case. Note how far back the point of breakover is and the caudal support from the toe of the shoe being an egg bar. This can also be applied for other problems like navicular syndrome and laminitis.

This is a chronic side bone and club foot that has done well in Sneakers for over 2 years.

This is a chronic laminitis case that has been in Sneakers for over three years with the shoe applied in the reverse configuration.

This is a Quarter crack healing and growing out using the Sneaker's bar shoe and concussion reduction properties without patches or other types of stabilization commonly used to treat this problem.

This is an application on a Charolais cow for an infected coffin joint surgery. The joint was opened for treatment and drainage of the infection. The infected claw required a shoe to stabilize and correctly position it with relation to the healthy claw while it healed. The Sneaker provided the necessary stabilization as well as traction on the concrete floors of the hospital. The Sneaker is nailed on and reinforced with Equilox adhesive.