Sneaker Specs and Facts

Sneaker Specs and Facts

A letter from Kirk Adkins, President of Equithotics Inc.

Sneakers were developed in response to a variety of needs. As a farrier with a large clientele of endurance riders I figured that if the shoe performed in the extreme use of that sport all the other disciplines would benefit. I had very specific requirements for the shoe:

Simplicity of construction and ease of application
Stability and security on the hoof
Support and protection of the hoof, bones and soft tissues of the lower limb
Concussion reduction
Cost effectiveness

As the staff farrier for University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital I was working on a case load of 300 to 500 lameness cases a year. Most of these eventually were shod in bar shoes and pads. Although there was an improvement in a large number of cases I was still not satisfied with the results. Doing such a large number of horses it became apparent that certain things worked and others didn't.

A wide web bar shoe provided the most protection and support but were very difficult to fabricate and apply.
Pads of all types performed poorly for concussion absorption and made keeping the shoes on much more difficult.
All plastic shoes had some desirable concussion reduction properties but were unstable and unsupportive of the hoof and limb.
Some plastic compounds were very slippery while others showed good hard surface traction.
The current designs made nailing difficult and could not accommodate different different foot shapes.

The absence of a shoe that met the criteria necessitated the creation of a better "mouse trap". Using the knowledge gained by the use of types of other shoes, it became apparent that the shoe would need to be a composite shoe. Composite shoes have a metal core with an elastomer component. The elastomer has to bond securely to the metal in order to work as a unit. Through a friend who was an engineer I was introduced to the remarkable properties of poly-urethanes.

Poly-urethanes have tenacious adhesion to metal and can be formulated in an infinite range of properties of wear and concussion absorption. For a period of two years the shoe was refined in shape and compound and design till 1990 when we applied for a patent. We received the patent that same year.

There are five unique components to the design of Sneakers that are mentioned in the patent:

Laminated construction of poly-urethane and aluminum base shoe with integral side clips where the primary wear component is the tread of poly-urethane
Wear studs embedded in the toe to modify the wear at the toe
A bar shoe configuration allowing for use in the reversed configuration for therapeutic use
Cut to fit shaping of the shoe
Nail grooves positioned radially around the shoe to allow for proper nail placement even after altering the shape of the shoe

2008 will mark the 20th anniversary of the first pair of Sneakers cooked up in our kitchen oven. We have improved the shape and durability to make the best performance and therapeutic shoe anywhere in the world.

How long do Sneakers last?

This question is the most difficult to answer accurately because of the variety of horse activities and terrain. The best comparison we have found is that in general the Sneakers will last at least as long as a steel shoe. If you can customarily get a reset out of a steel shoe you most likely will achieve the same wear out of a Sneaker. The primary consideration in the original design was a concussion-absorbing shoe that was economical when compared to a bar shoe and pad combination.

Does the horse have to be lame to benefit from Sneakers?

Not at all. However, Sneakers do address the factors that aggravate or create lameness and reduce their effects. Horses with diagnosed lamenesses are helped, sometimes dramatically, by the application of Sneakers. This gives support to the theory that the use of Sneakers before lameness develops can delay the onset and decrease the severity of use related lamenesses. No responsible horseshoe manufacturer can claim that the use of their shoe will prevent lameness.

Is it necessary to use Sneakers on all four feet?

No it is not. The majority of riders use them on the front feet only and have had great success. There is a difference in the traction between standard shoes and Sneakers, which can cause your horse to move differently going up and down hills. Some riders prefer the same type of traction on all the feet.

Can pads be used with sneakers?

Yes. If coverage of the entire sole is necessary a pad can be used. If angle correction is necessary heel bar wedge pads are recommended.

Weight Comparison Chart

Shoe Size Sneaker ST Croix Extra (steel) Thorobred Grand Champ (Aluminum) KB Aluminum Bar shoe

#0 F 10.3oz. 11.4oz.
6.2oz.

-------

#1 F 11.6oz. 13.5oz.
6.9oz.

6.0oz.

#2 F 13.3oz. 14.4oz.
8.2oz.

6.5oz.

#3 F 16.3oz. 15.2oz.
-------

7.1oz.

#4 F 18.1oz. 16.1oz.
9.5oz.

8.8oz.

This table was compiled from published data and from representative shoes. The Sneakers are untrimmed weights.

This is a 2nd generation Sneaker applied to an endurance horse to test a new compound.

Initially colors were used to differentiate between compounds so we could evaluate the properties. Now, however, the compound is the same and the colors vary for variety and visibility. A dark red color was introduced in '96 followed by a dark brown to black. In 2008 we upgraded to a newer more durable compound which is available in dark brown and yellow. Endurance riders like the yellow for the visibility on the trail, just a glance will tell you if all shoes are still in place. Another modification is a 45° bevel to the side of the center hole to facilitate cleaning.

In 1990 a research program for the exercise physiology for horses was conducted at UC Davis on a high speed treadmill. During the course of the study the horses were stabled on concrete and had a turnout of decomposed granite. In the course of the study all the horses suffered some form of lameness because of the harshness of the environment. The horses were then shod with Sneakers to see if they would help with the soundness issues. The results of the switch to the Sneakers resulted in a 100% return to soundness of the horses and a completion of the experiment which had heretofore been incomplete for over a year. It is now standard operating procedure by some researchers to put their horses in Sneakers at the outset of the study.

These photos are of a study done to correlate the mechanical sequences of the hoof flight with high speed videography and a computer analysis to compare the parity of the techniques. Sneakers were fitted with micro switches to give a mechanical record of the footfalls, breakover and liftoff. Lights were activated by the switches and recorded by high speed video. During this study the computer proved so sensitive it was able to detect the tread compression of the Sneaker!

Specs & Facts