Testimonials About our Composite and Urethane Horseshoes

Testimonial: Noriker Mare with Arthrosis
Translated from German

Also suitable for heavy horses! I have an older Noriker mare with arthritis in her front legs. Our veterinarian recommended a farrier who works with composite shoes. Despite initial skepticism, I must say that I am more than satisfied. The shoes hold up even with my heavyweight for at least 8 weeks - we've even had them on for 10 weeks. The quality is excellent and perfectly suited for my horse. Of course, it also requires someone with the competence to fit them correctly. I am very grateful to my farrier and the Duploteam. Without the shoes, my beloved mare probably wouldn't have been able to join us for a leisurely ride. I am truly fully satisfied!

Testimonial: Rhenish-German Cold-Blooded Gelding with Arthrosis
Translated from German

My Rhenish-German Cold-Blooded Gelding Moritz is 16 years old and weighs approximately 850kg. Due to his advanced arthritis in the crown and hoof joints, diagnosed about 2 years ago, I switched from traditional iron shoes to composites. At the end of the day, I regret that I didn't do this much earlier, because this shoe makes his life much easier. The material's shock-absorbing properties are very beneficial for his joints, and he goes almost all year round pain-free with me on trails. In 2023, we covered a total of 1125km on trails (mainly long walks), and despite his diagnosis, he likes to move and enjoys being active. The shoeing interval is 7 weeks, we can often use the shoes for two shoeing periods, so every 14 weeks. With a new set of Duplos, we cover between 260 and 340km (depending on the ground). I didn't expect that with such a heavy horse and I am simply impressed with this great product.

Testimonial: Oldenburg Gelding With Arthrosis
Translated from German

I bought my Oldenburg gelding “Devoucoux”, also known as “Flauschi”, in February 2014 when he was almost six years old. At the time, he only wore standard steel shoes on the front. After around eight months, I also had him shod behind because of the high level of wear, particularly on hard forest tracks.

In August 2016, he was diagnosed with moderate arthrosis in both front fetlock joints. The prognosis was that, considering the level I was riding at, he would probably still have three good years ahead of him. As a trained horse manager who worked at a very high level in international show jumping yards until November 2022, I naturally put together a plan straight away: feeding, training, IRAP treatment, and so on.

But every leisure rider should know that everything starts with the hoof. The right horseshoe is essential for healthy horses and even more so for horses with existing problems. After discussing it with my farrier at the time, we tried round steel shoes on the front. However, this ultimately resulted in Flauschi no longer breaking over properly and instead developing a kind of sliding gait.

By great luck, one of my neighbours was the successful endurance rider and excellent farrier Bernhard Dornsiepen Jr., so I asked him for advice.

The clinic had also recommended making the breakover as smooth as possible in order to reduce the point of greatest stress on the joints. Bernhard recommended Duplo horseshoes to me, and I decided to give them a try. During the first year, Flauschi wore the STS Duplo with a straight toe on the front, which allowed him to break over very well. The solution was also praised during a follow-up examination at the Leichlingen clinic. From that day on, however, I learned that, as a warmblood owner, you are often met with a certain amount of scepticism from vets when it comes to Duplo horseshoes. To this day, I have never grown tired of passionately explaining the many advantages of this type of horseshoe.

The most important thing with Duplo horseshoes, however, is having a capable farrier who has really familiarised themselves with the product and does not simply “nail them on somehow”. After one bad experience with exactly that kind of farrier, I travelled almost 100 kilometres to Bernhard every six weeks for years to have my horse shod. Fortunately, he had an outstanding apprentice who became self-employed after completing her training and has since been coming to my yard as well. Tanja Weiland and I even tried some cheaper imitation products together, but quickly stopped using them again. We also keep a photo album of the hooves. When I sent her some photos around three to four weeks after shoeing, showing that the pastern axis was beginning to change – Flauschi has one steeper and one flatter hoof – she spent several nights studying the issue. She eventually came up with a solution: she ground the Duplo horseshoes at different angles behind, allowing both hooves to break over more evenly again. Since then, the difference between the two hooves has become less and less noticeable.

Most importantly, however, both the vets and the X-rays confirm my personal impression: with Duplo horseshoes, my horse breaks over in an almost natural way. The progression of the arthrosis has slowed considerably, and above all, I am no longer afraid of falling with my horse when out hacking. Flauschi is sure-footed both uphill and downhill. He is now 15 years old and, apart from a few minor aches when the weather changes and needing around 15 minutes to loosen up, he is in excellent condition. I doubt that this would be the case with traditional steel shoes, let alone that I would feel as safe when riding off-road.

But I will never get tired of emphasising that even the best horseshoe is of little use without a skilled farrier. Farriers who are not interested in properly learning how to work with Duplo horseshoes should not use them at all.

Testimonial: Endurance Rides and Many Training Kilometres
Translated from German

We have now completed 2,889km of successfully rated endurance rides with Duplo horseshoes, along with many, many training kilometres. We have also completed a 100-mile endurance ride, and we are planning to ride the TransGermania with Duplo horseshoes as well. We are very happy with them.

My horse and I have already covered more than 2,300km in competition on endurance rides with Duplo horseshoes. We are very happy with them. Especially on hard ground and downhill, Duplo horseshoes provide excellent sure-footedness and allow my horse to move comfortably.

This year, we started using glue-on Duplo horseshoes for the first time as well. In August, we are planning to ride 1,300km in the TransGermania endurance ride and expect to need around four sets of horseshoes. We plan to nail on two sets and glue on two.

So far, I have not noticed any difference in my horse's movement with the glue-on Duplo horseshoes. However, he wears one size smaller when they are glued on, as there cannot be as much overhang as with nailed horseshoes.

So far, I have found that muddy or boggy ground puts the most strain on the glue-on tabs. Even if one tab comes loose, however, the horseshoe still stays securely in place. As our ride takes place in summer, the glue-on horseshoes should therefore be a good alternative to the nailed version.

Testimonial: A Solution Even for Challenging Cases
Translated from German

The Duplo range is very extensive, which means there is always a suitable solution for every horse – even in challenging cases.

The company’s advice is absolutely competent and helpful, and they can be reached quickly even in urgent situations.

Order processing and shipping are also handled within a very short time.

Working with the plastic horseshoes is a pleasure. I am absolutely convinced by the Duplo range and enjoy using the products both for my clients and for my own horses.

Testimonial: Barrel Racing, MB Sport Horses - Canada

My name is Michaela Berlie, and I live in the Alberta Foothills - near to Calgary, Alberta Canada. I compete with my horses in Ladies Barrel Racing, which is an equine, timed event discipline in professional rodeo. In my experience in changing my horses into Duplo shoes, while still working with my long-time farrier, I have been so impressed with the results as well as Caro's expertise.

The major differences:

• All my horses move out with more freedom in their shoulders and front legs, taking overall longer strides, staying softer and more connected throughout their body and are remaining consistently sound.
• When in a situation that they need to exercise or warm up on harder surfaces such as dry fields or hard-packed arenas they have a much easier time staying softer and more relaxed physically and not being so affected by the poor footing conditions.
• Within a short amount of time of being in Duplo shoes, there has been a dramatic change in hoof shape and health for the better.
• Overall, they have had a much more relaxed mental state and less emotionally reactive.

I have always preferred my competition horses to be in shoes however when putting on traditional steel shoes at the beginning of each competition season, there was this unexplainable block or a wall between the horses, myself, and the ground. Something just did not feel quite right. Since moving the horses into the Duplo’s, this has completely disappeared and there is a sensation that they can almost feel the ground out better.

The most effective set up I have found for barrel racing is Duplo shoes on the front feet and traditional steel shoes on the back feet.

I love the Duplo shoes and so do my horses - There is no way I can ever return to steel shoes all around on my competition horses!

Testimonial: Wide Range of Nailed and Glue-On Options
Translated from German

As an equine physiotherapist, I have seen and tried many different types of hoof boots and horseshoes. No other brand offers as many additional options or such a wide range of possible applications as Duplo.

There is also plenty of useful information available online, and the feedback provided is reliable and based on sound knowledge.

Testimonial: Movement, Sure-Footedness, and Reusability
Translated from German

At the beginning of May 2024, I had my Icelandic mare shod with Duplo horseshoes for the first time.

I chose the green version because we had several trail rides coming up and my farrier had recommended this model to me. Normally, my mare wore steel shoes in summer and went barefoot in winter, using hoof boots on the front hooves for trail rides.

I noticed a change in my mare's movement straight away, even though she already had a very comfortable walk. What stood out most was that she no longer slipped when going downhill and showed much better movement through the shoulder. Overall, she seemed much more sure-footed.

After six weeks, my farrier removed the Duplo horseshoes to trim the hooves, which had grown very well and looked great. We were able to reuse the same pair for another shoeing cycle. In the end, I used one pair of Duplo horseshoes on the front and one pair on the hind hooves for almost three months in total and covered around 510km on trail rides during that time.

My conclusion: they have been absolutely great for my horse, for our terrain, and for trail riding. I am very glad that I switched from conventional steel shoes to Duplo horseshoes.

Testimonial: Smoother Turns at Barrel Racing

I really love the change in how my Mare comes into the barrels with the Duplo shoes. Her turns are a lot smoother and not so choppy with these shoes vs regular steel rimmed shoes. She feels a lot more stable when coming into and going out of the barrels.

Testimonial: Glue-On Horseshoes at the Beach and in Saltwater
Translated from German

Hello Duplo Team,
I just wanted to share some quick feedback about the glue-on horseshoes at the beach. We spent a week in Holland at the seaside with three horses, all shoed with your glue-on horseshoes.

After being satisfied customers for three years, we were once again thoroughly impressed with how well the glue-on shoes performed, even at the beach in saltwater. Whether in deep sand dunes or saltwater, the glue-on shoes handled everything perfectly. It’s wonderful to enjoy a vacation without worrying about lost shoes.

Best regards from the Taunus region!

Testimonial: No Slipping and a Secure Feeling
Translated from German

Last year, my sister and I went on a riding holiday in the Lüneburg Heath with our two horses. My horse wears Duplo horseshoes. What I really like is that the horses do not slip even on wet, muddy ground, which gives me a very secure feeling. Our next holiday is already booked.

Testimonial: Proven in Everyday Farriery

Whether for my clients' horses or my own, I order from Duplo Frank very regularly and have always been very satisfied.

Delivery usually takes place within 48 hours, and whether it is base plates, glue-on tabs, or rasps, the quality has proven itself in everyday farriery and is consistently very good.

Hello Duplo Team,
I would like to share my experience because I think many competition riders still associate Duplo horseshoes mainly with leisure riding or trail riding. Until a few months ago, I thought the same.

I compete in dressage up to advanced level (S-Klasse was mentioned in the testimonial), and just over a year ago my horse developed serious health problems without anyone really knowing what was causing them.
The one advantage we had was that we have our own stable, which meant we were able to make changes in many different areas. We really had to approach the situation by a process of elimination, as there was no other option.

During the summer, my horse became so unwell that we did not know whether he would make it through the next three or four days.
One of the things we changed was his hoof care. As my horse needs hoof protection on the front hooves, which our vet also agrees with, we decided to move away from conventional horseshoes, find a new farrier, and have synthetic horseshoes glued on rather than nailed. That was the main thing for us. We had nothing to lose.

Now, a good six months later, I have to say that I wish I had done this years ago. If a horse needs horseshoes and switching to Duplo is an option, I believe every rider should consider it – for the horse's sake!

My horse is now doing so well again that we will soon be able to start bringing him back into training. His hoof situation played a major role in how seriously ill he became. A good farrier, time, patience, and Duplo glue-on horseshoes have really helped us get back on the right track.

If any of our horses ever need horseshoes again, this is the only way I would do it – glued on! So far, my horse has not lost a single shoe, even though he is now playing and running around again. I used to dismiss these horseshoes myself, but today I can genuinely recommend them. I never thought I would say that!

Testimonial: Gravel Trails in the Bavarian Forest
Translated from German

My two horses, a German Riding Pony cross mare and an Icelandic gelding, regularly wear Duplo horseshoes, either nailed or glued on. They are ridden out on trails almost every day. The trails here in the Bavarian Forest near the tri-border area are mainly gravel tracks made from sharp-edged granite stones or forest trails with lots of roots and rocks. Under these conditions, riding without hoof protection is unfortunately not really an option.

Before we moved to the Bavarian Forest, my mare was completely barefoot. There was a strip of grass down the middle of almost every trail, and we managed very well.

On the gravel tracks in our new home, however, she was no longer able to walk comfortably barefoot. She showed this by constantly trying to stay at the edge of the trail. So we needed to find suitable hoof protection.

At around the same time, I fulfilled a long-held wish and bought my current Icelandic gelding. He came from the local area and was therefore already shod – with synthetic horseshoes from Duplo.

My gelding coped very well with the gravel tracks in them. The synthetic material cushioned the impact when stepping onto the hard stones. His hoof horn and frog looked healthy and in excellent condition. The frog support, which seemed a little unusual to me at first, protected the frog from the sharp stones while also providing the pressure it needs with every step to support good circulation. All in all, it made perfect sense to me.

So I decided to have my mare shod with synthetic horseshoes as well. At 16 years old, she accepted the first shoes of her life surprisingly calmly. After just a few metres, the old lady seemed to discover the benefits of her new shoes and happily marched over the gravel track without any sensitivity at all. I was delighted – and also felt a little guilty that I had denied her this luxury for so long.

Since then, both of my horses have worn Duplo synthetic horseshoes almost continuously, apart from a one- to two-month winter break. Switching from horseshoes to barefoot during the winter break and then back again has been completely trouble-free.

As regularly having two horses shod can become quite expensive over time, I recently started fitting the synthetic horseshoes myself as glue-on horseshoes. After a short introductory course at Duplo, this has worked very well so far.

My two horses have rewarded the regular use of good hoof protection with healthy hooves and joints and with their continued enthusiasm for covering many kilometres out on the trails.

Testimonial: Dressage Rider, Human and Animal Physiotherapist
Translated from German

I am a dressage rider, a physiotherapist in human medicine, and an animal physiotherapist. My competition horse Saphier has been wearing Duplo horseshoes for many years, and since then we have had no further problems.

I always like to compare Duplo horseshoes with sports shoes. Nowadays, no one would think of going running in wooden clogs – let alone competing in high-performance sport.

Saphier used to be very sensitive when barefoot, especially after a farrier appointment. After trying conventional steel shoes, which in my opinion can place additional strain on the joints of horses with expressive movement and a lot of leg action because of their weight, as well as aluminium horseshoes, which wore down too quickly and did not even last four weeks, we switched to Duplo horseshoes, just as we had with our other horses.

I am extremely happy with them. They are significantly more wear-resistant than the aluminium horseshoes we used before, provide a slight shock-absorbing effect, and allow the hoof to retain its small natural movements.

They have also given us secure footing many times in poor competition conditions, such as on very muddy grass where you could barely even see the hooves. We use Duplo horseshoes all year round because they not only provide good grip, but also help prevent snow from balling up in winter.

As an athlete, both my horses and I are very grateful to work with such a strong and committed company.

Testimonial: Draft Horse Shoeing – Percheron With Poor Hoof Quality
Translated from German

Hello everyone,
Unfortunately, my Percheron has poor hoof quality, and due to a limb conformation issue he kept pulling off his steel shoes. Each time this happened, another piece of the hoof wall broke away, until conventional shoeing was no longer possible.

As he lives in an open stable system with a hard-surfaced area, keeping him barefoot is unfortunately not an option. About six months ago, I therefore started using glue-on horseshoes. Because of my boy's size, I was very sceptical about whether this would work.

The advisers at Duplo recommended the glue-on horseshoes from the HDS range together with Wolf Busch glue-on collars, and today I can say that I am very happy with them. Especially when you consider that the open stable can become very muddy in winter, the horseshoes have held up remarkably well during this difficult time thanks to the extra-wide glue-on collars.

Many thanks for this innovation for large draft horses. My big boy now has a good quality of life again and can play with his friends in the herd once more.

Testimonial: Durability and Riding Holiday in the Bavarian Forest
Translated from German

I have been a very happy Duplo customer for 10 years, and this year once again confirmed why.

Just before a one-week riding holiday with my own horse in the Bavarian Forest, my farrier let me down.
That meant we set off with overdue and already heavily worn horseshoes and still covered almost 100km during the holiday. What can I say – the Duplo horseshoes held up, even though there was not much material left by the end.

The photo shows a Duplo horseshoe after eight weeks of intensive riding on highly abrasive surfaces. Almost 100km of that was covered with the horseshoe already showing significant wear.

Testimonial: Draft Horses in Forestry Work - Heavy Duty Shoes - Logging Horse
Translated from German

My name is J. Duddek and with my french Ardennes "Ugo" we do logging as a sideline, give (introductory) courses for interested people and support the training to become a logging horse.

"Ugo" was previously shod with metal shoes in front, in winter additionally with hoof grip, which makes the shoeing more complex. When our hoof technician Thomas Schaaf said last fall that the composites are now also available in Ugo's size (200cm), we decided to test them on him. Our second horse "Iquito", a Comtois, already had Duplos because he has a smaller hoof size. He is mainly ridden.

We were a little skeptical whether composites would work on a 900kg horse and especially how long they would last. Thomas Schaaf has been shoeing our horses for a long time and always thinks about what can be improved and also sometimes goes other ways. So last fall Ugo got Duplos in the front, in the back he goes barefoot. Winter is the main season for logging, and we were very curious to see whether the shoe would hold up to the adversities of forest work.

And lo and behold, the shoes have held the 8 weeks until the next appointment. Although quite worn, because he likes to shuffle sometimes, but everything is still all right. In the meantime, we have the 3rd set of shoes in use and it has worked great – even in snow that has not piled up. We are also often asked about the shoes as it is (still) very unusual for such large and heavy horses to have these shoes.

We are very satisfied and look forward to further cooperation with our hoof technician Thomas Schaaf.

Testimonial: Laminitis With 1cm of Coffin Bone Sinking

My horse has laminitis and is 1cm sunken, because of this he was not comfortable on the roads and even in the forest even without a rider.

I am in training to become a barefoot trimmer, I saw your products and decided now is a good time to test your products on my horse, so that I will be able to offer this service to my clients.
On the web page you have a lot of good educational resources, so I felt good about glueing on him.
It was not hard at all! He has now been wearing his boots for 5 weeks, he is very happy with them over all different terrain. Most days he stands outside in a muddy paddock, but the shoes are still holding as good as ever.

The shoes are good on any terrain, we hadn’t had any slipping or uncomfortable feeling like with some brands of hoof boots.

Attached are pictures of my horse with green tabs and my friends with pink tabs. Both horses are moving so much easier, their strides are longer and there is finally heel first landings.

Thank you, Duplo, for making our horses comfortable again!

Testimonial: Glue-On Horseshoes for Small Hooves
Translated from German

I am very happy with Frank and their wide range of products! Best wishes

Testimonial: Durability and Winter Shoeing
Translated from German

I can definitely recommend Duplo horseshoes.

My Spanish mare has quite brittle hoof horn, which tends to break away when the shoes are nailed on. Since I started gluing Duplo horseshoes onto her hooves, the hoof has been protected and nothing has broken away. The shoeing interval has become slightly shorter with the glue-on application – around six weeks instead of eight.

However, I can reuse the horseshoes without any problems for a second and sometimes even a third shoeing cycle. I simply weld on a new glue-on collar and glue them back on.

My Freiberger mare is conventionally shod from spring through autumn. During the winter months, she also wears Duplo horseshoes, although hers are nailed on.

For my needs, they are unbeatable as winter horseshoes. During long periods without snow, the wear on my sand paddock is too high for her to make it through the winter barefoot. With Duplo horseshoes, that is no problem. And when it does snow, I do not have any problems with snowballing. The Duplo horseshoes shed the snow extremely well.

Testimonial: Limb Deformity
Translated from German

My horse suffers from a limb deformity of the front legs and has no problems thanks to Duplos. It performs well across various activities (indoor / cross-country)!
We are completely satisfied with the Duplos!!!

Hello Duplo Team,
I switched from steel shoes to Duplo horseshoes, and since then my horses have been much happier. They also provide better protection for the sole. In winter, when the ground is icy or slippery, I simply screw in studs.

I am an endurance rider, and at our end-of-season ride winter suddenly arrived. Everyone else was leading their horses because they were barefoot, but I was able to stay in the saddle because my horse was wearing four Duplo horseshoes with studs. He did not slip at all, not even on icy roads.

The Duplo horseshoes stay on so well that I can easily use just four nails without ever losing one. My Arabian also wears them down so evenly that I can reuse them up to four times, until there is virtually no tread pattern left.

My second horse, unfortunately, does not move quite as cleanly and starts dragging her hind feet after around 40 kilometres. This used to cause a lot of wear at the toe, and every hoof boot was damaged within a very short time. After trying a few different options, I switched her to the Arizona model. Since then, she has been doing really well and the toe is much better protected. She also slips less because the metal provides better grip when she places the hoof down at an angle. I am really impressed by the wide range of options available, as they give you the chance to find the best solution for each individual horse.

We are currently testing the Snow version, and I am already curious to see how well it performs in wet snow.

Testimonial: Heath Endurance Ride ('Heidedistanz') 2016
Translated from German

The Heath Endurance Ride ("Heidedistanz") is Germany's oldest 100-mile ride. Its special atmosphere is enticing - the close bonds between horse, rider and crew as well as between riders are characteristic.

Traditionally, the route is marked by horse one week before the competition. The route curls from South to North through the Luneburg Heath; that's why the competition is also called the "ride from Hanover to Hamburg". The ride starts at midnight and at torch-light at the authentic manor Feuerschützenbostel close to Celle where the riders - already sitting on their horses - receive a glass of homemade blackthorn liqueur before the ride into darkness.

They ride through the night, only lit by the full moon. Rider and horse need a special bond of trust to do this! It is almost eldritch when the glowsticks appear in trees along the way - they were placed there as route markers. At some point, the riders cross the early morning fog towards sunrise.

After 80 km, there is one hour coffee break. From here, there is a veterinary inspection every 20 km where riders can consult our vets and volontarily end their ride without being disqualified. The route continues through the marvellous nature protection area of the Luneburg Heath; the sandpaths seem endless and the view is amazing.

But still - at some point, on a field near Brackel, there is the finishing line. Tired and happy, riders and horses cross the line with shouting and cheering. There is a comfortable evening programm planned with songs, guitar play and a campfire as well as an abundant BBQ.

The day after begins with another vet check. It's time to see if the stresses and strains from the ride were worth it! Every horse is checked by three vets. Only when all three of them give their thumbs-up, it's official: "Adventure Heath Endurance Ride Passed!"

The Heath Endurance Ride is probably Germany's most popular 100-mile ride. The number of participants is limited to 40 riders and the slots are booked up quite early. Sometimes, there are more participants here than at the German Championship of Endurance Riders! The Heath Endurance Ride is an affair of the heart for many participants as well as for many volonteers.

Duplo Composite Horseshoes were part of the Heath Endurance Ride 2016 - for example, our two runner-ups who you can see on the photos.

Testimonial: Limb Conformation Issue and Severe Uneven Wear
Translated from German

After discussing it with my farrier, we decided to try a Duplo horseshoe on my horse. Due to a limb conformation issue, he has very uneven hoof wear. According to our vet, he would normally need steel shoes. However, as I am a strong believer in alternative horseshoes and personally prefer to avoid nailing whenever possible, your glue-on horseshoes were an obvious choice for us!

Thanks to all the explanations, videos and information on your website, my farrier and I felt confident enough to try the horseshoes together. They were really easy to use, and so far we are more than impressed! My horse is moving really well and I can finally train without worrying.

I am very curious to see how things develop over the next few weeks. We will definitely continue using this horseshoe. The wide range of different versions and possibilities really offers a suitable solution for almost every horse.

I am very happy that I discovered Duplo horseshoes and am already looking forward to the coming weeks. For now, I will definitely be placing a large order.

Testimonial: Finally Sound After 4 Months With Duplo Horseshoes
Translated from German

My pony mare had been lame for four whole months. Together with our vet, we tried many different things, but nothing helped completely. Then we glued Duplo horseshoes onto her front hooves, and within less than 24 hours she was completely sound.

I am absolutely delighted and simply so happy that my pony is properly fit again. She will definitely continue to wear Duplo glue-on horseshoes.

Testimonial: Sure-Footedness and Shock Absorption
Translated from German

I am absolutely delighted! Whether in summer or winter, my horses get on extremely well with these horseshoes.

One major advantage I noticed straight away is the improved sure-footedness. Especially on slippery or uneven ground, my horses move much more confidently and stumble less. This not only gives me peace of mind, but also provides greater safety in everyday handling and while riding.

I am also very impressed with the shock absorption provided by Duplo horseshoes. The combination of synthetic material and metal provides pleasant cushioning and helps reduce the strain on my horses' joints. I feel that they move more freely and in a more relaxed way overall.

Another advantage is the durability and versatility of the horseshoes. Whether in the pasture, out hacking, or during training, Duplo horseshoes perform reliably. My horses are also well equipped with them in both summer and winter.

Overall, I am more than satisfied with my decision to use Duplo composite horseshoes. They offer my horses comfort, protection, and safety under a wide range of conditions. I can definitely recommend them!

Testimonial: Paso Finos with Composite Horsesehoes
Translated from German

My Paso Fino gelding "Vigo" was initially shoed with metal horseshoes in summer and went barehoof or with hoof shoes in winter. I've never been quite happy with this solution - he always moved in a slightly tense way with horseshoes and was extremely sensitive without -, but back then, there was no other way. Imagine my happiness when I was offered to use him as test horse for the composite horseshoes about 15 years ago! The shoes were still new and in progress, but for Vigo, they worked better than any horseshoe before. The difference in his gaits was amazing; he moved much more smoothly and joyfully than ever before. The shoes were improved over the years and I gladly continued using them.

Today, Vigo is more than 20 years old and is still shoed with composites all-the-year because the horseshoes are absolutely reliable in every situation and we can do everything with them: Gymnastic riding in the arena up to successfully participatingat the European Championships of the PFAE (Paso Fino Association Europe e.V.), short and long trail rides in every speed and in every terrain - the shoes are great. They slip neither on wet grass nor in mud, they accumulate (almost) no snow during winter, they are ideal for herd life and absolutely comfortable for the horse. Vigo and I are amazed!

By now, there is a trainee horse ready for action. Of course, little "Vamos" - another Paso Fino - has been shoed with Duplos from the beginning. That way, he benefits from the best premises possible for a healthy and successful career!

Testimonial: Extremely Satisfied with the Nailless and Wolf Busch®
Translated from German

My horse has been wearing the Nailless with Wolf Busch® glue-on tabs for approximately six months now. We are extremely satisfied!

Prior to this, we experimented with various other adhesive shoes, but none of these convinced us. Due to her very round hoof shape, the other adhesive shoes simply did not meet our requirements. The Duplo Nailless is perfectly adjustable to the hoof, and my horse walks very well with it.

Testimonial: Perfect Grip With Duplo Horseshoes
Translated from German

Our horses have been wearing Duplo horseshoes for many years, and we are still more than convinced by their quality.
Whether in summer or winter, in the arena, out on the trails, or even on very muddy ground, Duplo horseshoes always give us the grip we need.

We have also found an excellent solution for our older horses (over 30) with the glue-on horseshoes.
So I can wholeheartedly recommend Duplo horseshoes to anyone.

Testimonial: Glue-On Horseshoes – Inflamed Sole, Arthrosis, and Bone Spavin
Translated from German

Area of use: Permanent hoof protection on all four hooves for a horse with an inflamed sole and arthrosis affecting both hind legs (bone spavin) as well as one carpal joint in the front leg.
Keeping conditions: Mountain paddock trail with moderate inclines and a variety of surfaces
Period of use: SPRING / SUMMER and AUTUMN / WINTER (with spikes)

During an acute episode of lameness, the glue-on horseshoes provided relief immediately after the hoof trimming and application. Her movement was noticeably better, and she was much more willing to move.

At first, I had problems with the horseshoes coming off more frequently or the tabs tearing away. This happened with several horses. Over time, we realised that the surface was the cause. Around the hay racks on the paddock trail, there were paddock grids that had not yet been covered with sand. When the horses turned away from the feeding areas, the tread on the horseshoes caught on the raised sections of the paddock grids. The resulting resistance, combined with the horse's weight, became too great, and the horses effectively twisted the glue-on horseshoes off. Sand has since been added to these sections of the trail, and we have not had this problem again.

In long-term use, the Duplo glue-on horseshoes clearly stood out from other products in terms of DURABILITY. The base plate could be reused for several shoeing cycles, and the amount of wear was correspondingly low.

During the colder months, the horseshoes were fitted with 4–8 spikes depending on the ground conditions. This also helped my horse move more confidently and willingly. Losing balance is a major concern for any horse. With the spikes, my mare was visibly more relaxed and comfortable whenever the ground became slippery.

After the excellent glue-on workshop, I would like to try a synthetic horseshoe with a metal core and no clips for the next shoeing cycle, together with a few small modifications, to see whether my horse moves even better on uneven ground. If less movement from the hoof is transferred further up the limb, this may improve stability and help with the arthrosis.

In winter, we occasionally had problems with snowballing in wet snow. Making the snow rim thinner helped, but did not solve the problem completely. In future, I would like to try temporarily inserting the Hoof Sole Protector and will of course share my feedback. It remains to be seen how well the horseshoes perform in summer on our partly very muddy and steep 10-hectare pasture.
I am already looking forward to finding out!

Testimonial: ...the Glued Shoes Hold Just as Securely as Nailed Ones...
Translated from German

My experiences with the shoes.

In 2009, I participated in a hoof course with Hanno Pilartz in the Eifel, where I acquired comprehensive knowledge about hooves and Duplo. Since then, I have been independently shoeing all our horses, which include diverse breeds such as Anglo-Arabians, Trakehners, Westphalians, and heavy warmbloods.

Some horses have been wearing composites from their very first shoeing, while others switched from conventional shoes to Duplos for the first time when they were over 20 years old. The support and stability provided by the shoes are impeccable, and the horses do not experience tendon problems or similar issues. I highly recommend the shoes because they offer solutions even for challenging hooves.

I welded on glue-on tabs, which are also available at Duplo Frank. With the right glue, (...), the horseshoes hold just as securely as nailed ones. We have covered many kilometres of trail riding, in summer and winter, enduring both heat and freezing cold. Duplos consistently prove reliable, whether fitted with spikes or studs, featuring a deeper tread pattern, or a regular one. Keep up the excellent work, Duplo-Frank team! I am thrilled! And once again, a big thank you to Hanno, who is responsible for my conviction and for providing my horses with happiness!

Joachim from Wenden in the Sauerland

Testimonial: Glue-on Shoes for Carriage Horses
Translated from German

The glue-on version of the Duplos is a great option to avoid nailing. When applied carefully, the glue-on tabs can easily last for an entire shoeing cycle of 5-6 weeks!

Our horses even perform in competitive carriage driving with them, and it works!

Testimonial: Prepared for Every Situation
Translated from German

I really enjoy using Duplo horseshoes. There is a suitable option for almost every situation, whether for horses with laminitis, tendon problems, show jumpers, or simply trail horses. And if, for whatever reason, nailing is not possible, I use a glue-on application instead. So far, I have had consistently positive experiences with Duplo composite horseshoes and will gladly continue using them for both my own horses and my customers' horses.

Testimonial: Difficult Hooves Brought Back Into Good Condition
Tranlated from German

As Lukas is a little camera-shy, he only wants to show his nose and hooves. By now, his hooves are in a good condition – as good as is possible for him – thanks to Duplo horseshoes with deeper tread pattern and quarter clips.

His front hooves had previously been shod with steel shoes, which did not suit him particularly well in the long term due to factors such as the lack of cushioning, deformation of the hoof capsule, and long toes. At the owner's request, I took over the hoof care and did my best, although it was not always easy:

• a lot of hoof growth combined with shoeing intervals that were slightly too long
• crumbly hoof horn and deformed hoof capsules
• as a result, he repeatedly needed a different shoe size; we have gradually worked our way from 142-R to 146-O, with several intermediate steps

He is one of the few horses that also needs oval Duplo horseshoes on the front.

However, from the very beginning, he moved extremely well and we were very happy with the result, even over longer distances and on demanding rides. Every year, he takes part in the “Blutritt” in Weingarten, Württemberg, and in Bad Wurzach. The day before, he first covers the roughly 30-kilometre route from the stable to the assembly point. The following day, he takes part in around five hours of procession in the mounted group, with brass bands in front and behind. In Weingarten, around 2,000 horses take part, and in Bad Wurzach around 1,000.

After more than a year and a half of continuous use of Duplo horseshoes, I am very satisfied as a farrier with the hoof horn quality, the wear of the horseshoes, and the way he moves. We plan to give him a break from horseshoes each winter and then fit a new set again in April.

Lukas is a good example of how difficult hooves – and sometimes a difficult horse – can be brought back into good condition with Duplo horseshoes, even when they are worn continuously.

I am absolutely delighted! Whether in summer or winter, my horses get on extremely well with these horseshoes.

One major advantage I noticed straight away is the improved sure-footedness. Especially on slippery or uneven ground, my horses move much more confidently and stumble less. This not only gives me peace of mind, but also provides greater safety in everyday handling and while riding.

I am also very impressed with the shock absorption provided by Duplo horseshoes. The combination of synthetic material and metal provides pleasant cushioning and helps reduce the strain on my horses' joints. I feel that they move more freely and in a more relaxed way overall.

Another advantage is the durability and versatility of the horseshoes. Whether in the pasture, out hacking, or during training, Duplo horseshoes perform reliably. My horses are also well equipped with them in both summer and winter.

Overall, I am more than satisfied with my decision to use Duplo composite horseshoes. They offer my horses comfort, protection, and safety under a wide range of conditions. I can definitely recommend them!

Testimonial: Glue-On Workshop – Glue-On Shoes for Draft Horse Sizes
Translated from German

After attending the Duplo workshop in March, I glued Duplo horseshoes onto my draft mare for the first time. I am really pleased that Duplo also offers a good selection of sizes for draft horses and that the horseshoes can be adjusted so flexibly to fit. Thank you for such a great workshop and such great horseshoes. Especially for heavier horses, the shock absorption is a real advantage.

Testimonial: Warmbloods and Draft Horses – Glued, Nailed, and Modified
Translated from German

Dear Duplo Team,
We first had our two warmblood mares shod by a farrier in 2017. After draft horses also joined our herd, it became difficult to find a farrier who was willing to work on them.

That is why we have been doing the hoof care ourselves since 2018 and ordering our Duplo horseshoes directly from Duplo-Frank. From size 122 all the way up to 190, from glue-on horseshoes and nailed Duplo horseshoes to modified versions that allow access to the frog for care, we have tried just about everything.

We are very happy with them, and our horses move “as if they were walking on clouds” over all kinds of terrain.

Best wishes from Steinacker Ranch
Martina & Hans

Testimonial: Laminitis
Translated from German

Even if the horseshoe is barely visible on the photo - splashing around is no problem at all! Front shoes: STS, hind shoes: Standard with Profile; both with quarter clips and modified bar.

I've made X-ray images because of laminitis the vet was excited about the horseshoes. He said the pony could not have been shoed any better! We will continue shoeing that way and the pony walked lame-free shortly after the laminitis episode. The photo was taken seven weeks after the laminitis episode. Thanks a lot for your great work, keep it up!

Best wishes from Mecklenburg-West Pomerania,
Cindy and Pony Dimi

Testimonial: In the interest of the horse's well-being.....
Translated from German

The first horseshoes I bought 25 years ago – at that time still real metal shoes. When I noticed the development of Duplo shoes, I thought for the first time that I myself would not like to walk around in steel shoes. This then led to my switch to composite shoes, currently in both nailed and glued versions, depending on the needs of my horses.

My experience with them has been positive throughout. The horses don't slip, the shoes are solid and last a pleasantly long time, about 8-12 weeks – even the glued shoes. In addition, the latter are also available in beautiful bright colors. I would – In terms of horse well-being – never want to switch back to the traditional metal shoes.

Testimonial: Composite Shoes to Support Gloria in Her Recovery....
Translated from German

10-year-old Cruzado mare Great Glory "Gloria"

On veterinary advice, Gloria had to be shod for a period at the age of 7. She had injured herself and shoeing was intended to speed up her recovery. Since she had been barefoot until then, after consulting with my barefoot trimmer, the decision was made to use Duplos. Although she never had any problems with bare hooves, it was immediately apparent that the Duplos were good for her. That's why we continue to shoe her with Duplos all year round. Due to the profile, this also works very well during winter. Since then, we have climbed every obstacle together.

Testimonial: A Lifesaver
Translated from German

Duplos – A Lifesaver for My Draft Horse with Acute Laminitis.

From excellent advice to a service that truly strives to find the best solution for the horse and its specific needs, the experience has been outstanding. It’s great to see that someone is thinking about the "big" hooves as well.

Thank you for being there!

Testimonial: "thoroughly impressed"
Translated from German

Dear Duplo-Frank Team,
I wanted to provide you with feedback on your horseshoes as I am thoroughly impressed.

Our now 26-year-old Arabian mare had an unexplained lameness in her right front leg 7 years ago. No cause could be determined, and the situation lasted for more than six months.

Our farrier tried the Duplo shoes back then, and the mare improved within a few days, becoming sound shortly after. And that has been the case until today; at 26, she moves like other horses at 10.

Now it gets even better. Our second mare is now 18 years old and has been sound her entire life. However, for a few weeks, she has been moving stiffly in the front and stumbling a lot. We switched her to Duplo horseshoes this morning and adjusted the breakover point slightly, and she immediately walked away from the shoeing area freely and elastically. She, too, won't be seeing any other shoes from now on.

Thank you for this excellent product.

Testimonial: "...stumbles less, doesn't slip... walks more happily"
Translated from German

As my mare had been slipping more and more over the years with traditional horseshoes, causing constant joint impacts - which was counterproductive given her condition - I started looking for an alternative. We had already attempted going barehoof for a year without success. A friend then gave me the tip to try Duplos.

As it turned out, this was the best idea for my horse. For the first time since I've had her, she walks evenly on all types of terrain, stumbles less, doesn't slip at all and, overall, she walks much more happily.

It was the best decision for her, and in hindsight, I regret not switching to composites earlier!

Testimonial: Great Experiences for about 20 Years...
Translated from German

With Hubert Frank as farrier, our horses were among the first test horses. Since the beginning of our riding school, our horses have been shod with Duplo. Despite initial difficulties, we have stuck with it, as the horses' walking behavior has improved significantly. We have been shoeing our horses with the composites from Germany for about 20 years and have always had great experiences with them.

Testimonial: Composite Horseshoes in Case of Spavin
Translated from German

Composite Horseshoes are ideal for spavin horses! My pony has always been barefoot for six months during winter and shoed with Duplos during summer. However, since he has very weak pasterns in his hind legs, he suffered from spavin-caused lameness last spring. The best therapy was to re-shoe him with composite horseshoes - two weeks later, the lameness was gone! Luckily, we haven't had any other spavin episodes since then; we also have succeeded in several mountain trail rides and some short endurance competitions.

Testimonial: "stud application for jumping courses and cross-country riding works perfectly"
Translated from German

Due to feeding from hay nets in our open-stable system and my sport horse constantly stepping into the feeders, causing normal steel shoes to get caught in the net, I switched to composite horseshoes.

I am absolutely thrilled:

• excellent shock absorption
• stud application for jumping courses and cross-country riding works perfectly
• no getting caught in the hay net
• no slipping in winter and no snowballing.

Thank you for this fantastic horseshoe!

Testimonial: Show Jumping With the "Jumper"
Translated from German

Our farrier, Carsten Pels, suggested the Duplo horseshoe and said, “Sarah, you really need to try this. It might be the solution for your mare – and perhaps for a few other horses at the yard as well.”

At first, I was very sceptical, but I did some research on your website, read other experience reports, and thought to myself that she could hardly move any worse than she already did. Previously, my mare had been shod with steel shoes combined with a rubber pad and soft padding material underneath.

So we decided to give it a try and nailed the Jumper onto her front hooves. At first, Püppi was very cautious with her first few steps, as she had always had some problems on the first day after being shod. But once she realised that she had the Duplo horseshoes on, she started placing one foot more confidently after the other. Her movement has continued to improve from day to day.

I am very glad that I decided to try them, and I am really curious to see where this journey takes us in terms of her health!

Testimonial: Icelandic Horses for Trail Riding and Trekking
Translated from German

For a long time, I had been looking for an alternative to steel shoes for my Icelandic horses, which were used for trail riding and trekking.

The quartz sand surface on the paths around our yard acted like sandpaper, so riding out without hoof protection was simply not possible.

What bothered me most was how unevenly the steel shoes wore down and how this affected both the hoof balance and the horses' movement.

When the first Duplo horseshoes were developed, my horses had the opportunity to try them. Since then, I have been so convinced by them that steel shoes have no longer been an option for me. After all, when I go hiking, I also wear modern trekking shoes rather than traditional wooden clogs. Whenever riders visit us with their horses, I often catch myself thinking, “Really, they still use steel shoes?”

For us, the durability and resilience are at least comparable to those of conventional steel shoes, but the hoof underneath grows evenly. We no longer have shoes that wear down unevenly. The sandy tracks have since been resurfaced with gravel, and the Duplo horseshoes protect the sole perfectly.

So yes, you could definitely say I am a true believer.

Testimonial: Trail Riding in Challenging Terrain
Translated from German

Hello Duplo Team,
I am happy to share my experience with Duplo horseshoes.

My older horse, a Rottaler warmblood mare who is now retired at the age of 32, had been shod with Duplo horseshoes since around 2004. My second horse, an 18-year-old Bavarian warmblood mare, has also been wearing Duplo horseshoes since she came into my care in 2020.

I mainly ride out on trails. I also have a riding lesson once a week in our own sand arena. Our horses live outdoors as much as possible all year round on our 1.3-hectare pasture.

The horseshoes are replaced by a farrier every seven weeks. I would like to share some of the very positive experiences I have had with Duplo horseshoes.

I ride on a wide variety of surfaces, ranging from meadows and farm tracks to sandy paths, rocky ground, and paved roads. The terrain here in the Bavarian Forest is very hilly, and on longer trail rides with plenty of cantering, we cover up to 30 kilometres and around 800 metres of elevation.

Neither of my horses has had any difficulty with these demanding routes, and the Duplo horseshoes have always stayed securely in place. So far, I have never lost a Duplo horseshoe. I have also had very good experiences on all the different types of ground. The horses can even canter downhill on slippery surfaces, such as a wet pasture, without slipping. Trotting on paved roads is no problem, and neither is rocky ground.

I can therefore recommend Duplo horseshoes to other horse owners, as the cushioning effect of the synthetic material has a very positive effect on the strain placed on the hooves. I am very glad that Duplo horseshoes were developed and am happy to recommend them with a clear conscience.

Best wishes to the friendly Duplo Team,
A. v. Hagenow