Testimonials About our Composite and Urethane Horseshoes

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.

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!

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.

Angela and Karl Beismann use their Moritzburger geldings "Vinz" and "Gottlieb von Leu" to demonstrate that Duplo Composite Horseshoes are ideal for carriage horses - in case of presentations, in traffic and, of course, on difficult trails. A real all-purpose horseshoe!

Last fall, my horse Fanni Mae had very short hooves because of the wet summer - they were soaked by the rain and simply didn't stand the abrasion. She needed protection for her front hooves. This was shocking for me because she was only four years old, had spent her summer in the pasture and I didn't want horseshoes. Permanent hoof shoes weren't an option either. I made some inquiries and found a gread hoof orthopedist who glues Horseshoes. Since November 2017, Fanny has glued Duplo shoes on her front hooves. She moves outstandingly, the hooves look great and the shoes stay on for six weeks - despite snow, ice, rain and open stable. We use the shoes for everything: show jumping, dressage and even removing dirt from the hooves with a garden hose. I am amazed. Fanni could return to bare hooves but I want her to keep the Duplos during her first show season. I don't want to miss her lovely uphill canter! The pictures were taken during and after her first show.

My name is Jürgen 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.

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: Paso Finos with Composite Horsesehoes

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!

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.

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

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

Summer with Composite Horseshoes is great! Karin and Dieter Hödl with Ramon (20) and Maggie (15) enjoy the magnificent weather along the Danube. After a short training session on the freshly cut fields, the cool water of the river is even more attractive. That's the life!

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.

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.

I have been travelling the world as a guide and long-distance rider for 20 years. In 2004 we travelled 1400 km with Nonius horses from Budapest to Offenburg on iron horseshoes. The hard footing of our horses when trotting on tar along the Danube already bothered me back then and when I got my hands on the first plastic horseshoes, I knew that I wanted to try them out.

However, it was a mistake. After just a few kilometres, the shoe without iron core and clips had twisted, and we had to re-nail and tape it securely. So, we went back to iron. But in 2006, when a friend recommended the composite horseshoes from Germany, we were very interested. Finally, a shoe that can be securely applied to the hoof, yet doesn’t restrict the hoof's movement like traditional horseshoes. In addition, it opened up completely new possibilities for us to cross the alpine valley on rock slabs in the high mountains or (…) on iron water pipes.

Of course, there were also setbacks. On one of the rides in 2008, the horseshoes of one of our friends with a Haflinger lasted just 300 kilometres, then they were through. On the phone, Hubert Frank from Duplo Germany explained to us what the problem could be and from that day on, we bought the horseshoes in autumn and had them nailed on in spring. We regularly cover 500 to 800 km with one set of shoes every summer on our 4-5-week high alpine tours.

In 2018 and 2019, we rode 5000 km along the Continental Divide in the USA and replaced the shoes after approx. 800 km each time. My 520 kg Mustang Deets travelled 1200 km with the HDS shoes. On my Alpine crossings with guests and their own horses, I recommend the green ones.

From my perspective, these shoes are a life insurance for the horses in the mountains and provide riders with a very secure feeling.

Since 2023, we are a distributor (..) in the United States of America. For more information about my tours, visit alpentrekking.ch.

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!

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.

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.