Urethane Pony Horseshoes – Hoof Protection and Shock Absorption for Small Hooves
In the world of traditional steel shoes, pony horseshoes have long been established on the market. Leading manufacturers have created dedicated product lines for small pony hooves, such as the Kerckhaert SPO series of pony horseshoes or the versatile Mustad LiBero® Pony horseshoes for both leisure and sport. GluShu also offers a specially sized model for pony hooves – the GluShu Mini.
While the demand for pony horseshoes doesn’t quite match that of standard sizes, it was still important to us to offer a reliable solution for the smallest hooves. That’s why we developed a pony horseshoe made entirely from urethane . Our size range now spans from 50 mm to 198 mm. Following the launch of the Heavy Duty Shoes in 2019, this new pony horseshoe brings us one step closer to our goal of offering a suitable horseshoe for every horse.
Since its market launch at the end of 2023, our 'pony shoe' has been gaining popularity among pony owners. This pure urethane horseshoe stands out for its adaptability and durability — many ponies can wear their pony horseshoes over multiple shoeing cycles thanks to its high abrasion resistance .
Why Urethane Pony Horseshoes Are a Smart Choice
The shock-absorbing urethane significantly reduces impact and high-frequency vibrations during hoof landing. Compared to other types of horseshoes, a pure urethane shoe restricts the hoof mechanism the least—depending on the material’s hardness—because its flexibility supports the natural movement of the hoof’s elastic structures.
The integrated frog support – a molded urethane bar – can help improve circulation within the hoof.
Finally, a urethane pony horseshoe weighs less than a steel shoe with additional features, and it also greatly reduces the risk of injury in a herd situation.
The Right Urethane – Choosing the Best Pony Horseshoe for the Season
The urethane used in the pony horseshoe offers barefoot-like glide and reliable grip across different types of terrain . However, one small but important detail makes a difference – the hardness of the urethane used to make the pony horseshoe. Our pony horseshoes are available in both - the slightly softer Standard material and the slightly harder Extra material. While the Standard horseshoe can be used year-round, it tends to be less abrasion-resistant in hot summer months compared to the Extra horseshoe. This is where the strength of the harder compound becomes apparent – it offers better heat resistance during the summer. In contrast, during winter, the Extra material may become more slippery than the softer Standard blend. That’s why we recommend using the Standard pony horseshoe for winter shoeing, or—depending on hoof size—equipping the Extra version with spikes (grip studs) to improve grip.
Since our pony horseshoes do not have knob arrays , the hardness level is indicated by colored dots – orange for the softer Standard blend, green for the harder Extra blend.
The Advantages of a Urethane Pony Horseshoe with a Closed Sole Area
A closed sole area offers several functions and benefits for the pony’s hoof:
- The closed sole area helps protect flat and particularly sensitive hoof soles from rough or rocky ground.
- Thanks to the closed design, the pony horseshoe can be combined with padding material for additional support.
- In most cases, the closed sole helps prevent dangerous balling up of snow, mud, or arena under. However, there’s no absolute guarantee—hoof shape and varying ground conditions can still lead to snowballing. For this reason, also a shod hoof should be inspected regularly.
The Best Horseshoe for Your Pony
In conclusion, a pony horseshoe made from pure urethane offers many benefits for the pony’s hoof. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. While our pony horseshoe will be an excellent choice for many ponies, there are always exceptions. Every pony is different — from hoof condition and living environment to how the pony is used — and all of these factors play a crucial role. With our urethane pony horseshoe, we aim to provide you with a strong alternative — but the best hoof protection for your pony should always be determined individually and on-site.
Urethane Pony Horseshoe - Fotos
Designed exclusively for glue-on application, our urethane pony horseshoes feature no metal core, no knob arrays, and no nailing slots.
To ensure that the pony horseshoe doesn't feel like a platform shoe , it becomes thinner as the size decreases. We recommend using it in combination with the Wolf Busch® glue-on tabs.
If you want to retrofit your pony shoe with spikes (at your own discretion), please use size M. Size L is too large for the small pony horseshoes.
Application and Safety Guidelines for the Synthethic Pony Horseshoe - Video
Please make sure to observe our safety guidelines when working with our products. They are intended for both farriers and horse owners/riders.
Glue-on Pony Horseshoe
For small pony hooves in particular, a glue-on horseshoe is often the best choice. That’s why our pony horseshoe features a completely closed sole area without any nailing slots. We’d like to provide you with our general gluing instructions here.
In addition to our gluing instructions, you’ll find more helpful tips and tricks in the product description of the Wolf Busch® glue-on tabs.
Please pay attention to the special safety instructions regarding the adhesive used during the gluing process.
Gluing on a Pony's Hoof
Special Considerations When Working with Pony Horseshoes
In our opinion, the popular Wolf Busch® Glue-On Tabs in size 3 are suitable down to pony size 90mm. For the very small hooves, we currently have sizes 1 and 2 as 3D prints in our range. As soon as there is any news here, you will be informed via our social media channels.
In general, when working with small sizes for ponies, it is crucial to always keep an eye on the size of the glue-on tabs and adjust the height and, if necessary, the width of the tabs according to the pony hoof. Of course, this applies to all other glue-on shoes as well, but especially with the smallest sizes for pony hooves, manual adjustments are more likely to be the rule than the exception.
You can find further details, among other things, the product description of the glueing accessories.
Product Features
| Product Details and Delivery Information | |
|---|---|
| Model | Urethane Pony Horseshoe |
| Brand | Duplo |
| Made in | Germany |
| Article Number | G490, G491 |
| Sizes / Shape | Round Shape: 50mm, 54mm, 58mm, 62mm, 66mm, 70mm, 74mm, 78mm, 82mm, 86mm, 90mm, 94mm, 98mm Oval Shape: 50mm, 54mm, 58mm, 62mm, 66mm, 70mm, 74mm, 78mm, 82mm, 86mm, 90mm, 94mm |
| Size Interval | in 4mm steps |
| Sizing | Based on the shape of the hoof and the widest part of the pony hoof (after appropriate hoof treatment) or, in a pinch, also based on the horseshoe size that has fit so far. In the section FAQ → Sizes and Shapes, you will find a free template. |
| Function | alternative horseshoes, concussion absorption powers, stimulation of hoof mechanism, promoting natural hoof movement, non-metal horseshoe for ponies and foals |
| Horse Breeds | among others: Shetty, Minishetty, American Miniature Horse, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Classic‑Pony, Falabella, Pony of the Americas |
| Riding Styles and Disciplines |
Due to their size, ponies are mainly used in children's and youth sports as well as in
therapeutic riding for these age groups. Of course, ponies can also be used in a wide variety of
ways just like their larger counterparts — and benefit from our pony horseshoes in all of these
areas. These include, among others:
|
| Therapy Shoe / Rehab | The model is also suitable for supportive use in the orthopedic and therapeutic field. We expressly point out that our products do not diagnose or cure any diseases and advise for any use with a therapeutic or orthopedic background to work closely with the hoof specialist or veterinarian on site. |
| Shoeing | glue-on horseshoe |
| Shoeing Instruction | can be found under FAQ → Instructions |
| Safety Advice | can be found under FAQ → Safety Information |
| Hardness Degrees | Standard and Extra |
| Weight | 30‑110g |
| Length | depending on the size – for details please visit FAQ → Sizes and Shapes |
| Width | the respective size in mm |
| Thickness | Size 50‑62mm: 12mm Size 66‑78mm: 13mm Size 82‑98mm: 14mm |
| Urethane Shoe | Benefit from the concussion absorption powers of the synthetic material. |
| Synthetic Bar | Can improve the blood circulation of the pony's hoof. |
| Hoof Mechanism | The flexible synthetic material encourages the mobility of the elastic hoof structures. |
| Sole Area | closed sole area |
| Toe Area | normal |
| Toe Rocker | you may grind a toe rocker to adjust breakover |
| Anti-Skid Protection | The pony horseshoes can be equipped with M-spikes at your discretion, depending on the hoof
size. L‑spikes are not suitable for the small pony sizes. In general, you must adjust your speed to the surface and, for example, ride at a reduced speed on slippery surfaces. |
| Risk of Injuries in Herds | Minimized risk of injuries in herd situations and in case of irregular movements in comparison to a metal horseshoe or the sharp-edged border of a barefoot hoof — please also read our safety information. |
| Customizing | with an angle grinder, belt grinder, nippers or toeing knife |
| Modifications (at your own discretion) |
more or less wide, extend |
| Accessories Pony Shoes | a.o. Wolf Busch® glue-on tabs, glue, welding device, Megafoam, abrasive blocks |
| Packaging Units | in pieces |
| Exchange and Return | Possible under certain preconditions within 3 months within the European Union (EU). For returns from outside the EU please contact the Customer Service Team. For further details please look at FAQ → Service & Conditions. |
Manufacturer in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR)
Manufacturer in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR)
Name: H. Frank Kunststofftechnik GmbHElectronic Address: info@duplo-frank.de
Physical Address: Vorderfreundorfer Straße 20
ZIP Code: DE-94143
City: Grainet
Country: Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)8585/96926-0
Responsible Person in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR)
Name: H. Frank Kunststofftechnik GmbHElectronic Address: info@duplo-frank.de
Physical Address: Vorderfreundorfer Straße 20
ZIP Code: DE-94143
City: Grainet
Country: Deutschland
Phone: +49 (0)8585/96926-0