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Colored Horseshoes Dress Up Your Ride
Who says horseshoes have to be boring? These new poly shoes come in lime green, hot pink, purple, turquoise or orange.
Sylvia Norris designed her Happy Hoofwear when she couldn't find hot pink shoes to match her horse's tack. The Sarasota, Fla., attorney admits that three years ago she didn't know much about the
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Colored Horseshoes Dress Up Your Ride LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules 33-5-26 Who says horseshoes have to be boring? These new poly shoes come in lime green, hot pink, purple, turquoise or orange.
Sylvia Norris designed her Happy Hoofwear when she couldn't find hot pink shoes to match her horse's tack. The Sarasota, Fla., attorney admits that three years ago she didn't know much about the industry, but she couldn't see a reason why poly horseshoes couldn't come in colors.
While she was at it she decided to improve the design.
"I love to hoof pick my horse and I am big on making sure everything down there is okay. Some poly shoes make it hard to clean out the area by the frog," Norris says. "My shoes have five grooves to put a pick in and lift the muck out easily so you can really see the frog and sole area."
After working with engineers, farriers and a U.S. manufacturer, Happy Hoofwear shoes have been tested for the last 2 1/2 years throughout the United States in different climates and terrains. Pattern sizes can be downloaded from the website so it's also easy for customers and farriers to purchase the correct size shoes without the hassle of returns. Happy Hoofwear offers two styles of shoes, regular and extended heel.
Farriers can put on the shoes without any special tools or nails (usually a 5 slim). The shoes can also be glued on, if that is the best option for the horse.
"Farriers tell me they often get two resets from the shoe, depending on the type of riding and terrain conditions," Norris says.
The biggest benefit of the $10/pair Happy Hoofwear is that the shoes are like athletic shoes for horses because they absorb shock.
"Our goal is to make a great shoe at an affordable price," Norris says. "We may add more colors if there is a demand."
For those who show horses, Happy Hoofwear offers a classic clear shoe that can be painted hoof black.
Besides matching the horse's tack, the shoes offer one more benefit.
"It's easier for owners to find lost shoes," Norris says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Happy Hoofwear, 1670 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota, Fla. 34231 (ph 941 343-7087; sylvia@happyhoofwear.com; www.happyhoofwear.com).
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