Groundbreaking Pride.

Groundbreaking milestone in the history of horseshoe development. Steve Costin, Australian Master Farrier, has written an outstanding new chapter in the history books of horseshoe development, with the creation of his breakthrough, groundbreaking plastic horseshoes – Costin Horseshoes.
While we stress upfront that the Costin Horseshoe is not designed specifically as an orthopaedic horseshoe or to assist laminitic horses, it was exactly that scenario that led to its development. Steve’s original work with a laminitic mare was the catalyst that led to this remarkable discovery and the many benefits which can be realised by replacing steel and aluminium horseshoes with this revolutionary polyurethane shoe.

Taking A Ride Through History

Through history, we can date the use of horseshoes back to around 2000BC to when leather and plants were used to cover horse hooves. Evidence also reveals that in the first century BC Romans utilised metal and leather as horseshoes and by the time of the 6th and 7th centuries BC, horsemen in Europe were nailing metal horseshoes to their horses’ hooves.

By 1000 AD, the Europeans were using cast bronze horseshoes with nail holes, with the manufacture of iron horseshoes quite common practice by the later era of the Middle Ages.

Modern Era Developments

Over the past 60 years or so, numerous variations in plastic horseshoes have appeared on the market to mixed responses from many sectors of the industry.

In Australia, it was Steve Costin who, while clearly identifying many of the shortfalls in the plastic shoe design philosophy, also recognised that there were many advantages of plastic horseshoes.

Steve specifically addressed these issues, and many more, when he created the Costin Horseshoe. A horseshoe which has redefined pre-conceived attitudes towards plastic horseshoes. A horseshoe which is set to revolutionise the horse shoeing sector as well as many other areas of the equine industry.

Although Steve has not developed the Costin Horseshoe to ‘fix problems’, he has received numerous reports and has recorded testimonials from highly reputed industry participants including trainers and owners, who are achieving magnificent results with the Costin horseshoes.

CONSIDERATIONS

In this ‘considerations’ section of our website, Steve Costin has personally addressed many of the comments, criticisms and attitudes in the ‘plastic horseshoes versus steel and aluminium horseshoes’ debate. Issues which are definitely worth – considering!

Steel Horseshoes inhibit the natural growth of a horse’s hoof. Costin Horseshoes address this issue by allowing natural growth of the hoof because it does not restrict the hoof’s natural movement. Due to this aspect, the feet grow naturally. To prove this point, Steve shod a horse with Costin horseshoes on the front feet and metal shoes on the back feet. Across 4 shoeing cycles, a duration of approximately 20 weeks, the hooves which were shod with the Costin plastic shoes grew from a size 6 to a size 8. During the same period, the size of the hooves shod with the metal shoes, did not change.

Steel Horseshoes can cause sole punctures. A sole puncture can occur in the event of a horse stepping into the steel toe clip when pulling a steel shoe. This can be very dangerous and depending on the type of horse, can potentially be career-ending or in severe cases, life-ending.

Costin Horsheshoes are made from polyurethane that provides a cushioning effects and significantly recues both impact and concussion on the horses’ hooves. The outcomes Steve Costin has experienced have been supported in the results of a study, “The Polyurethane Horseshoe and its Positive Effects on Joints and Supplements” which was published by the University of Utrecht, Netherlands.

Steel horseshoes work similar to a cast on a horse hoof, and as such, prevents the hoof from moving in front of the last nail hole.

Shin soreness has been seen to be lessened and in some cases improved in horses with Costin Horseshoes. Nearly all two year old horse and first time starters seem to experience shin soreness. Most owners, on buying a horse, are keen to prepare them to race as two year olds, however, shin soreness is what stops most horses getting to their early races. So you often find, it is not necessarily the fastest horse that wins those races, but the horses which is most sound. At this point, Steve has received reports of amazing results in getting young horses to the race track for these early races.

Shin soreness generally results in horses spending a long time away from racing. Thus costing a lot of money, disappointment and even more frustration for both trainers and owners.

Steve Costin has even had horses that exhibited behavioural problems and did not want to move forward. His deduction was that these horses had sore feet or legs from jarring. Conditions which immediately improved following being shod with Costin Horseshoes. Both Steve and the owners were quite amazed with this outcome, barely believing it, but he saw it happen over and over again. A horse’s competing or racing life must surely be shortened with the damage sustained from vibration and jarring during the early stages of work.

The durability of Costin Horseshoes is comparable to conventional steel shoes where the typical shoeing cycle is 4 to 6 weeks. Compared with plastic, steel horseshoes are heavy.

Lighter than conventional shoes, makes the Costin Horseshoe very appealing for a range of applications including thoroughbred, harness and endurance racing as well as competition horses as the lighter weight makes it easier for a horse to stride. Steel shoes actually weigh approximately 3 times more than Costin horseshoes. The weight of Costin Horseshoes is similar to aluminium shoes. A great consideration because as Steve reminds us “An ounce off the hoof is equal to a pound off the back.”

Especially on hard surfaces, steel horseshoes do not provide adequate traction. A lack of traction increases the risk of injury to horse and rider. The unique design of the Costin Horseshoe provides increased traction, thus reducing skidding. With the horse moving more easily the rider has greater confidence.

Fitting steel shoes involves time-consuming adjustments at the anvil.

When fitting Costin Horseshoes, you don’t even need an anvil. The Costin Horseshoes are available in a range of sizes, measured by width. So you simply select the correct size to ensure the shoe width fits the horse, then being plastic, you easily file off any excess when fitting and nailing is completed.

Steve also addressed the issue of gluing or nailing plastic shoes as some plastic shoes involve gluing, which is expensive. The glue usually does not last very long and it also represents the risk of harm to horse’s hoof. This is a result of glue going up the wall of the hoof causing the strength of the hoof wall to break down.

To prevent this, Steve designed the Costin shoe to be nailed but with the option of gluing if desired by individual farriers. Steve’s personal preference is to nail the shoes as he is not a proponent of using glues.

There are flaws in the design of many plastic horseshoes. Yes, many have a bar at the rear of shoe, thus restricting movement of the shoe and defeating the main purpose of plastic shoes.

The Costin Horseshoe overcomes this flaw and allows the required movement by being designed without this bar.

This was a major consideration for Steve and his business partners and they have priced the Costin Horseshoe to be competitive and offer excellent value for money for regular, ‘all the time’ use. Costin Horseshoes have structure the business model to be in a position to contain pricing by retaining control of the entire process from design and development through manufacture to delivery, either direct to the customer or via our distributors and suppliers.

So hopefully we’ve answered your questions, if not, please email us with your specific considerations.

That leaves just one final consideration – to decide which Costin Horseshoes size you need for your horses and place your order!

TO DISCUSS HOW COSTIN HORSESHOES WILL BENEFIT YOU AND YOUR HORSES, PLEASE CONTACT COSTIN HORSESHOES USA REPRESENTATIVE, DAVID LUCAS

Email davidlucasinvestments@gmail.com

Call + 61 438 114 134