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A new polyurethane horseshoe was a real hit at the June TETRA/TUMPOT (Texas Equestrian Trail Riders Association and The United Mounted Peace Officers of Texas) Horse Expo in Belton, Texas. Inventor Kristy Watson and husband, Todd Watson of Bergheim, are excited about all of the enthusiastic response that they received from the trail riders, buggy drivers, and mounted posse. Additionally, it was well received by numerous farriers and horse experts alike.

Most visitors to the booth had never seen a plastic horsehoe until the expo. Their eyes lit up with visions of a safer, more comfortable riding experience for both rider and horse. “Why hasn’t anyone thought of this before” was a dominant theme at the Ground Control Horseshoe booth.

“The Ground Control Horseshoe provides maximum traction over asphalt and rocks and is also very shock absorbing. It gives you the freedom to Explore New Ground”, said Todd.

After using several competitor’s plastic horseshoe products, Kristy contacted her brother, plastics engineer John Sanderson, to discuss her vision of a better horseshoe. She wanted to develop just the right shoe that could benefit trail riders and buggy drivers, all at a reasonable price. After two years of research and development, using the input of her farrier, Greg Martin of Boerne, the shoe is ready to benefit the horse. The Watson’s four horses, a Tennessee Walker, an Appaloosa, and two Standardbreds, have all gone through a lot of prototypes. Kristy’s father, Jack Sanderson, a harness racer and trainer in Fremont, Michigan has also helped with the testing.

The whole process has been a great learning experience for Todd and Kristy, who run a graphic design business in Boerne, Polonyx, L.L.C. “We have already filed for a patent”, said Kristy, “ It’s an expensive and time consuming procedure that takes a few years, but is a necessary step.”

During the trial phase, Charles Kooi, mounted posse near Fruitport, Michigan raved about the shoe, “I don’t care if you can make these, all I know is that I better have them for my horse for the rest of my life!”, said Kooi who received a prototype from his farrier, Terry Weaver of Muskegon.

The durability of the Ground Control horseshoes is one of its best features. The shoe is made from 100% polyurethane (the same material that skateboard wheels are made of) and provides a reset under normal conditions. “Most users will get 12 weeks of wear, even when riding on asphalt or rocks.,” said Kristy. “The Amish buggy drivers only got 6 weeks of use, but drove them over 300 miles on the asphalt streets. One lady during our testing got 3 resets, so results will depend on usage.”

“We’re starting out with sizes 1 and 0 with plans to make sizes 00 and 2 soon after”, said Todd. The unique shape of the Ground Control Shoe design allows the same shoe to fit a front or hind shaped hoof. Kristy added a trim line in the shoe’s design to help work as a guide for the farrier. The farrier simply trims off excess urethane for rounder hooves. Farriers nail on Ground Control Horseshoes just like regular metal shoes. The only exception is that the anvil is not required. Hoof nippers and a rasp are used to shape the shoe to the hoof for a custom fit. Other features include a rolled toe, which improves the break over movement of the horse, an open area on each side of the frog support for cleaning, and a recessed nail channel that provides multiple nailing options, yet keeps the nail form contacting the ground.

Reuben Miller of Fremont, Michigan, represents Ground Control Horseshoes to help with the Amish market. Reuben oversaw testing of the prototype on Amish owned Standardbreds who travelled up to 50 miles per week pulling a buggy.

Kristy mentioned how confident her favorite riding horse, Hickory, has become with his footing since using the Ground Control horseshoes. “I do a lot of road riding in my subdivision up and down steep hills. My neighbors probably think I’m crazy when I trot and canter past their houses on the road. I just don’t even think about it anymore. The road is smooth and it’s as if my horse is jogging in tennis shoes.”

Although designed to be a road and trail shoe, test users have also had excellent results as a therapeutic shoe. “I was amazed at how many people approached us at the convention and talked about their lame horses with navicular and founder,” said Kristy, “Although we can’t cure the problems with our shoe, anything to help make the horse more comfortable I believe is beneficial.”