Product Overview

The Aluminum Natural Balance® Shoe (NBS) addresses the biomechanical needs of the equine foot for support and protection in a domestic environment. This shoe offers the horse stability and protection that promotes optimal performance with minimal stress. The patented NBS design*, along with a few suggested hoof preparation guidelines, will help to properly orient the shoe to the coffin bone as well as help prevent hoof capsule distortion. When the hoof preparation and shoe placement guidelines are followed, improved foot function and health is often achieved, and hoof distortions that are often associated with common lameness issues are eliminated.

Special Design Features

The Aluminum Natural Balance® Shoe is a wide-web, rolled toe shoe which offers maximum support to the hoof. The toe area on the foot side is seated out to eliminate sole contact beneath the tip of P-3. The toe portion of the shoe is reinforced and offers greater mass which means more material for wear. There is no wear plate in the shoe, therefore the toe can wear back as the foot grows in length. This allows the foot to stay in "Natural Balance" through the shoeing period. This feature sets the aluminum NBS aside from most steel shoes. The arched roll at the toe allows the horse easy access to his individual position for breakover. The steep shoulders of the shoe between the heels help to hold ground material in this region to provide caudal support to the frog and digital cushion.

The Aluminum NB shoe is made of a forged aluminum alloy that is heat treated for added hardness. This combination offers a light, yet durable shoe for optimal performance.

Possible Uses

The Aluminum Natural Balance® Shoes are used for a wide variety of disciplines ranging from hunter & jumpers to gaming & speed event horses. The aluminum NBS have been used with success for training on the race track, and have shown improved times and less fatigue and interference on endurance rides. Show horses and rodeo horses find the wide-web aluminum to be beneficial for traction, and the design helps keep the horses from interfering & forging. Lastly, when used in conjunction with a Natural Balance Pad and sole support impression material, minor chronic lameness problems can be effectively treated.

*These horseshoes have been patented in U.S. Patent No. 5,727,633 & 8,826,996