Make sure to position it on the hoof correctly. Wire brush the hoof wall to create a clean gluing surface. Use a torch (lightly) to remove any surface moisture. We believe a Hoof Buffy with 60 grit paper is the best tool for the job.

Slowly roll the shoe backward while heat is applied.

Start at the toe area, and press the shoe and tab together.

The video below shows how to cut the tabs and weld the tabs onto the shoe. The shoe and tab will start to turn clear when you approach the proper temperature. A milk-colored bond area indicates that not enough heat was applied. If a good weld is achieved, the bond area will be very clear. Make sure to use a heat gun with a reducer. Remove any excess material to achieve a proper fit. Tabs work well in the red areas in the photo below.

Using 3 tabs on each side works well on a small hoof (Versa sizes 102mm to 126mm), and using 5 tabs on each side works well on a large hoof (Versa sizes 150mm+). This is normally accomplished with 4 tabs on each side of a medium size hoof (Versa sizes 130mm to 150mm). We recommend tabs being placed between 11 o’clock and 7 o’clock on the left, and between 1 o’clock and 5 o’clock on the right. Look at the hoof as a clock (where the center of the toe is 12 o’clock). Tabs can be applied in the toe area or moved to the sides, depending on breakover. Determine how many tabs are needed and where you want them located on the hoof. Don’t try to weld the tabs to the shoe without a reducer. Heat Gun with 9mm reducer (Important).

Here is the method that worked best for me. Through this process, I made a bunch of mistakes and developed a system that works well. This concept not only worked, but I was able to get three 8-week resets out of the same set of shoes and tabs! During those three resets, not even one tab was loose or compromised. With some trial and error, I started having success and ended up making our own tab system based on the results. Believe it or not, super glue will hold a horse shoe for a 6-8 week trim cycle! I personally didn’t believe it at first, but I started playing with some of the glue-on tab concepts on the market.

Easy boot gloves for horses