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Why Do Horses Wear Aluminium Racing Horseshoes

Aluminium racing horseshoes, also known as race plates, are specifically designed to provide maximum comfort and support for the horse while remaining compliant with racing authority requirements. As the old saying goes – “an ounce on the foot, is a pound on the back” – so minimising the weight that a race horse carries in its shoes is vital to performance and compliance with shoe weight limits.

The Benefits Of Race Plates

Aluminium racing horseshoes provide a whole host of benefits for the horse and sport including:

Decreased Weight

Race plates are the lightest type of horseshoe available. This is intentional and helps ensure that the shoes support the race horse’s performance and will not cause excessive strain while racing. The lightweight construction of aluminium racing horseshoes also ensures that they will be compliant with racing authority rules around weight.

Less Fatigue

As they’re lighter than steel options and are designed specifically for racing, race plates reduce the amount of fatigue that a horse will suffer when performing high intensity activities.

Concave Section For Traction

The concave section provides additional traction which is beneficial on turf surfaces.

Racing Authority Compliant

As noted earlier in this blog, many racing authorities have regulations surrounding the type and maximum weight of a horseshoe that is fitted to a horse that will be entered in one of their events. Race plates are designed to comply with these regulations, so trainers don’t have to worry about any nasty surprises at the starting line.

Enhanced Comfort

Thanks to the way they are constructed, aluminium racing horseshoes place less stress on the hoof and leg. This makes them a more comfortable option for the horse, both on and off the track.

Innovation In Aluminium Racing Horseshoes

First developed in the 1980s, race plates have come a long way from their initial concept. With design and manufacturing evolving, newer generations of aluminium racing horseshoes offer enhanced benefits and longevity.

While some of these advancements do add an incremental amount of weight to the shoe, they also offer the race horse far more protection, (and a longer shoeing cycle) which equates to better hoof health. These innovations include:

Toe Inserts

A toe insert is a piece of steel that sits flush with the rim of most race plates. It may not sound all that impressive, but this small addition is a massive step forward in terms of animal welfare.

Prior to the invention of toe inserts, thoroughbred race horses had to be ‘plated’ for race day, meaning that their aluminium racing horseshoes had to be fitted the day of the race and replaced with their normal steel work shoes shortly after the race on course, or the following day back at their stables. This constant switching between the steel shoes they worked and trained in and their race plates would commonly lead to nail trauma in the hoof wall.

Luckily, the innovation of the steel wear insert removed the need to complete these switches, and thoroughbreds can now wear their aluminium racing horseshoes for a full shoeing cycle between three and four weeks long.

Wider Webbing

Wider webs in racing plates are another innovation that have been particularly beneficial to thoroughbred race horses. This breed tends to have more sensitive feet than other varieties of horse, so the wider webbed aluminium racing horseshoes available these days are a major benefit as they offer far better protection for their feet.

Breakover

Additionally, the inclusion of breakover assistance at the toe of new aluminium horseshoes makes it far easier for the thoroughbred to follow its natural gait, therefore reducing the instances of injury and strain.

What Race Plates Are Available At Mustad?

Mustad Australia stock aluminium racing horseshoes from group brands St Croix and Mustad Horseshoes, as well as Apple Aluminium options. A wide variety of styles is available within these three collections, so you’re sure to be able to find something that suits your needs.