Meet Our Community
Joanne works as a veterinary assistant in an equine clinic. Her mare Choco, an 18-year-old Hanoverian, has been wearing the RUNA glue-on shoe since July 2024.
Choco wears RUNA in size 13.
Our Backstory
I took in Choco in 2021 knowing she had severe laminitis. She was never an easy case when it came to hoof care and really tested our patience during and after the acute phase.
Barefoot until 2024 – with many setbacks
Until then, she had always been barefoot. I’ve always been a fan of barefoot horses – as long as it works. But until 2024, Choco regularly greeted me with hoof abscesses. She was tender on gravel, didn’t develop a proper weight-bearing wall, and never showed any sole concavity or heel height.
Why I chose RUNA
I decided it was time to try a glue-on shoe. Choco lives outdoors during the day in a herd, so none of us were thrilled about iron shoes. Plus, I didn’t like being dependent on a farrier in case something bent or came off.
My hoof therapist had already had good results with the RUNA glue-on, so I decided to give it a try too.
Application & Durability
The application is simple and comfortable for the horse. When done correctly and cleanly, the first cycle lasts perfectly without tabs coming off. By the second cycle, I usually need to touch up one or two spots – but that’s easy and quick with RUNA.
It easily lasts two shoeing cycles. Once, when I ordered too late, I used a shoe for a third cycle as a backup. I did notice the grip was a bit reduced due to wear.
First hurdles with the application
The first removals were tricky, especially keeping enough black glue surface on the shoe. Now I use a rivet cutter.
During my first RUNA adjustment with the open sole, I had to go to the smallest size – and that took some serious hand strength and finesse to compress and screw it together.
❄️ Winter & Tough Conditions
We once had very sticky snow, which packed up under the closed-sole version.
Otherwise, RUNA performs great on all surfaces: dressage arena, grassy gallop track – always enough grip, even on slightly wet ground.
No more tenderness on gravel trails, and muddy forest soil is no issue either.
Even in the muddy winter paddock, the RUNA holds up. We haven’t lost a shoe so far.
✅ My Verdict After Almost a Year
My verdict after nearly a year with RUNA: Never going back!
Choco’s hooves are healthy under the glue tabs – no chipping, no cracking. Her hoof angles have improved significantly. We’ve been abscess-free this year and are confidently riding on all types of terrain.
Thank you for this fantastic product!
