Farrier Report: Glushu Glue On Horseshoes for Horses That Cant Take a Nail

Some hoof problems leave no room for the usual plan. When the hoof wall is too weak, broken, thin, or compromised to hold nails, a farrier cannot simply “make it work” and hope for the best. Every nail hole matters. Every bit of pressure matters. The goal shifts from routine shoeing to careful protection.

Thank you to the expert farriers at Diamond C Performance Horses, who shared their story of when they recently used Glushu when nailing was not an option.

From Diamond C Performance Horses:

“The Foot That Couldn’t Take a Nail!Some cases just aren’t textbook.

This horse’s hoof wall was too compromised to hold a nail — full stop. No margin for error, no standard shoeing job to fall back on.

So we adapted. Glushu glue on horseshoes shoes, bonded on instead of nailed, to protect what little sound hoof wall was left. Then rockered the shoe on top of that to ease breakover and take real strain off every step this horse takes.

This is the side of farrier work nobody sees in a quick trim video — the cases where you can’t just reach for the usual setup, where you have to think through every option and build a solution from the ground up to keep a horse sound. No shortcuts, no easy fix. Just problem-solving until the horse can move comfortably again. This is the work. This is why it matters.”

For this horse, the team chose Glushu glue on horseshoes to protect the remaining sound hoof wall. That choice helped avoid further nail trauma while still giving the foot support and protection.

They also rockered the shoe to ease breakover. When breakover is delayed or difficult, it can increase strain through the foot and limb. A rocker can help the foot roll forward more easily, which may reduce stress with each step when applied correctly by a skilled farrier.

Benefits of using Glushu

✅  Shoe fit: The Glushu allows minor adjustments to shoe placement for better balance.

✅   Reduced nailing damage: Less reliance on nails means less trauma to the hoof wall.

✅  Strong, flexible bond: Polyurethane glue withstands movement and moisture without losing adhesion.

✅  Versatility: Works well with different types of and hoof conditions.

✅  Modification: Glushu are easy to modify and shape to a custom fit

If you would like to try Glushu for your horse, order from the Glushu online store or ask for it at your local farrier supply. For questions about Glushu, contact sue@glushu.com.