Healthy hooves are the foundation of a sound, comfortable horse — and when nailing is not the best choice for the hoof in front of you, glue-on horse shoes keep that foundation working. Anvil Brand Shoe Company has been crafting quality horseshoes and farrier tools in Lexington, Illinois since 1978, and their glue-on lineup brings that same handcrafted standard to horses that need protection without nails.
Thin, cracked or damaged hoof walls. Sore feet. Laminitis and founder recovery. White lines too weak to hold a nail. These are the horses that need protection the most, and they are exactly the horses traditional nailing can put at risk. A glue-on shoe bonds to the hoof wall instead of piercing it — no nail holes, no hammering stress, no further damage to a wall that is already struggling. The hoof keeps its natural, unrestricted growth while the shoe does its job underneath.
Anvil Brand manufactures the AB Sporthorse™ Glue-On Series themselves — forged aluminum shoes with a patented channel filled with a proprietary Vettec glue, so the adhesive bonds to the shoe as strongly as it bonds to the hoof. A bonding strip inside the shoe helps hold everything in place, quarter clips assist the shoe in staying put, and the design adheres at the bottom of the wall to allow normal hoof growth. Every pair is handcrafted and inspected by active farriers — the same standard that has put Anvil Brand shoes under customers like the Budweiser Clydesdales.
The GluShu system takes a different route to the same goal: a flexible rubber cuff bonded to a specially designed aluminum horseshoe. The result is a light, hoof-supporting, cushioned shoe that is completely non-invasive — the cuff lets the shoe be glued on in stages with no special equipment, and it can even hold topical medication in place against the hoof while it heals. Matching frog support inserts slip into both front and hind GluShu shoes when the frog needs extra help carrying load.
The lineup gives your farrier real choices: Classic Black for proven durability with a clean, traditional finish; the Fiber Band for added support and stability for endurance and traction; and Performance Orange for maximum grip and high-visibility modern design. Beyond the flagship series, Anvil Brand stocks Sigafoos Elite aluminum glue-ons with fabric cuffs, Glue-U adhesives and hoof packing, and Dalric cuff shoes sized for foals — including designs for early-stage club foot syndrome that protect the coffin bone, reduce deep-flexor strain and prevent bruising and abscesses.
Farriers reach for glue-ons when a horse needs help standing comfortably: laminitis and founder cases where concussion must be minimized, hooves recovering from resections or wall damage, thin-soled horses that go sore in work, and rehab horses whose walls simply cannot take another nail. Because the glue seals to the wall, these shoes also pair naturally with frog-support inserts and hoof packing for a complete therapeutic package — one conversation with your farrier away.
Anvil Brand stocks more than 22,000 products — one of the largest inventories in the industry — and ships fast from Lexington, Illinois. Farriers, horse owners and dealers across the United States rely on them not just for shoes but for answers: the crew are active farriers who understand the problem you are trying to solve. Since 1978 the promise has stayed the same — quality and service, on every order.
The crew in Lexington are active farriers — describe the hoof you are dealing with and they will help you pick the right glue-on system and adhesive for the job, then get it on a truck the same way they have since 1978. The buttons below reach them directly.
The strongest options pair a forged aluminum shoe with a proven adhesive system. Anvil Brand’s own AB Sporthorse™ Glue-On Series uses a patented channel filled with proprietary Vettec glue plus a bonding strip and quarter clips, while GluShu bonds a flexible cuff to an aluminum core for a lighter, cushioned ride. Sigafoos Elite shoes with fabric cuffs round out the lineup — your farrier can match the style to your horse’s foot and workload.
Glue-ons shine when the hoof wall cannot safely take a nail: thin, cracked or damaged walls, a weak white line, sore feet, or horses recovering from laminitis, founder or wall resections. Because the shoe bonds to the wall instead of piercing it, there is no nailing stress and no new holes in a wall that is already compromised.
Yes — this is one of the most common reasons farriers reach for them. A glued shoe eliminates hammering and nail concussion on an inflamed foot, and the GluShu cuff design can even hold topical medication in place against the hoof. Pair the shoe with frog support inserts and hoof packing and the whole package supports the foot while it recovers. Your veterinarian and farrier set the plan; Anvil Brand supplies every piece of it.
The rubber cuff is bonded to a specially designed aluminum horseshoe, and the cuff itself is glued to the hoof wall in stages — no special equipment needed. The flexible fit spreads load, cushions each stride, and comes off cleanly when it is time to reset, leaving the wall undamaged and free to grow naturally.
Match the adhesive to the shoe system. GluShu recommends Glue-U ShuFit glue, while the AB Sporthorse™ series is built around its factory-filled Vettec glue channel. Anvil Brand stocks the full Glue-U and Vettec/Equi-thane adhesive lines alongside the shoes, so one order covers the complete application.
Yes. Dalric cuff shoes, stocked by Anvil Brand in graduated sizes, are designed for the early stage of club foot syndrome in foals as young as one to six weeks. They protect the coffin bone from trauma, reduce strain on the deep flexor, prevent bruising and abscesses, and help head off dish formation — with quick results and easy application.
No — that is part of the design. The AB Sporthorse™ shoe adheres at the bottom of the wall specifically to allow normal, unrestricted hoof growth, and GluShu cuffs come off cleanly at each cycle. Your farrier resets them on a normal shoeing schedule just like nailed shoes.
Fast — shipping runs straight from their Lexington, Illinois warehouse, where more than 22,000 products are stocked for immediate response. Since 1978 the family standard has been quality and service, and orders are backed by active farriers who can answer application questions before the box even ships. Call 800-365-8202 or order at anvilbrand.com.
Explore more from the InfoHorse.com directory
Explore expert guides on topics related to your business
By Robert M. Bowker
By Bob Pruitt
By Bob Pruitt
By Bob Pruitt
By Bob Pruitt
By Bob Pruitt
