The SoftRider Next Generation Horse Shoe

The SoftRider is a next-generation horse shoe from Soft Ride built around a patented dual-density construction that changes where a shod horse carries its weight. Instead of concentrating the load on the perimeter of the hoof wall the way a traditional steel shoe does, the SoftRider is center-loading: its base rests against the sole so weight is distributed across the entire hoof. A rubber tread gives multi-directional traction, and the design lets the sole load and unload with each step — the same circulation principle behind Soft Ride's well-known gel orthotic boots. It is installed by a farrier or veterinarian and can be nailed, glued or cast on, which makes it usable on horses that cannot take a conventional nail-on shoe.

What Is the SoftRider Horse Shoe?

The SoftRider is a complete shoe, not a pad or a hoof boot. Its dual-density body combines two materials that work together to isolate concussive impact from the skeletal system while easing strain on the soft tissue of the lower leg. Because the shoe sits center-loaded against the sole, it creates a stable platform that loads and unloads as the horse moves — stimulating blood flow throughout the hoof and leg. The tread is engineered for multi-directional breakover, so the foot can roll over naturally in any direction rather than being forced to pivot off a single point, which reduces tension on the deep digital flexor tendon and the ligaments of the lower limb. It comes in several models: the SoftRider Gel Max with a high convex profile and 0–19° wedge potential for the most compromised feet, the lower-profile SoftRider Gel Arena with a more aggressive tread for casual and competitive riding, the SoftRider Carbon Fiber Arena built from a carbon-infused polymer with a 270° perimeter breakover edge for sound performance horses, and the SoftRider Draft Carbon Max sized for large warmbloods and draft horses.

What Problem Does It Solve?

A traditional shoe carries the horse on the rim of the hoof wall and largely takes the sole out of the equation. The SoftRider does the opposite: by supporting the whole foot and engaging the sole, it is designed to increase blood flow to the hoof, reduce strain on the coffin bone and the navicular region, and absorb concussion that would otherwise travel up the leg. That makes it a candidate for horses dealing with navicular syndrome, laminitis, ringbone and arthritis, for aging horses that have grown foot-sore, and for performance horses across disciplines — barrel racing, team roping, dressage, jumping and trail — that benefit from better traction and a kinder breakover. Soft Ride reports that horses fitted with the shoe often stop pointing a sore toe and move with renewed freedom. As equine veterinarian Dr. Joe Stricklin puts it, “SoftRiders aren't just for a sore horse… time after time I've found that horses have responded terrifically to these shoes.”

How Is It Applied and Where to Buy?

The SoftRider is meant to be fitted by a farrier or veterinarian, and one of its strengths is that it can go on several ways. It can be nailed through pre-drilled holes and sealed at the back with farrier silicone; it can be glued using a kevlar cuff secured to the hoof wall; or it can be cast on with traditional casting tape over impression material — a nail-free option ideal for laminitic or thin-walled feet that cannot tolerate nailing. The frog area is left open in every method so the foot can keep functioning naturally. Soft Ride is based in Bacliff, Texas, and the SoftRider line is sold direct through softrideboots.com, where you can review each model, find sizing, and order. Because correct fit and application matter, the company recommends working with your hoof-care professional to choose the right model for your horse.