Much of the progress made in any field is often based on the ideas and efforts that are developed by highly skilled individuals. One such individual in the equine footcare area is Antoine Corona, a talented French farrier who had a vision more than 15 years ago for developing better horseshoes.

The Le Mans, France, entrepreneur graduated at the age of 18 from a Belgium farrier school. He developed his horseshoeing and forging skills by competing in a number of international competitions in Europe and North America.

After working in the field for a number of years and doing considerable research, he founded ACR Concepts in 2000 and started marketing heavier and sturdier aluminum shoes that can be hot seated and feature a different alloy than what was used by other manufacturers.

Aluminum Shoe Pros, Cons

The advantages of using aluminum for horseshoes have been known for decades. These lightweight shoes reduce fatigue for the horse. They also have the ability to reduce the amount of vibration that moves up the leg and they tend to wear at a rate that is close to the same rate as the foot grows.

One concern with soft aluminum shoes has been their wearability. If these shoes are left on for long periods of time after they have worn out, damage to the feet can result.

Dealing with these concerns, Corona was able to find an aluminum alloy that has enabled him to overcome the major concern found with a soft aluminum shoe…