Kawell Copper Alloy Horseshoes are a patent design # US 9 107 398 B2, registered with the Copper Development Association - UNS Alloy No. C6915, and the copper alloy is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) # 82012-3 and acts against seedy toe, white line disease, and thrush.

Kawell Copper Alloy Horseshoes are proven to kill 99.9% of bacteria it comes in contact with. Copper is naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. Copper salts protect the hoof 24/7 and inhibits the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.

When a standard steel nail is nailed through a copper shoe, the galvanic reaction generates copper salts that are leached out onto the sole of the hoof. The leaching of copper salts makes an inhospitable environment to bacteria and fungi to live in.

The antimicrobial effects of copper alloy doesn't wear out. It remains effective even after repetitive wet and dry abrasion and re-contamination. The natural process of copper tarnishing also doesn't impair efficiency.

Kawell horseshoes also reduce the impact of vibrations (an average of 8.53% every step) thanks to Shock Absolut, their built-in absorption capacity.

Benefits of Copper Horseshoes

Eliminates 99% of bacteria and fungus
Helps prevent and treat seedy toe, white line disease, and thrush
Decreases of costs associated to hoof damage over time
High impact absorption, 8.53% every step
Reduces low-intensity trauma
100% recyclable material

Learn more about copper benefits on our page, Farrier's Corner.

Another protective feature of our horseshoes is how they interact with the habitat of the animal. Horses are always standing on straw or wood shavings dampened by their own organic emissions, which creates a perfect breeding ground for microorganisms that can cause rot and decay. Horseshoes made of Kawell's copper alloy naturally react chemically and produce copper salts, which have bactericidal and fungicidal properties that inhibit the proliferation of these bacteria and fungi. Doctor Mario Acuña Bravo, our consultant and a University of Chile veterinarian specializing in horseshoes, verified these attributes while directing the research leading to the implementation of our product.

The institutions involved in this research were the Center for the Investigation, Development and Innovation of Structures and Materials (IDIEM, by its Spanish name) and the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA, by its Spanish name), both under the authority of the University of Chile and University Santiago of Chile, Center of the Investigation of Materials. The department of Farriership of the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences of the University of Chile supported and consulted the whole investigation.

Additional Resources

A Qualitative Study and Analysis of the Results of Using Copper-Alloy Horseshoes in the Reduction of White Line Infections
International Hoof Care Summit, 2016
American Farriers Journal, 2015
Kawell Profile, American Farriers Journal