The Story Behind Hanton Horseshoes
In 2003, a multiple Graded Stakes-winning racehorse named Forest Music was having a terrible time with her feet. Her farrier needed to think "outside the box" and find a way to attach a shoe with minimal interference with the mechanics of the hoof. After extensive studies of the movement of lateral cartilages when the hoof bears weight, as well as evaluation of x-rays and cadaver feet, a revolutionary horseshoe was created. Another decade of pursuing and tweaking the design has led to today's patented Hanton Glue-On Horseshoes, co-founded by farriers Pat Broadus and Matt Spoerlein.
Their idea was born while working at the racetrack but they were confident that the Hanton tab and blister system could be applied to a wide variety of equine sports/disciplines. "One of the biggest advantages of our Hanton Horseshoes is the shape and size of the tabs, which allow the shoe to be applied with no glue whatsoever from the widest part of the foot back: only the tabs themselves are glued to the hoof," explained co-founder Pat Broadus. "Therefore the heels aren't 'locked in' with glue, allowing the back of the foot to flex and take concussion the way it's meant to. Also, the design of our shoes allows the farrier to place the shoe on the hoof and then set it down while the glue dries, eliminating the need to hold the hoof in the air waiting for the glue to set.
Every innovative idea deserves a meaningful name. Inspired by his two children, Hanley and Benton, Pat blended their names together — and Hanton was born.
We pride ourselves in trying to keep most of our manufacturing local. In 2015, Torri Broadus and her father Nick Nahorniak established a relationship with Acuity, a plastics manufacturer in Louisville, Kentucky. They began producing the Hanton blisters while a machining and fabrication shop in Shelbyville, Kentucky manufactured and welded the stainless steel and aluminum tabs. The Hanton application system was officially patented in 2015.
The early days of Hanton Horseshoes were spent introducing our products to retailers and farriers across the United States through clinics and AFA conventions. While we believe our products speak for themselves, we are deeply grateful for the early supporters who stood behind Hanton. Much of our initial growth was driven by the most powerful marketing tool of all — word of mouth. Each year the business has grown and we look forward to more expansion in the future. Our shop is still located in Shelbyville, Kentucky where we fulfill all orders and ship across the world.