Overseeing national, uniform integrity and safety rules for Thoroughbred racing in the U.S.

Under HISA’s Horseshoe Rule:

• Horses racing or training on dirt surfaces can be shod on the hindlimbs with full outer rim shoes or toe grabs, but they cannot exceed four millimeters in height. The Racetrack Safety Committee strongly recommends the use of full outer rim shoes instead of toe grabs because full outer rim shoes provide traction while enabling the hoof to land flatly on the track surface.
• Full outer rim shoes can be used on the forelimbs as long as they do not exceed two millimeters in height and a toe grab is not present on the shoe.
• For horses training or racing on turf and synthetic surfaces, all traction devices are prohibited from the front and hind limb shoes.