Gateshead, UK -- The technology used to give added flexibility and bounce to running shoe soles is being used in a revolutionary shoe for horses.

The GluShu – dubbed crocs for horses ­– uses a traditional metal horseshoe covered with a polyurethane coating.

The shoes were designed by John Wright with the help of GB Olympic equestrian team farrier Jeffrey Newnham.

As reported by Urethanes Technology International magazine in 2011, a polyurethane-based horseshoe was developed in the US by former horse trainer John Filipelli.

Wright said the advantage to his design is that the shoe is easily slipped over the hoof and glued within minutes.