Durasole History by Tom Stovall  

In the mid-1970s, I was plating race horses at Eureka Downs, in the Flint Hills of Kansas. There, I noticed the rocky track was causing extensive sole bruising on many of my horses.

 In an effort to mitigate the adverse effects on performance caused by hard tracks and with the help of some half-remembered aldehyde chemistry, I invented Durasole.  

 To my surprise, the initial tests at the track suggested it was far more effective than anything on the market. After more extensive testing, primarily at race tracks, show rings and rodeo arenas, I decided to make Durasole commercially available. 

It is now my family's business and available worldwide. 

 Since its invention, Durasole has been successfully used to strengthen and toughen the soles of all types of horses engaged in various activities and is used regularly by many vet schools, equine clinics, and the top performance horses across rodeo, racetrack and other equestrian disciplines. 

 Durasole works by forming crosslinks between the protein chains that comprise the sole and frog of the horse's sole. These crosslinks form a living pad that creates a barrier between the ground and the sensitive structures within the hoof. These barriers are extremely effective in horses with compromised or chronically thin soles and do not reduce proprioception.  

 The original formula for Durasole contained elemental iodine; however, the US Drug Enforcement Agency made elemental iodine a controlled substance in 2008. In response, we removed elemental iodine from the Durasole formula and replaced it with povidone iodine, a form of iodine that cannot be used in the synthesis of illegal drugs.  

Because it was not readily visible on the sole, we added gentian violet, a microbicidal purple dye, as a marker.

 In 2019, the Canadian government and several other markets determined that gentian violet is a probable carcinogen. Consequently, we removed the gentian violet from the formula replaced it with a dye with no such encumbrances, acid violet #17, which allowed us to maintain color continuity while satisfying international restrictions.  

Purple Power!  

 The changes in the forms of iodine and purple dye are the ONLY chemical changes that have been made in Durasole's original formula since it was first marketed in 1978. 

 We continually test the efficacy of Durasole on the Shore Hardness Scale in vivo and, when used as directed, there have been no substantial changes in efficacy.  

 Since 1978, Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.  

Tom Stovall AFA Certified Journeyman Farrier since 1983. 

Founding and Life Member, Texas Professional Farrier Association. 

Member International Horseshoeing Hall of Fame.