Swiss-Horse-Boot.com
The history of the SWISS HORSE BOOT
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The Story of the "Swiss Horse Boot"
Historical background:In the 70`s Hubert Rohner, a native of Switzerland lost his beloved horse due to a chronic hoof leather inflammation. This tragic experience caused Mr. Rohner to seek an alternative way to this search. He experimented with a variety of plastic materials, even using children`s toys. The breakthrough came in 1979 when he produced a workable "horse boot" made from plasic parts. He named it "Rony Boot".
On 21 November 1979 "Neue Welt" published a photo report on the new product.
Mr. Manfred Duchscherer, a native of Wiesbaden (Germany) read the article. Being engaged in the business of horse related goods and services he contacted Mr. Rohner. They met at Felsberg (Graubünden) and conducted a number of tests on Mr. Rohner`s Haflinger horses and diverse and adverse conditions.
An agreement was reached between themselves whereby Mr. Duchscherer obtained the "Exclusive Distribution" rights. Mr. Duchscherer promptly undertook an extensive advertising campaign in the German speaking language areas.
Although the initial response was further favorable. The advertising campaign had to be halted due to the fact that Mr. Rhoner was only set up to manufacture size 0 of the boot. Any other sizes were unavailabe for sale.
Mr. Rohner, an inventor and hobby handicraft artisan used the time to devolop an improved version of the RONY BOOT in 4 sizes - he named the new boot SWISS HORSE BOOT (hereafter referred to as SHB).
The Swiss Army conducted a study of the SHB and based on such studies ordered 1000 pcs. of the new boot.
At this time Rohner and Duchscherer met again and soon worked out an "Exclusive Distribution Agreement" for Germany and the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg).
Mr. Duchscherer formed a new independant company, called Swiss Horse Boot in Germany and expanded his warehouse facilities in Wiesbaden.
Duchscherer fully convinced of the workability of the SHB arranged with the well known magazine "Freizeit im Sattel" (Freedom in the saddle) for an independant test. By 24 Feb. 1989 the well-respected trade magazine agreed to conduct such a test.
However, `Freizeit im Sattel` advised Duchscherer that the tests had to be abandoned as the tests revealed that the mountings were insufficiently secure to warrant an endorsement for the boot as presented.
Though the news was not welcome, it presented a challenge to both Rohner and Duchscherer in the quest to produce a perfect mounting system.
Rohner thought he had found the solution but unfortunately the model only worked on Haflinger horses.
Meanwhile Duchscherer and his erstwhile partner Christoph Naumann continued their own experiments and testings and were successful in the development of a new fastener system that could be used on all horses.
Mr. Duchscherer again contacted `Freizeit im Sattel` to conduct a second test. Reluctantly, the magazine agree to do so.
The tests were completed by September 1989 - and the tests being a total success - were reported in the September edition of the magazine, showing the extraordinary test results for any Boot ever tested.
Thanks to the publicaton in `Freizeit im Sattel`, the launch of the SHB sales campaign was a full success and continues to be so.
The new mounting - with various improvements developed over the years - has ever since been well received by horse owners world-wide.
An important improvement was developed by SHB Wiesbaden group by replacing the old metal buckle by a security plactic buckle made in Sveden and a new straps material.
SHB (Wiesbaden) is conducting it`s business in the State of California since 1992, operating from facilities in Los Angeles.
Since the test in 1989 inumerable subsequent tests have been made with the result that the SHB has maintained it`s top position in the industry ever since.
Several books have referred to reports on the SHB - the best known of them, the publication ´Hufschuhe - Die Alternative zum Hufbeschlag´ (Horseboot - The alternative to horse-showing), authored by Birgit van Damsen and Romo Schmidt and published by Müller - Rüschlikon.
