Horse hoof polish gets stabilizing redesign to mitigate spills

Lauded for its high-gloss finish and quick-drying formula, SuperShine is trusted by equestrians as a reliable way to get their horses’ hooves dressed for show. Meeting the requirements of the ring with the added benefit of sealing out moisture and offering hardening properties, the polish, when applied, remains on the outermost surface of each hoof, allowing for uninterrupted, normal activities in the stall, paddock, or pasture. But there was one area for improvement in the product: the design of the packaging.

Stables are busy places, and this frenetic energy only increases prior to a show. While the rider is readying the horse, bottles of SuperShine—a formula that comes in clear and black—are left open at the ready, making them prone to tipping and spilling.

“The original bottles became bottom-heavy as the contents were used,” says Jaime McKinley, Vice President of New Business Development at W.F. Young. “Some users bumped the containers over, while others indicated the horses themselves were the culprits.”

To design a new bottle, the R&D team at Meredith-Springfield began prototyping, ultimately creating a custom mold for SuperShine’s new, bell-shaped bottle.

“By distributing the weight of the bottle, it became less prone to tipping over,” says Mel O’Leary, president and CEO. “We maintained the same look and feel so customers would recognize the product on the shelf. I like to think that we just polished the design up.”