Written by Zoe Sottile, CNN

If you’ve ever wanted horse-sized Adidas so you can match the shoes to your equine companion, you’re in luck. But you’ll have to shell out over $1,000 for a custom pair of horse sneakers.

Marcus Floyda Kentucky-based artist, began developing the prototype of a riding shoe as part of a collaboration with VisitLexLexington Public Tourism Agency.
VisitLex contacted Floyd ahead of the Breeder’s Cup, a series of horse racing held in Lexington on November 4-5.

“Their initiative was to bring awareness to the Bluegrass State, like Kentucky as a whole,” he told CNN.

Each sneaker is built on a protective boot, so it’s fully functional. Credit: Courtesy of VisitLEX

Floyd, a longtime self-proclaimed “sneakerhead”. had previous experience designing and modifying shoes. He completed an intensive four-day program called The Shoe Surgeon’s SRGN Academy to learn how to deconstruct and reconstruct popular sneakers.

Building each set of shoes takes up to 17 hours, according to Floyd. He started by buying the sneakers themselves – like a pair of classic Air Jordans.

Then he deconstructed them, carefully separating each piece before reassembling the sneaker on a pre-made protective horse boot. He strove to keep the design precise while adjusting the shape of a horse’s ankle and hoof.

A single set can take up to 17 hours to build.

A single set can take up to 17 hours to build. Credit: Courtesy of VisitLEX

And yes, the sneakers are actually wearable, says Floyd.

The VisitLex horse sneakers will be auctioned off at Sneaker Ball, a fundraising event for central Kentucky charities, on Nov. 12, Floyd said. Going forward, he plans to donate 10% of all proceeds from the sale of the shoes to local nonprofits through the Sneaker Ball.

Customers hoping to outfit their horse with custom kicks can order sneakers from Floyd’s company, Horse kicks. Unlike the branded sneakers made for VisitLex, the controls will be Floyd’s own creations. Prices start at around $1,200, depending on the complexity of the design.

Photos of the unique shoes have taken off on social media. “I don’t think any of us realized it would get this big,” Floyd said. “As an artist, I feel like a sigh of relief.”