Should Your Horse Wear Shoes or Go Barefoot?

may opt for traditional nailedon shoes. There are also gluedon shoes which some view as more humane. The best resource for information about which hoof protection your horse may need is your farrier.
While going barefoot may be considered by some as ideal for horses there are times when shoes are necessary. Horses that pull abnormal or excessive loads require shoes to prevent their hooves from wearing down unevenly or abnormally. Shoes are often used to protect and support the hooves of racing and other performance horses. Farriers may also apply horseshoes for therapeutic purposes. Furthermore shoes may be used to give horses extra traction in snow and ice.
The Dangers of Horseshoeing
Barefoot enthusiasts point to shoeing as the cause of many problems and indeed poor shoeing can do more harm than good. But shoeing also has many benefits. Whether or not barefoot is best is up to you and your horse. Most farriers are very good at their jobs but mistakes do happen. If the horses hoof is brittle or damaged the nails used in horseshoeing can do further damage. Sometimes the nails are inserted incorrectly causing the animal pain and damaging the soft tissue in the hoof. An improperly placed or fitted shoe can cause damage when the animal walks similar to the issues that arise when humans wear shoes that are too small or uncomfortable.
FAQ
Why do horses need shoes?
Horseshoes protect your horses hooves from damage and they improve traction.
Why dont wild horses need shoes?
Wild horses hooves get much more exercise on their hoofs than domesticated horses as this movement has given them better hoof structure.
Do horse shoes hurt horses?
Since a horses hoof cannot feel any pain horse shoes cannot give them discomfort.