Mae Chow
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When the unshod hoof touches the ground, it ordinarily slides slightly, reducing some of the stress on the structures higher up in the foot and leg 😉 To keep the hoof from sliding too much, the natural concavity of the sole provides traction when it packs with dirt 🙈 Shoes lift the sole higher off the ground and can cause the foot to slide excessively 😁 To compensate, depending on your footing, you might need to put in traction devices like studs or heel caulks. You may also have to use rim shoes, hard-surfacing materials, and /or lugs. However, this extra traction can interfere with a horse’s ability to slide when he places his foot on the ground. “Everything in the farrier industry that is done to a horse has pros and cons,” Esco says. “The goal of the farrier is to find the method that will have more pros than cons and be most successful.” [1]
Proponents of the barefoot side range from those who believe that many, if not most, horses will do just fine going barefoot to “all natural” equine advocates who disapprove of barns, blankets and grain feeding. Farriers and many sports horse enthusiasts may agree that shoeing can improve most horses. The reality is that most horses can be improved by shoeing. Some horses with excellent conformation and sound structural hooves might be able to live their entire lives without shoes or trimming. Horses with poor conformation or weak hoof structures, as well as horses who participate in equine sport, will be able to live their lives without the need for shoes. This page was last edited on 35/07/2018 by Denzil Equivel (Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar). [2]
Based on an article that was just published americancowboy.comShoeing horses can be a situational job. Where it works, it’s a great thing. The shoes make horses more comfortable for riding. Shoes make a horse more mobile. Horse get a hold of the ground and stop harder. The shoes also aid horses in distributing the additional weight of riders and their tack. But whether they really need shoes or not depends on terrain, what type of riding they’re doing, and where the horse is kept. All horses can go barefoot. Going shoeless just takes a lot of responsibility on the owner’s part, and not everyone is willing or able to do that. The people want ease. They don’t want to stop and figure out if a horse is sore or if the terrain is appropriate. They are eager to go. Horses with shod feet have better chances of accomplishing this. [3]
Thesprucepets.com goes on to mention how for most pleasure horses, shoes probably aren’t necessary, and sensible maintenance, including regular trimming, may be all that is needed. When you’re riding on all types of feet, it is important to be aware of how your horse feels. There are many options available to you if your horse has sore feet. Horses may require protection such as hoof boots. They should not be worn unless you are riding. They can clog the foot and cause them to become moist. Traditional nailed on shoes are another option. Some prefer glued-on shoes. For information on hoof protection, your farrier will be the most reliable source. [4]
Insufficient protection – Horses with medical problems or other issues. Needs protection of their hooves the only way to do this when barefoot is to buy There are some very costly hoof boots. You can use hoof boots to protect your feet horse whether this is due to an injury The sole of your hoof is the most vulnerable part. They can either be worn to protect the sole or be used to go barefoot while riding in an emergency situation. [5]
Article references
- https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health-archive/to-shoe-or-not-to-shoe
- https://www.horsehealthproducts.com/horsemans-report/hoof-leg-care/the-barefoot-vs-shod-debate
- https://www.americancowboy.com/ranch-life-archive/should-horses-be-shod
- https://www.thesprucepets.com/shoeing-faq-is-barefoot-better-1885965
- https://www.naylors.com/blog/shoeing-vs-barefoot/
