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Why do some horses go barefoot and do not need shoes2007-11-24 21:23:22

It can depend on the kind of work you do with your horse. I have a lightly-ridden pleasure horse that is not shod, but a horse that I do eventing with that has all four feet shod.

It also can depend on the surface you ride your horse on. For example, my pleasure horse is taken in a lot of meadows. However, if I lived in an area that was zoned for me to ride him down the side of the street I would have him shod. It's not good to ride a horse consistently over hard surfaces - like cement or asphault.

It can also depend on the condition of the horses feet. Many thoroughbreds, even if they are only in light work will still be shod because many TB's tend to have fragile, eggshell hooves.

There are even MORE reasons... if your horse has other problems of the hoof or leg, there a multitude of reasons that fall under the purview of "corrective" shoeing.

I hope this helps!

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Same reason as some people do.

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Horses with stronger hooves that aren't ridden a lot don't need shoes. But horses who do a lot of riding on gravel should have shoes. This is because a rock could get stuck in the hoove and create an abscess, it is very serious. An abscess is a bruised hoof. Horses which are frequently ridden have a great chance of getting an abscess, so they should have shoes.

Shoes also provide stableness throughout an un steady horse. They are usually used on show horses for a look of equal-ness throughout the horses feet. Shoes are very important to many horses.