Horseshoes have been used on horses for thousands of years—the earliest known nailed-on horseshoes even date back to around 900 AD.
It can be hard to decide whether you should put horseshoes on your horse or leave them barefoot, as there are pros and cons to each. There are also some horses who do better shod versus unshod based on factors like hoof conformation, health, and the type of work they do.
In this article, you’ll discover more about what horseshoes are, why they might be necessary, and the pros and cons of horseshoes versus barefoot.
What Are Horseshoes?
The common practice of putting shoes on horses started in Western Europe in 1,000 AD. This was likely due to the climate there and the way it affected the horses’ hooves.
Today, horseshoes are made in a U-shaped plate and attached to the bottom of the horse’s hoof using nails or glue. The nails are specifically placed in the non-sensitive part of the hoof wall and don’t cause the horse pain when put on.
A farrier fits and adjusts these horseshoes, which can be put on hot or cold, so they perfectly align with the horses’ hoof shape. There is a common farrier terminology you’ll hear for horses wearing shoes versus remaining barefoot. A “shod” horse refers to a horse that is wearing shoes, while an “unshod” horse refers to barefoot horses.
Horseshoes can be made from different metals and substances. They are commonly made from steel or aluminum but can also be made from other materials such as copper, rubber, wood, or plastic.
Are Horseshoes Necessary?
While not every horse needs horseshoes, many horses do wear horseshoes.
For some horses, the necessity of horseshoes will depend on factors like hoof health, medical conditions, workload, riding discipline, and even the region where they live.
One or more of these contributing factors might mean it’s necessary for a horse to wear shoes to keep them more comfortable and healthier than if they remained barefoot.
There are both pros and cons to keeping a horse barefoot versus wearing horseshoes.
The Pros and Cons of Horseshoes
While it might be necessary or preferred to put shoes on your horse, there are both pros and cons to this option.
Pros
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Treat and Correct Hoof Conditions: Horseshoes can be used to treat certain hoof and health conditions. Some of these hoof disorders include laminitis, navicular syndrome, or conformation issues like clubfoot. Copper horseshoes, as another example, have antimicrobial properties and are commonly used to treat horses who have or are prone to hoof diseases such as thrush, white line disease, and seedy toe.
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Traction: Horseshoes offer more traction than a bare hoof on many surfaces. This can help horses navigate uneven terrain, ice, snow, mud, etc. better.
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Weight Distribution and Balance: Horseshoes can also be used to improve overall balance, weight distribution, and gait irregularities. This is because horseshoes distribute weight more evenly across the hoof, provide additional cushioning, and overall support.
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Hoof Protection: Horseshoes can protect hooves from things like hoof wall wear and tear, cracks, or injuries from things like stone bruises. This can help keep a horse sounder and potentially less foot sore when compared to barefoot horses.
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Riding Performance Enhancement: For certain riding disciplines, horseshoes can help enhance a horse’s performance in several ways. Horseshoes can provide traction on many different terrains, which means greater stability, weight distribution, and power. This is vital for certain riding disciplines such as jumping or eventing.
Cons
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Weakened Hooves: Wearing shoes can weaken a horse’s hooves because of nail damage to the hoof wall. If trimmed and shod improperly, a harmful hoof angle can cause additional issues.
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Potential Horseshoe-Related Injury: Horses can injure themselves if the shoe becomes loose or they pull the shoe off. These injuries could be torn hoof walls, nail puncture to the hoof sole, or strained tendons and other leg injuries. Dirt and bacteria can also become more easily trapped in the hoof with shod horses, creating an environment for hoof diseases like thrush to grow.
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Overreaching: If a horse’s toe steps on its own heel during a stride, this is called overreaching. Both shod and unshod horses can overreach. However, overreaching can cause a shod horse to catch the other shoe and possibly loosen it, pull it off, or cause injury in the process. However, a properly fitted pair of overreach boots can help solve this problem.
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No Natural Hoof Wear: Hooves grow continuously whether they are shod or unshod. However, shod horses will not naturally wear down their hooves, meaning they might require a farrier to trim their hooves more often than a barefoot horse
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Cost: It can cost hundreds of dollars or more each time a horse is shod. Depending on a variety of factors, horses will typically need re-shod every 4 to 6 weeks on average. If the use of corrective padding, a new or specialty shoe, or additional hoof work is also necessary, this can increase the cost.
Pros and Cons of Keeping Your Horse Barefoot
While the more “natural” option is to leave a horse barefoot, there are still pros and cons to this option as well.
Pros
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Natural Wear: Horseshoes prevent the natural wear of the hoof, so barefoot horses will wear down their hooves more naturally.
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Improved Hoof Health: Barefoot horses might have better hoof health in general. This is because they typically have improved circulation, better natural hoof angles and flexibility, and tougher, healthier hoof structures when barefoot.
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Better Traction and Shock Absorption: Depending on the surface, barefoot horses have more traction on softer ground, such as grass. Barefoot horses are also typically able to absorb shock better than shod horses on natural surfaces.
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Performance: While some horses perform better with shoes, others may perform better if left barefoot. Some horses simply have better movement and are ridden better barefoot. Horses can be more cautious about where they put their feet when barefoot, which could also enhance performance.
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Cost: Compared to shoeing a horse, it’s significantly cheaper to trim and keep a horse barefoot when it comes to farrier costs.
Cons
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Increased Risk of Injury: Without shoes, horses are typically more likely to obtain hoof or sole injuries from uneven ground, sharp objects, or rocks. This can cause injuries like sole bruises or punctures, which can lead to hoof abscesses.
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No Additional Hoof Protection: When a horse is barefoot, there are certain circumstances when their hooves need additional protection. This could be when riding or competing in wet or muddy conditions or riding on certain terrain in which shod horses have built-in hoof protection.
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Injury and Transition Related Costs: If a horse is transitioning from shod to barefoot, this can involve additional costs to help with the transition, such as casting the hoof or hoof boots. Since the hoof is unprotected as mentioned above, this could mean more frequent injuries which require additional costs for care and treatment.
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Health Conditions: Some horses will do poorly without shoes if they have certain hoof or health conditions. Examples of these conditions are laminitis (founder), navicular disease, poor hoof conformation, hoof wall defects, or collateral ligament strain.
Choosing the Best Option For Your Horse
Every horse is unique, as is their hoof health, where they live, and the workload they have.
All of these factors will play a part in the decision-making process of whether you should put shoes on your horse or not. If you are unsure if your horse needs shoes or should remain barefoot, talking to your veterinarian and farrier can provide knowledgeable insight.
It’s always important to choose a knowledgeable farrier that will ensure a horse has the proper hoof angles and that they are inspecting the hoof for any early signs of hoof diseases.
Some veterinarians and farriers might recommend a hybrid barefoot and shoeing schedule, depending on the horse. This might mean pulling horses shoes off for a short period of time before putting them back on again for horses who typically require shoes. This can be a “best of both worlds” option, especially for horses who might be off work for the winter, for example. This can help significantly with the strength and integrity of the heels and allow nail holes to grow out.
Another recommendation from farriers and veterinarians is to spend the extra money to glue shoes on at least a few times a year to help increase foot mass and to let the nail holes grow out. This can also be a good way to transition a horse to being barefoot again.
Whether your horse is shod or unshod, a hoof supplement can keeps hooves strong and healthy, such as Tribute Nutrition’s’ Tough As Nails Hoof Supplement. This pelleted supplement provides nutrients to improve hoof growth and overall health. It even includes iodine, which acts as an antifungal agent for horses with persistent thrush and white line disease.
