When does a horse need shoes?
In
their natural state in the wild, horses roamed over large areas of
grasslands seldom putting their feet under heavy strain, and keeping
their hooves neatly shaped with natural wear. Once horses came into
the care of humans, those conditions changed, and the horse’s feet
were asked to endure tougher work on more varied terrain, and now
they needed the protection of horseshoes. The more horses became
stabled or corralled too, meant that horses’ hooves needed regular
care and trimming.
The basis of good hoof care is regular trimming by a professional farrier, and for many horses with naturally good feet and in light work on soft ground, this is all they will ever need. However, some horses aren’t born with such good feet, and will need shoes for protection or competition. Most horses will need at least shoes on their front feet at some point in their careers, so horse owners need to understand why and when a horse needs shoes, and budget for that expense when the time comes.
What do shoes do?
Horse
shoes protect more than just the base of the hoof wall. They help to
distribute the weight of the horse around the hoof, and spread out
the pressures of impact. They help the hoof keep a good shape for
longer, especially if the horse has conformational problems that
cause uneven hoof wear. Some shoes can help improve a horse’s
comfort or movement, and other shoes are designed to assist with
performance in certain disciplines. Basically, there are many
reasons to consider shoes for your horse.
When to shoe
One
of the first questions to ask when thinking about whether to shoe
your horse is are your horse’s feet and legs healthy? Some horses
are fortunate to be born with strong hooves that never seem to have
any problems. Others have lifetime struggles with chips, cracks,
brittleness, sore soles, or other conditions. Some breeds are said
to be more prone to weak feet, but all breeds can have horses with
good hooves, and with bad ones. There’s no need to assume that
because your horse is a thoroughbred it will have to have shoes, or
if it’s a quarter horse it doesn’t. Likewise, hoof color has
little to do with hoof health - pink or white hooves can be just as
healthy as black ones! Evaluate your horse’s feet regardless of its
breed, and decide for yourself.
When deciding if your horse’s hooves would benefit from shoes, start at the hoof wall. Does the wall show any cracks, either from the bottom of the hoof moving up or starting at the coronary band and moving downwards? Does the base of the wall tend to chip or split? Is the bottom of the hoof naturally flat, with the sole or heel pressing on the ground? Any of these conditions can suggest that your horse may benefit from shoes.
Some horses have diseases, injuries, or conformational defects that will benefit from shoes. Horses with navicular disease, for example, may need shoes with raised heels, to ease the angle over the pastern and alleviate some of the pain of navicular disease. Horses that have had severe laminitis or a punctured sole may need shoes to protect a weakened or damaged sole. Any horse that has had severe nutritional deficiencies is likely to show symptoms in poor hoof health, and may need shoes while they recover. In these cases, your vet will work with your farrier to help design the best solution for your horse.
The next question relates to what the horse will have to do, and on what surfaces. Some horses will need specialist shoes that aid their performance in specific competitions. Eventers and jumpers may need studs that screw into the shoes to provide additional traction on grass surfaces. Reining horses may need special ‘sliding shoes’ for dramatic sliding stops, or endurance horses that cover dozens of miles over rough terrain may need shoes and cushioning pads for protection. If you ride on roads frequently, you might want shoes to protect your horse’s hooves from the impact, and some shoes are designed to provide extra traction on slippery surfaces. In these cases, you will probably consider shoes even if your horse has very good feet.
For many horses that do primarily arena work or very light trail riding, and that have healthy feet, shoes may not be needed at all. However, if your training surfaces are rough or rocky, if you take your horse out on frequent trail rides or hacks, or if you are showing often and can’t control the quality of the surface you’ll be riding on, then a full set of shoes is usually a good idea to give your horse’s feet the protection they need. Horses with very good feet may do well with just front shoes, where they experience the most impact and carry the most weight, and for many horses a front set of shoes is often a very good and affordable choice.
When not to shoe
You
may decide that that your horse has healthy feet, and that the riding
you do is gentle enough that your horse simply doesn’t need shoes.
That’s fine; many horses do well without shoes. Certainly very
young horses should not wear shoes, as they aren’t working hard and
their feet need to grow and develop naturally. Going ‘barefoot’
also has some advantages for your horse. Shoes reduce the contact of
the frog with the ground, which is a good thing for hard working
horses or horses with sensitive soles, but compression of the frog is
an important part of a horse’s circulatory health. If you do choose
to shoe, make sure your horse has plenty of opportunity to exercise
to protect the circulation of the lower legs. All horses however,
regardless of their age, whether they need shoes, or how much work
they do, need to be seen by a qualified farrier for regular trimming.
Shoes or not, your horse needs a farrier!