Barefoot vs. Shoes
by Justin Nelzen
There are many opinions on if a horse should have shoes or remain barefoot. To complicate things more you could take it a step further and argue what is the proper way to trim a foot? What is the proper way to shoe a foot? Should we be shoeing in the first place? You will find in this article that I will support and condemn both.
We could argue barefoot vs. shoeing all day long but for me the decision is easy. "Give the horse the support it needs for the job it's being asked to do". Let me start off first by saying that I am a farrier (horseshoer) and a huge barefoot advocate. Most of the horses that I do are barefoot. This isn't because I push all horses to be barefoot just because I like barefoot better. It is due to the fact most of these horses perform above or beyond at the level they are being asked to perform at given the horses hoof conditions, where they work, conformation, etc. We have found most horses really can do just about anything without shoes. So why do we shoe then? I think in order to partially answer this question you need to look at why farriers (blacksmiths) started putting steel on a horse's foot in the first place. The answer is simple. Horses simply could not keep up with job they were being asked to do without the support or help from the shoes. The same could be said for some of today's horses. Like horses of old some horses are still being asked to perform at levels that the hoof simply can't keep up with. This of course is where a farrier comes in. There is nothing that I can't stand more than seeing a hoof worn down to a nub because the owner refuses to protect there horse, all for the sake of remaining barefoot. Take us for instance (people); if we needed too, on a day to day basis we could absolutely stay barefoot. We might get some funny looks but it could be done. Your feet would harden much like a horses hoof does and you'd be fine. If asked to run around poles, jump logs, or even run a marathon you could condition your feet so that you could do it. Let's take that same person who has conditioned there feet properly but then put a pair of really great performance shoes on. Could that person finish that job faster and easier? Absolutely, why, because with the extra support that the horses provide we can run, jump, etc faster.
So when should we shoe then? I like my horses to remain barefoot as long as I can. Cuts down on nail holes, no lost shoes, better hoof growth, etc, etc. I shoe my horses during times of intense training and competition where the hoof can no longer support the horse for the job it's being asked to do. What about sports that go year round you ask? We find and make time! Down here in TX there are two times of the year I try and get everyone to pull shoes, the summer when it reaches 100 degrees and the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas. We find and make time! Some horses only need a cycle without shoes, some more. The key is to identify your horse's personal needs and provide them with the tools that will help them along.
I will not touch to much on corrective/therapeutic shoeing but only say that like regular shoeing there is a time and place for it. Like my horses with regular shoes my goal for all corrective type shoeing is to get them barefoot again. Most cases we are able to achieve this, some cases we aren't. Either way the goal is to make the horse comfortable.
Regardless of where you stand on the subject we all want the best for our horses but unfortunately our decisions are shaped by what we read, hear and experiences we've had. Sadly there are just as many bad farriers as there are good ones. Just as I have seen bad barefoot trimmers as I have good ones. I have seen horses that could barely walk get the support it needed from a shoe and walk off sound and happy. Just as I have seen horses benefit from taking shoes off. So the answer to the question of barefoot vs. shoes in my opinion is easy. There is no answer, the only acceptable one is to "give the horse the support it needs for the job it's being asked to do"