Do Horses Need Shoes? Shod vs. Barefoot vs. Hoof Boots, Explained

How a hoof works

A hoof is not a solid block. It has several parts, and each does a different job:

• The hoof wall is the hard outer shell you see when the horse is standing. Like a fingernail, its outer layer has no nerves or blood supply, and it grows down from the coronary band at the hairline.
• The sole is the slightly concave bottom of the foot. It protects the sensitive structures above it and is thinner than most people expect.
• The frog is the rubbery, V-shaped pad on the bottom. It grips the ground, absorbs shock and helps pump blood back up the leg with each step.
• The white line is the seam where the wall joins the sole. Farriers use it as a guide, because nails driven outside it stay in the insensitive wall.

A hoof grows about a quarter to three-eighths of an inch a month. It takes about 9 to 12 months for a completely new hoof wall to grow down from the hairline to the ground. Wild horses wear their hooves down about as fast as they grow by walking many miles a day over varied ground. Most domestic horses don't, so a farrier does the job instead.

Does putting on a horseshoe hurt?

Done properly, no. Each nail goes into the insensitive outer wall, angles outward and exits the side of the wall, where the farrier bends over and files the end. The horse feels some pressure and vibration, much like the tap of a hammer on a fingernail, but no pain.

Pain happens when a nail goes too close to the sensitive tissue inside the hoof. A farrier calls this a "hot nail" or "close nail." The horse usually reacts right away, and the farrier pulls the nail. Watch for lameness in the days after shoeing, which can mean a nail is pressing on sensitive tissue.

Hot shoeing, where a heated shoe is briefly pressed to the hoof to seat it, looks alarming and produces smoke, but the hoof wall has no nerves and the heat doesn't reach sensitive tissue when it's done correctly.

Reasons a horse may need shoes

• Wear is faster than growth. Horses ridden often on gravel roads, pavement or rocky trails can wear their hooves down until they're sore.
• Weak or thin soles. Some horses, including many Thoroughbreds, have thin soles and flat feet that bruise easily without protection.
• Traction. Horses that jump, rope, run barrels or work on slick ground may need shoes with studs or a hard-facing material such as borium.
• Correcting or supporting a problem. Therapeutic shoes help horses with laminitis, navicular syndrome, cracks or injuries. These are fitted by a farrier, often working with a vet.
• Discipline rules or tradition. Some show divisions and breeds traditionally use particular shoes.

The case for going barefoot

A horse that stays comfortable without shoes has several advantages:

• Lower cost. A barefoot trim costs a fraction of a set of shoes.
• Natural hoof function. A bare hoof flexes a little with each step, and the frog contacts the ground, which supports circulation.
• No lost shoes. A shoe pulled off in mud can tear off part of the wall, and a loose shoe can cut a leg.
• Safer in groups. A kick from a bare hoof does less damage than one from a shod hoof.

Not every horse can go barefoot. If a horse that has worn shoes for years has its shoes pulled, expect some soreness while its feet toughen up, often for weeks to months. Your farrier can tell you whether your horse's feet are likely to cope.

Hoof boots: the middle path

Hoof boots are removable shoes that strap or buckle over a bare hoof. Many owners keep their horse barefoot day to day and put boots on for rocky trail rides or long distances. They're also useful when a horse loses a shoe and the farrier can't come for a few days.

Boots need to fit well, or they rub at the heel and pastern or twist off. Measure the freshly trimmed hoof and follow the maker's sizing chart. Don't leave boots on a horse in turnout for long periods unless they're designed for it.

Common types of horseshoes

Pads go between the shoe and the hoof to protect the sole or absorb shock. Your farrier will choose a shoe for your horse's foot shape, work and any problems it has.

How often a horse needs the farrier

Shod or barefoot, most horses need a visit every 5 to 8 weeks. Hooves grow faster in summer and slower in winter. If shoes are left on too long, the toe grows long, the heels collapse and the shoe gets pulled forward, which strains tendons.

Call your farrier when you see:

• Cracks or chips in the wall
• A shoe that's loose, shifted or has clenches (the bent nail ends) sticking up
• Overgrown hooves that flare out at the bottom
• Your horse tripping more or moving shorter

Pick the feet out daily with a hoof pick and look for stones, bruises and thrush. Read more about hoof care and trimming.

How to decide: shoes, barefoot or boots

Ask yourself and your farrier these questions:

1. What ground does the horse live and work on? Soft pasture and arena footing favor barefoot. Gravel, pavement and rocky trails favor shoes or boots.
2. How much is the horse ridden? A horse ridden once a week on trails may do well in boots. One ridden daily on rough ground probably needs shoes.
3. What are its feet like? Thick walls and soles and a strong frog suit barefoot. Thin soles, flat feet and weak walls often don't.
4. Is there a medical reason? Laminitis, navicular disease and injuries may call for specific shoes.
5. Is the horse sound and comfortable? That is the final test. Watch how it walks on gravel.

Hoof supplements with biotin can help some horses grow stronger hoof wall over many months, and bell boots protect the heels and help keep front shoes from being pulled off.

Sources

• University of Minnesota Extension: Caring for Your Horse's Hooves
• Utah State University Extension: Proper Basic Hoof Care
• Mississippi State University Extension: Why Do Horses Wear Shoes?
• American Farrier's Association