Do horses need shoes?
Dear Stella,
I was just wondering is horses could not have shoes, like if you could ride them without horse shoes on. I am wondering because I have heard that you can put shoes on a horse or not.
Love, Megan
Dear Megan,
That’s a great question. In truth, a horse doesn’t always need shoes, and is quite often happy and better off without them, even if you are riding it. There are exceptions, like if you are riding over rough terrain. It’s best to consult a farrier, and/or your vet to see what kind of footwear, or lack of, is best for your horse. They can also advise you on what kind of hoof trimming will be required.
Love, Stella
My miniature horse can even wear shoes. Mini’s hooves are so thin that they can’t wear shoes.
A friend of mine said a horse doesn’t really need shoes. I’m just wondering if it would be better that they wore shoes.
they only need shoes normally if you are a barrell racer like me or do pole bending and stuff like that. You also need them on a rough surface like rocks and mountain trail riding
Our horses never wear shoes. We just use them for light riding, anyway.
we never put shoes on our horses but of course we never ride them cuz we cant
My 21 year old horse may require shoes.when he walks he looks like his feet hurt.We just cant find a farrier
Poor Snort
We have shoes on our 4 horses during summer but they usually fall off for winter which is TOTALLY safe! Just get them out of the pen so your horse(s) don’t step on them!
Popcorn99
I know my old “retiree” horses/donkeys/mule go without shoes all year round. They haven’t had shoes in years, OR been trimmed, but they are only able to do that because they live permanently in a big, open pasture where htey run and wear down the excess hoof on their own, like mustangs do. My penned horses and barrel racing horses all have shoes and are trimmed regularly. I HAVE heard of barrel horses whose fit are trimmed a certain way that thye run on and don’t need shoes. I myself don’t like this method for my horses, due to their feet conditions and past injuries, but some do use it.
Oh whoops, fit=feet in my abve post… XD *blushes at her quick typing and typos*
In shows you are required to have shoes, but if you just want to ride him on grass or dirt (never on hard things like rocks and gravel) you don’t nessacarily need shoes.