why do horses ,,,have to wear shoes?

Answer 1

not all horses do have to wear shoes. if they're living out in the wild they wouldn't have shoes and they would do just fine. And some horses with stronger hoofs don't need shoes. but you can put shoes on your horse to give them extra support, to fix certain problems: you can help prevent or heal lameness by shoe-ing them in a certain way (if you remember Barbaro had a special 3-part shoe on his hind left right after surgery which was meant to prevent laminitis... too bad it didn't work). You can shoe your horse to allow them to do different things: horses who show in western reining wear special sliding plates on their hind hooves which allows their hind legs to come underneath them and slide to a stop so they can earn points in their shows... you don't want your horses's hind legs to bounce to a stop... they should slide. You can use different shoes for different horses hoof problems: they have ring shoes if your horse needs support in their heals. You can put a pad between the hoof and the shoe if your horse has some kind of sensitivity in their foot: my horse had a pad for a few months after she had white line. So shoes do a lot of different things. Farriers are brilliant... they look at a horses foot and know how to make it better for that individual horse whereas you or I would look at it and see a hoof and nothing more than a hoof. If you'd like to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoe

Answer 2

Horses don't have to wear shoes. It really depends on what you are going to use the horses for, and how good their feet are.

My horses mainly are just "pasture ornaments" They are not ridden much, so they go barefoot.

Horses that are ridden a lot, have weaker hoof composition, or are on pavement a lot usually need shoes.

There are many different types of shoes. Many horses that are ridden saddleseat, like American Saddlebreds and Tennessee Walking Horses have special (heavy, cruel) shoes that make them pick up their feet higher. Racehorses have special lightweight shoes. Western reining horses have special shoes to help with the sliding stop. Horses that go on soft ground or in snow have studs in their shoes. There are even more different shoes.

Shoes are sometimes used in conjuntion with a pad. Some prevent snowballs from accumulating in the snow, other provide support, and others are like a humans orthotics that are there for a medical reason.

Shoes can also be used to treat medical conditions under the discretion of a veterinarian.

So not all horses need shoes. However, they all need to have their hooves regularly trimmed by a farrier. Wild horses have stronger hooves, and their hooves are worn by the terrain that they live on, so usually their feet do not become a problem like domestic horses.

Answer 3

Not all horses wear shoes and not all of them need to. Feral mustangs, for instance, don't need shoes. They traverse great distances each day over rocky terrain, which wears down the hoof, keeping it short and even. But our modern, domestic horses don't normally have access to miles upon miles of open land. They spend most of their time in stalls and turned out in paddocks where the footing is well maintained. As a result, their hooves grow long without being naturally worn down by the elements.

Most riding horses you see wear shoes either on all four feet, or just the first two. The shoes help support the hoof and aid in the performance of equine athletes. Shoes can also help correct physical defects or misshapen hooves. They can protect against cracks in the hoof wall and deformations, and provide some protection against the elements. For instance, if a horse is kept in an area with harsh, snowy winters, there are a few benefits to having shoes. Horses with shoes can get pads put in between the hoof and the shoe, which prevents the accumulation of snow in the foot. They can also get studs put into the shoe, which gives them traction on slippery ice. You'll also see studs in the shoes of jumpers and cross-country horses. Studs provide some grip on wet grass or slick footing, so they'll be less likely to slip when taking or landing after a jump. Some horses with medical problems (an evicular, for instance) would wear correctional shoes like egg-bars in an effort to alleviate the problem.

There has been a recent barefoot movement, however, particularly in the Quarter Horse circle. Some horses, like QHs, are bred with good, hard feet that don't really require shoes to give them support. Many owners are saving themselves the expense of shoes and letting their horse's feet grow naturally tough. Even barefoot horses require some maintenance from the farrier, though. Their hooves grow long without being worn down over rough terrain, so they require trims about every six weeks.

It's also important to remember that while some horses have excellent hoof conformations, others would go lame if their shoes were pulled off, even some Quarter Horses. Misshapen or "club" feet can be "fixed" with good shoes. Remove the shoe, and your horse could go lame. Other horses live in wet climates, and when the hoof is constantly exposed to water, it becomes soft and weak. Shoes are necessary to help support the hoof in such an environment.

Answer 4

Horses wear shoes to protect their feet like we do. The medal lifts the hoof off the ground about half an inch. There for the frog which is the tender part of the hoof dose not touch the ground.

Answer 5

Because humans have taken them from their natural element in an attempt to socialize them with humans. Therefore, they are now introduced to blacktop, concrete, etc that wears tremendously on the horses hoofs. If not shooed, the horse will lame up due to wearing of the hoof wall putting extreme pressure on the sole which is the sensitive part of the foot.

Answer 6

Not all horses wear shoes. But horses were wild animals who lived in the plains, in the grass. The asphalt, gravel, and sand that they walk on today is much harder then the terrain that they were adapted to and can wear down their hooves. The shoes protect them

~Meg

Answer 7

Putting shoes on a horse is always a good idea. It gives them protection as well as making the hoofs stronger; from possible injury due to objects on the ground that may other wise come into contact with their feet/hoofs. Shoes need to be specially fitted to a horses foot as they do need to fit properly.

Also they do need to have their hoof trimmed/filed to keep them from growing too long, as this can cripple a horse. Owning a horse requires a lot of foot care, as well as dental care/filing their teeth to keep them from getting too long. If their teeth become too long it makes it difficult for them to eat, and the horse could starve to death.

Answer 8

They do not have to wear shoes but ifyou are doing alot of riding and the hoof is wearing to quickly you need to shoe the horse.
Or depending on what surface youare riding you may need shoes for traction.
My horses are barefoot most of the time and only if I am jumping alot do I put shoes on. Or if they are racing they need them but msot times mine are barefoot.

Answer 9

horses dont have to wear shoes. it prtects the frog so the frog isnt hitting the ground all the time and it helps if there are any problems like a sunken heel it will usually fix minor lameness and it helps to not wear down thier feet as much.

Answer 10

Protection for their feet, especially against poor or adverse foooting. Traction in the winter, especially on ice and in snow. Correction of physical and medical problems such as navicular disease and founder. Prevention of certain diseases and injuries that can happen to unshod horses. In racehorses, traction on the track.