An Honest Opinion To Shoeing From a Body workers Perspective

Its a question I get asked all the time while I'm out on the job... "Are you for barefoot or for shoes?"
And I'll give you the honest, unfiltered answer I give to everyone these days - it depends (thanks for those two words Karen)

Even during my years as a Natural Hoofcare Practitioner I was never one to shove barefoot down the throat of others. Because what I have always appreciated is that nobody from the outside understands what is happening to you and your horse like the way you do.

So why have your horse shod?

I tend to hear a lot about the disadvantages of shoeing these days, I've even written an article on it myself. But seldom any of the upside. While there are a lot of supposed benefits, the ones I've actually seen make a difference for horses I have listed below: 
  • Shoes can keep a horse comfortable and mobile when they may otherwise be lame. Movement is often the key to rehabilitation with horses, so if shoes can get your horse moving it can be a real advantage.
  • Shoes can provide immediate relief for horses with tender or very thin soles.
  • Can offer protection from rough surfaces - particularly for weak walled horses.
  • For those involved in high intensity sports, its claimed that shoes can increase grip (although there is a lot of disagreement whether or not this is actually the case.)
  • Many people see studs as an advantage (although I have seen studs do more ligament damage than good)
  • If properly shod, can prevent hooves from cracking.
  • Correct shoeing can be extremely beneficial in reconstructive work on very badly damaged hooves.
  • Provide support for weak or injured hooves.
  • Shoes can keep stones out of a weak white line, this can be something many barefoot horses with a weak wall struggle with.
  • But perhaps the greatest advantage is that farriers must undergo training and an apprenticeship before setting up their own practice. This is not true of all 'natural' or 'barefoot' practitioners.

The effects of shoes on the upper body...

From a body workers perspective however I do have a number of concerns about the effects of poor shoeing practices that are damaging to the upper body.
  • Although a shoe may not feel all that heavy in your hand, you need to consider that this becomes additional weight the horse now has to carry. This completely alters how your horse has to carry its leg (and entire body) in order to compensate. 
I've heard a lot of barefoot success stories, and just as many for those in favor of shoeing their horse. There will always be good farriers and bad ones, just like there are good trimmers and bad ones.

This means that the health of your horses hoof may not be determined by the method one chooses to follow. But rather quality of the care it receives.