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Horses have been central to human transportation and agriculture for centuries. These symbols of strength and speed require hoof trimming and new hoof boots every four to six weeks to stay on the job. But why?
horses (Equus caballus) that are domesticated for human use and selectively bred for performance shoes because their feet are delicate and therefore need to be protected, he said dr Fernanda Camargo (opens in new tab), a veterinarian and equine consultant at the University of Kentucky. “Shoes offer protection to some areas of the foot Horse‘ Camargo told Live Science in an email. “They prevent the hooves from wearing out too much and becoming sensitive.”
The outside of the hoof, called the wall, is a horn-like material that grows continuously and needs to be trimmed accordingly, just like a person’s fingernails Extension of the University of Missouri (opens in new tab). “Shoes also help the foot maintain its proper shape,” Camargo said.
However, rough terrain such as sand and rocks can cause the outer to wear down and expose the sensitive inner hoof. Then the horse is in pain and may not be able to walk. In the past, such impairments would have prevented horses from being used on the battlefield or during harvest, so shoes were added to strengthen the hoof wall, Camargo said.
It is estimated that horses have worn some type of footwear since they were domesticated 6,000 years ago (opens in new tab)said Camargo.
Related: Why do we still measure things in horsepower?
Originally, horseshoes were made from leather or plant material. Metal shoes nailed to horses’ feet were first used around AD 500 and became commonplace over the next 500 years, Camargo said. While aluminum and steel shoes that are nailed to the hoof are still the most common, she said, a variety of other materials — such as rubber, resin, and plastic — can also be nailed or glued to the hoof as a shoe.
While many horses need horseshoes, not all do; it depends on the type of riding, the terrain and the frequency with which the horse is ridden. Those who ride on rocky terrain or concrete are more likely to need shoes. Even horses that are not ridden may need shoes to protect them from terrain or therapeutic shoes to treat hoof conditions. But “many horses that are only ridden here and there and kept on grassy/non-hard terrain do well without shoes, with regular farrier visits,” Camargo said.
Meanwhile, wild mustangs don’t wear shoes and manage to move over rough terrain because they have very strong feet, Camargo said. But their hooves can still wear down and cause lameness. If that happens, it will take the life of a Mustang, she said.
Some people wonder if nailing hooves onto the horse’s hoof hurts them. There is none blood vessels or nerves in the hoof wall, according to the University of Missouri Extension, so if the shoe is nailed properly, it’s not painful. “But improper shoeing can absolutely hurt,” Camargo said. If the hooves or nails are misplaced, the hooves are the wrong shape or size, or if the farrier applies pressure to the wrong areas, they can injure the horse. And if the hooves are poorly trimmed beforehand, it can lead to pain or lameness, with or without shoes, she said.
