It depends I would prefer barefoot but my mare is ouchy on gravel barefoot and since we ride on the road a lot I put shoes on her but that is the only reason why, in the winter when I just ride her in the pasture and arena I have her barefoot. With that said I think a horse adjusts to being barefoot in most circumstances but I know there are horses out their that have very thin soles and to let them out where there is rocks is just going to bruise their feet so some horses need shoes I think.

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Some days life just hits you harder than you expected.