I also prefer a barefoot trim to shoes any day. It's easier, cheaper, and healthier for the horse.

For a couple years when I was competing my Arab in team penning and gymkhana, I'd put her in front shoes for spring/summer/fall, and leave shoes off in the winter. When I stopped competing, but continued trail riding her, she went barefoot 24/7/365. And I should mentioned that Northern Nevada is made out of rock. There's no such thing as dirt or soil or trees... It's all rock and sagebrush. BAD FOOTING. But she survived. Her feet IMPROVED after she went barefoot.

Other than her, I've never owned a horse that needed shoes, for the past 7 years or so.

Until my colt, who is having lameness issues... The only reason he has shoes now is for corrective purposes - and I do believe that's the only reason why I'll ever use shoes on horses.
image (I should've moved the dirt. Oh well. Those are wedge shoes; we're trying to give his coffin bones more angle.)

Bottom line is, some horses can go barefoot, and some can't. If they CAN go barefoot, and they really have NO reason to wear shoes (professional competition - reining, jumping, endurance, etc), then they SHOULD go barefoot.

And, thoroughbreds DO notoriously have bad feet - it's a long-standing genetic thing, much like some people have high arches and need special supportive shoes. Crazy lady. *shakes head*