anyjackie wrote:
Why is it that the majority of Thoroughbreds need shoes? Maybe it is just me, but all the TB's I have been around have really ouchy feet. There is an OTTB at my barn whos owner pulled shoes just for the winter. (Her first year with him, just adopted him) Now that it has warmed up and he is handling more rougher ground, he has become very ouchy.

So would you continue to have him barefoot and let his feet toughen up? Or would you shoe him?

I am not sure where I would stand on this. I know many people say the hoof toughens up... like a person walking barefoot, our feet eventually toughen up... but then again, if you relate a hoof like a finger nail, how would it toughen up then?


If he is ouchy to the point that he is unusable or riding could risk further injury, then I would shoe him. He may just need it on the front because that is where most horses carry the majority of their weight. If the owner can give him some time, then I would request the farrier not trim the sole because he may have thin soles and putting him on some sort of hoof supplement might help that.

I think if the horse can do its job without them, fine, if it can't then put shoes on.