My guys go barefoot all winter because of the snow balling in their feet. We ride all winter. We also have a long gravel drive and it's gravel around the barn area. The perimeter is fenced and the horses can go out right from their stalls. Once the snow melts and grasses is started they go out as much as possible. With the gravel they need shoes. I have dealt with too many bruised soles and abcesses to consider letting them toughen up on their own.

My husband is a farrier (and yes, that means they get done last!) I have had many TBs and he has always referred to certain horses having feet like a TB. (meaning thin walled) That doesn't mean that all of my TBs lost shoes all the time, but they did have trouble going barefoot if the ground wasn't soft. But we now have all QH and Paints and some of them have "feet like a TB" according to my husband.