I agree my horse could definately live barefoot. She can even be ridden in the arena a couple of days a week and on trails a few days a week and go barefoot.
But when the workload gets to a certain point, or the ground gets ridiculously hard (it has not rained more than 20mm here in three months and half of those days have been over 35 degrees Celcius) her feet just can not grow as fast as they wear away.

Many people shoe for genuine reasons, Some (like many of my friends) just do it out of habit. Sometimes I think they have more money than sense .

How many farriers are going to tell someone not to put shoes on their horse if the owner keeps asking for them. I know a couple who would, but there a plenty of dodgy one's out there