I have to agree with RD here to a degree....some shoes
will give better traction than barefoot can. Some shoes don't do a thing
for traction (NBS shoes as an example...flat, smooth, slippery). In that
case, I'd rather see a horse barefoot! As far as correcting a club
foot....I also agree. You can CONTROL a club foot and a good farrier who
stays on top of it (meaning frequent trims) can make a horse look like it
doesn't have a club foot. But if left too long, it will make itself known
again! Re: shoeing foundered horses. Many people feel that a
horse with laminitis should be immediately shod....well, those feet are sore and
putting shoes on a horse's feet when they are in so much pain does not RELIEVE
it at all. Not that there aren't cases when shoes ARE needed. But
most horses given a trim to get them on their toes when they first show signs of
laminitis can recover more quickly than if they are shod. When they aren't
in as much pain, shoes with pads may help for awhile....again, each horse is an
individual. We have seen some horses recover from laminitis without any
problems or the need for shoes or pads while some end up needing pads and shoes
for any amount of riding to be done.
Maggie (who started out with nothing and still has most
of it left!)