Why do we slap iron shoes on horses?

It protects the hooves from deterioration.
Horses do fine in the wild but in captivity, we put them to work in a big way.

wild horses’ feet are used to rough terrain, while domesticated horses are not because they are kept in stalls with hay and usually ridden on dirty or grass (i.e. soft surfaces). over time domesticated horses have genetically developed softer hooves.

it is possible to let them be barefoot (or “barehooved”) but that requires a lot more hoof trimming and care taking.

http://www.curlyfarm.com/articles/why_horse_shoes.htm

http://www.healthyhooves.co.uk/why_shoes.pdf

Horses hooves are their Achille’s heels, so to speak. From the time they were first domesticated, their owners realized they could be more productive with hoof coverings. The Romans rode them over paved roads that required protection against excessive wear and abrasions. Farmers used horses in marshy fields whose dampness could damage porous feet. And professional racing is too harsh. Imagine walking barefoot over stones or in muddy fields 10–12 hrs/day, let alone running a couple of miles daily in any weather-Ouch!

Hooves are really just really thick versions of fingernail material. Think of all the jive that can happen to fingernails, if they were walked on through pavement and rough terrain, imagine them splitting and how painful that can be. Hooves are sturdier than fingernails, of course, but they’re not made of iron. ;) Unless someone helps, that is.

My cousin is off to farrier college, I’ll ask her when she finishes her course

@laureth and a lot of weight to be carrying while walking on your toenails. For the most part early horses were a lot smaller.

Same reason why big dogs get hip dysplasia- we bred them to be bigger/stronger, and there are some unintended consequences.

“Are their feet not sturdy enough for roads of rock?”

No, their feet are not sturdy enough for roads of rock. Besides horses in the wild don’t live as long as horses that have been domesticated, and we like to “protect” our investment. A horse with a foot problem is a horse in great trouble.

Horses didn’t evolve to be able to go as hard as humans often push them, so their hooves wear away rather quickly without them, and if they grind down too much they can’t stand, and are often put down.

Eddie Izzard has a bit on this. See 1:30.

Horses have moral objections to leather shoes.

“No, their feet are not sturdy enough for roads of rock. Besides horses in the wild don’t live as long as horses that have been domesticated”

Actually, the opposite is true. Wild horses have been documented to live to between the ages of 35–40 and even older. Part of the reason for this is because they are barefoot. The old addage “No Hoof, No Horse” is true. The health of a horse is strongly intertwined with the health of his feet, and vice versa. Wild horses do not have the lameness issues domestic horses have, and therefore are generally healthier animals. This has been proven in study after study and is the birth of the natural hoof care movement.

As far as their feet not being sturdy enough for roads and rock, they are not, but only because we have conditioned them that way.

Shoes were first used in the middle ages to hide lameness issues. This practice still continues today, and has been twisted into the idea that if the lameness is hidden it must be fixed. And if shoes fix lameness, maybe they will protect the hoof, too.

Wrong! Horses who regularly wear shoes have softer and weaker hoof wall. Horses who go barefoot have a tough hoof wall and a durable, calloused sole that can withstand virtually any terrain. Think about it. People are the same way. Do you wear shoes all the time? What would happen if you took off your shoes and sock and walked down a gravel road? Do you know someone who is always barefoot? They can RUN on gravel!

Barefoot horses can stay barefoot their whole lives. If not regularly ridden on rocks or gravel or concrete, their hooves with not be truly rock hard, but we can help them along with protective boots. If regularly ridden in those terrains, there should never be any worries about the hoof. Injuries can happen, so it is always a good idea to have hoof boots with you on your ride, but your horse shouldn’t necessarily have to wear them.

Horses with shoes can be gradually turned in to barefoot horses. Pull shoes in the late fall after your riding season is over, and let the horse naturally build up a callous. Then, the above information about barefoot horses applies. How long does this take? Anywhere from six months to two or more years, depending on both the horse and owner.