Why Do Horses Wear Shoes?

Question: Why Do Horses Wear Shoes?

Answer: Horses wear horse shoes for a number of reasons.

1. To protect their feet, especially if you are riding them on rocky terrain.
2. To help heal feet, if they have a "split" in their hoof, similar to a broken fingernail.
3. For showing purposes -- I can't think of any show or race horse that isn't shod.

But primarily, it's for protecting their feet. If the horse is just out on pasture all the time, they generally don't need shoes on. They should be trimmed regularly to maintain good hoof health.