Article: Rocky ground can lead to pain if your horse does not have shoes. It is likely to bruise the sole of an unshod hoof. A shoe elevates the hoof slightly and decreases the impact of uneven ground on the underside of the hoof. Shoes can also help horses grip and confidently navigate uneven surfaces. Roadwork can wear down hooves without shoes, as it's very abrasive and wears the hoof down faster than it grows. This results in the horse walking on its sole and the bulbs of its heel, which is very painful. If your horse works on the road frequently, it should most likely be shod. Unshod hooves are best equipped to deal with the natural landscape such as pasture, soil, or grassland. There are many other surfaces horses are expected to work on which do not provide good grip. Shoes will give your horse the grip he needs. An example of conditions when your horse may need more grip is when it is walking on icy ground or pavement. Shoes can come in very handy when there are demands for extreme agility placed on your horse. This includes having your horse do a lot of twisting, turning, or jumping. In these circumstances shoes are advisable. Additionally, studs or cork can be inserted into the shoes to prevent the horse from slipping.
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Put shoes on a horse that will be walking on rocky ground. Have shoes on a horse that is doing roadwork. Use shoes to give your horse extra grip. Make agile movements easier by using shoes.