The barefoot movement in equine management advocates natural hoof trimming without shoes, with evidence that appropriate management can support good hoof health for many horses in many disciplines.
The barefoot versus shod debate is often more ideological than evidence-based, which obscures genuinely important welfare considerations on both sides. For horses on appropriate terrain with good hoof quality and moderate work demands, barefoot management can support excellent hoof health and welfare through maintaining natural biomechanics. For horses on hard or abrasive surfaces, with poor hoof quality, or in high-intensity performance disciplines, shoeing provides protection that barefoot management cannot. Welfare-centered decision-making requires honest assessment of the individual horse, their management environment, and their work demands rather than adherence to either position dogmatically. Regular skilled trimming — whether by farrier or barefoot practitioner — is essential regardless of whether horses are shod.