The debate between shod and barefoot horse keeping involves genuine welfare considerations around hoof biomechanics, surface adaptation, and pain management.
Hoof welfare in horses depends critically on the match between management, surfaces, and individual hoof characteristics. Horses transitioned from shod to barefoot on inappropriate surfaces experience significant pain during the adaptation period - a welfare concern that requires management. Conversely, horses in steel shoes on soft mud experience the welfare costs of poor traction, nail-related infections, and reduced sensory feedback. Evidence-based hoof care requires individual assessment rather than ideological commitment to either approach.