Struggling with a request to shoe a horse for show only

Thomas Gonzalez · 2026-03-01T09:35:51.294168+00:00

The animal wasn't suited for it, and I felt conflicted.

That "trust your gut" part is key. Putting on shoes changes how a horse moves, even if they seem okay. I mean, it's just not worth it if the horse isn't actually needing it for a real reason.

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craig.viola7mo ago

Three horses I know had no issues with show shoes.

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robinson.aaron7mo ago

Heard a farrier say that putting shoes on a horse just for looks can mess with its gait if it's not needed. Trust your gut on this one.

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the_dakota7mo ago

Ever see a horse move stiff after fancy shoes? My friend's gelding started stumbling on trails after putting on those tall show heels. Their farrier took them off and said the horse was overreaching to compensate.

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