Why Do Horses Require Shoes While Cows Do Not?

While horseshoes are often recognized as both a game piece and a symbol of good fortune, the specific reasons behind why horses wear these crescent-shaped metal (or alternative material) fittings are less commonly understood.

The Reason Behind Horses Wearing Shoes

In essence, horses wear shoes for protection, much like humans wear footwear to shield their feet from harsh surfaces and excessive wear. Although horse hooves are significantly tougher than human feet—thanks to the hoof wall, a sturdy layer covering the top and rim of the hoof that lacks nerves or blood vessels—they still require safeguarding. Horses naturally wear down their hooves as they move, but wild horses experience this gradual erosion as they roam across varied landscapes.

However, as Horse & Country explains, domesticated horses are engaged in diverse activities across various terrains, leading to multiple reasons why many require shoes. For instance, horses that pull carriages or carry heavy loads may experience faster wear on their hoof walls than natural regrowth allows, a problem that horseshoes can mitigate. Additionally, horses frequently navigating slippery, wet, or muddy conditions often need shoes for better traction.

Some horses suffer from health issues such as arthritis, laminitis (a condition affecting the tissue between the hoof wall and adjacent bones), or ringbone (a degenerative joint disease causing abnormal bone growth). Others may have naturally weaker hooves, thinner soles, or irregular gaits. In these scenarios, horseshoes provide stability, strength, and overall hoof health.

Nevertheless, certain horses thrive without shoes or only require them sporadically. Farriers—experts in shoeing, trimming, and maintaining horses’ hooves—can advise owners on the most suitable approach and type of horseshoes. While some advocate for a natural, shoe-free approach, the decision ultimately hinges on the specific needs of each horse.

“Often, people frame the barefoot versus shod debate as a competition,” Esco Buff, proprietor of Esco Buff’s Professional Farrier Service, shared with Practical Horseman. “It’s not about choosing one over the other. It’s about what’s best for the horse.”

So, why is it that cows don’t require shoes as well?

Essentially, cows aren’t required to perform the same range of tasks as horses, nor do they traverse such diverse terrains. They aren’t raced, used for ranch duties like in Yellowstone, or tasked with pulling tourist carriages in Central Park. Historically, when oxen were widely used as draft animals for farming, even into the 20th century, they were frequently shod. Given that oxen, like cows, have cloven hooves—divided into two parts—they wore two separate “shoes” on each hoof.

Although cows typically manage well without shoes, their hooves still require care: They should be trimmed approximately twice a year, though this frequency can vary depending on the cow.