Of farriers and shoes

I want to preface today's entry with a disclaimer:  I am not one of those people who thinks that every horse should be barefoot all the time.  My own horses are barefoot, and on the occasion we go on a long overnight ride in the mountains, I will use boots.  I know of many performance horses that are barefoot all the time.  However, I've also known horses that need corrective shoes for one reason or another, in order to stay comfortable and sound.  To me, it has never been an "all or nothing" view.

When I have a problem is when I see people shoeing their two year olds for no reason other than "a horse is supposed to have shoes."  Here's why:  when you shoe a horse that is not done growing (let's just say a horse that is 4 or younger), you limit the hoof's ultimate size and shape to that of the shoe you are putting on the foot.  Compare a weanling to a yearling to a 2 year old to a 5 year old.  The hoof grows with the leg and body of the animal.  It will widen and thicken, the sole will become more concave, and, in most cases, the hoof will grow to accommodate the body it is attached to.  Heredity plays a role as well (halter horses, for example, are notorious for having small feet compared to the size of their bodies).  I know farriers that just will not shoe a young horse unless it has some underlying issue that might be corrected with shoes.  Navicular problems can come from small feet.  Ringbone, sidebone, chronic sole bruising ... No ethical farrier should agree to shoe a young horse without first explaining the implications to the owner.  Some people just don't know better.  They think, as soon as I'm going to ride him, I better put shoes on him.  And what they are potentially doing is limiting the long-term soundness of the horse.