But I Want My Horse to Wear Shoes! OK, so you feel that no matter what anyone says, you want your horse to wear nailed-on shoes.  I understand that is what many/most people will continue to do for years to come.  If this is your decision, then please just remember a couple of VERY important things: 1)   Pay for a farrier who is experienced and knows what he is doing...not your neighbor who bought some tools in order to save some money.  Ask around and find someone who is knowledgeable and reliable.  He/she may charge a little more, but it can make a big difference.  2)  Have those shoes changed or re-set no less frequently than every 6-7 weeks!  For some horses, especially in the spring and summer when grass is growing and their hooves are growing faster, this may not be frequent enough.  Besides the risk of the horse stumbling and or stepping on a shoe and pulling it off if you go too long, you are also causing more damage to the hoof.  The hoof is constantly growing and moving downward and forward.  The metal shoe is not changing shape.  It will pull the hoof more and more forward, pulling the heel too far forward and also causing it too start growing inward (contracting).  It will no longer be centered and the horse will be out of balance.  By waiting too long, you are adding insult to injury.  If you are not going to be riding the horse for a while, have his shoes pulled and allow him to be barefoot for a while.  I have actually heard a person brag, in February, that her horse was wearing the same set of shoes that he had put on in September!!  I actually felt ill when I heard that.  Her poor horse's hooves were pulled so forward and were obviously out of balance.  She had not been riding and just decided that the poor animal did not need any hoof care!   But there she was riding him that day.   PLEASE have the shoes removed if you cannot afford to have them re-set on a regular and consistent schedule.  Better barefoot and neglected than shod and neglected.   If you can afford to keep a horse and go riding, then you should be able to afford a set of Easyboot Gloves or some similar type of hoof boot.  They will pay for themselves over time.  That way, if your horse does not have shoes...like over the winter months...and you do decide to go for a ride, you can put on the hoof boots and ride.  You won't have to get shoes nailed on for a single ride.  No..don't take a horse that is accustomed to wearing shoes, then let him go barefoot for a few weeks and then take him for a ride over rocky terrain barefoot.  He won't be ready for it.  Just put on the boots and be happy.