Even if you have access to an indoor arena, borium might be a good idea if your horse gets turned out in the winter or if getting to the arena involves negotiating snowy or icy paths. Pads Secured between hoof and shoe, pads serve a variety of therapeutic purposes. At their simplest, pads protect soles and frogs against impact and bruising. Wedge or degree pads raise low or underrun heels. Pads can be made of leather, rubber, plastic, or other synthetic materials.
Farriers usually pack the space between the pad and the hoof to prevent debris from entering.
Like your athletic shoes, pads compress over time and therefore lose some of their shock-absorbing effectiveness. If a horse s feet are in such poor condition that they won t hold nails, your farrier might opt to use glue-on shoes. If protecting the surface on which a horse works is of concern, says Werkiser, the horse might sport rubber shoes instead of the standard steel or aluminum models. Circus horses, for instance, might wear rubber shoes to protect the flooring of sports arenas and other multi-purpose venues. If you re most comfortable in sneakers and other cushy-soled shoes, you might have wondered why more horses aren t shod with rubber shoes.