Domestic horses often wear horseshoes. However, it's not always necessary. In fact, it may be healthier for some horses not to wear shoes. Here's a list of reasons why domestic horses should wear shoes: Trail ride - Horses serving on trail rides should wear shoes. Performing many trail rides causes an excess of wear on the hooves. Horseshoes protect the hooves from wearing down too much. Streetwalking - Horses working in police departments and serving in other professions should wear shoes. These horses often walk on paved surfaces that are hard and wear down hooves quicker.  Hard ground - Any horse that's ridden much on hard-packed ground should be shoed. the shoes raise the hoof off the ground, protecting the frog from injury. The frog is the soft tissue in the center of the hoof. Domestic horses without reason to wear horseshoes may be better off going barefoot. You should keep an eye on the growth of the hooves and have them trimmed accordingly.