Why do Walking Horses wear such big shoes on their front feet?
A – The built-up shoes, or pads, worn on the front feet of performance Walking Horses are used to enhance their natural gait. If you compare a performance (built-up) Walking Horse with a pleasure (flat shod) Walking Horse, you’ll notice that both have the same distinct gait Walking Horses are born with, but the performance horse’s gait is more exaggerated. Several equine breeds use built-up shoes and each is designed specifically for the breed to both enhance the gait and absorb the shock when their front feet hit the ground. Because of this, Walking Horses don’t suffer from as many leg and tendon injuries as other equine sports, and many Walking Horses continue to compete well into an advanced age.
