The hoof is built to work. The hoof capsule protects, the sole carries, the frog cushions and senses the ground, and the laminae anchor the coffin bone within the capsule. With every step the hoof expands and contracts — the hoof mechanism — pumping blood through the hoof and back up the leg. It works best when the hoof is free to move.
A traditional iron shoe has its uses, but it limits the hoof mechanism, dampens the frog contact with the ground, and means the hoof wears less and trains less. Barefoot comes down to one thing: giving the hoof its job back.