Horse shoes. Yay or neigh

[Ember Gleam 167]

Sorry if there has already been a post about this. I am wondering if the ponies have horseshoes or not. While looking at the characters it does not show any sign of horseshoes on their hooves, however there are many times that shows that their hoof prints are shown with horseshoe marks. So can we assume that they have horseshoes?

[DusK 1,264]

This is interesting. I've never actually paid attention their hoofprints, so I dunno what they look like. Anyone got a screencap or something?

[Rockymoo 2,137]

Uhh... hmm.

Good question. I could've sworn I've heard mentionings of horseshoes on the show multiple times, but I can't really back that up.

The only example of any mentioning of hoofprints that comes to mind was in that MLP-Phoenix Wright crossover series, but...

[DubWolf 17,263]

Hahah, the whole time I was thinking about actual shoes on ponies, instead of the horse shoe that horses wear.

 

I don't think they wear them. I think some stallions that do plenty of heavy lifting (like in "Over a Barrel") might wear them I think.

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

This thread appears to be discussing MLP:FiM in some way, shape or form. Thus, it has been sentenced to Show Discussion.

 

This is an automatically generated message, by the way.

[Shiki 5,855]

Every one should know, by now, that I'm not big on ponies, but even I remember this scene.

 

http://youtu.be/JmwvH4K3C1M?t=21m4s

 

Rusty horseshoe = horseshoe = yay = not neigh

[Cwanky 17,586]

Its safe to assume they do. Even though the illustrations seem to suggest that many ponies lack hooves, while others like the stock horse pony types like Big MacIntosh clearly do, they are there apparently. And yes for the umpteenth time ponies and other equines in Equestria can indeed wield objects with their forehooves without the assistance of magic or any other supportive means.

[Fluttershutter 2,478]

Twilight has horse shoes hanging over her bed for some reason.

 

Yes, I'd say they have them and wear them. Without some kind of shoes hooves can get damaged. They probably go on and off somehow without nails though.

[techno915 408]

i haven't noticed them wearing any for casual events, but maybe during tough work or something they would wear them. so yeah, maybe for specific occassions or something.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

I'd noticed this before, but never really thought about it. I've seen the bottoms of their hooves, and there's no apparent sign of shoes, but the print definitely shows a horseshoe. Interesting question!

[Argumedies 1,748]

My head canon said they have soft flexible hooves for the for hooves and a little harder for the back two. They can wear horseshoes on any hoof but the flexible front shoes are optional depending on outfit and its more like holding onto them instead of nails like a normal hoof

Edited August 16, 2013 by Argumedies

[The Awesome One 1,315]

Horseshoes are made to protect the horse's  shoes and make sure he rides better or something. I suppose stallions like Big Mac would usually wear horseshoes and none of the Mane 6 do.

[Ember Gleam 167]

Well I do know that in the Hearts and Hooves day episode the CMC made horseshoe prints on the card they gave to Cheerlie just by stepping in paint. Also in The Stare Master Fluttershy saw the CMC hoof prints next to the escaped chicken's and they were in the shape of horseshoes.

[~Silver Essence~ 2,625]

Well, horse shoes are natural towards horses on real life, but on MLP?

 

I say they're ok without the shoes, and to only wear them when it's cold like the winter wrap up. 

[Zygen 6,066]

Well, it has been mentioned before in the show, and hoof prints(Although probably more a comical joke then anything.) are shaped like horseshoes.

 

Now, do they wear them? Well its possible they wear them at times, but I think only on rare occasions, not sure when exactly, but I believe they would if they have them. However only the lady in the story Rainbow tells in S3 (Sleepless in ponyville) actually wears them, so who knows.

 

The actual purpose of wearing horseshoes as far as real horses go is for protecting their hooves from wearing down faster then they grow(Yes real horse hooves grow, sort of like toenails) however as long as they aren't really going to be on rough surfaces they won't even have any real issues with them wearing down to fast.

 

However, horseshoes also constrict the blood flow in the horse hooves aswell, so i imagine that unless horseshoes in the show are different, that the ponies wouldn't want to wear them.

 

Apparently it even shortens the life span to an extent.

 

In the wild the horses are fine without horse shoes, because when they travel over rocky surfaces they are trimmed as needed.

 

The ponies don't typically go through alot of rocky terrain on average really, so i imagine horseshoes probably aren't necessary for much. Plus they have boots and stuff if they really needed, so even on rough terrain they wouldn't necessarily need them, even if thats the main time they would need them if anytime.

 

So maybe because of the horseshoes being uncomfortable in the first place, and the ponies having access to clothes and shoes if they really want to, i assume they really don't need them, especially since walking barefoot (Or barehoof in this case) all the time is bound to develop some callouses in their hooves, thus further making horseshoes even less useful. 

 

Really I can't see the horseshoes as being necessary anyways, even if they do exist in cases. Of course we don't know if ponies in the show have hooves they wear down on rough surfaces, or even grow at all(Besides leg growth) and we really haven't had any confirmation I know of as far as connections between real horses and ponies in the show(Besides the fact that Lauren said that ponies in the show reproduce like real horses, which doesn't help us on the topic anyways really, besides giving some support that there are similarities). However we can only really assume, i mean besides being able to talk, fly, do magic, and are far more civilized and sentient then their real life counterparts, the ponies in the show look the same as far as body type, so we can only assume without any direct evidence they are like real ponies, that or we assume the opposite one.

 

I'm just gonna go with them being like real ponies, because it makes sense, why they have horseshoes? I can only guess for decoration, or maybe its a preference to some ponies, but they seem pretty unnecessary for the ponies anyways.

 

(And this has been another very long post by Zygen and his rambling long winded self )

[Ember Gleam 167]

Hmm never thought of all that. That was pretty informative seeing as how I never realy understood the concept of horseshoes in the first place. Thank you for the intel.

[Scootalove 10,689]

I never really payed attention to the hoof prints, but I guess that there could be some horse shoes in a theory. For now, I don't really see any horse shoes in the show.

[Scootaloodle 1,623]

Neigh I don't think they do wear horse shoes: but I could be wrong. Well they don't appear to to me

 

I sorta get the impression that maybe hoof prints in the show would appear to be horse shoes all the same as it makes it clearer what they are. 

 

I guess we just got to keep our eyes peeled and try and find out

Edited August 17, 2013 by Asherdangerdash

[Fhaolan 4,483]

Concur with Zygen. I deal with horses on RL and you should only shoe horses if whatever they are doing is wearing their hooves down too quickly, or they have a health condition that requires it. Wearing horseshoes constantly can weaken the hoof and cause laminitis and other conditions.

[GhostPony750 959]

This episode, at 6:35

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBRODYvevU4

You can see the "hoofprints" on the sand, and yes they are horseshoes.

But weirdly the ponies doesn't wear horseshoes.

[spacestorm 183]

This is easy to explain - those are not horseshoes like in our world. This is just the best shape fitting their hooves and these things are probably the soles of their shoes which they wear sometimes, as we could see.