The primary reasons for shoeing our horses are to prevent the foot wearing away quicker than it grows and for the protection of the vulnerable areas of the foot from any foreign bodies. Under natural conditions the foot can take care of itself quite well, only having to carry what nature intended in its own body weight. The domesticated horse is expected to carry a load and so the foot wears away if unshod. Horses are used for many different reasons from what nature intended such as racing and driving on hard roads and many other disciplines. The farrier has a very important role in preserving the horse's foot in a healthy condition so as to remain an athlete for his owner. Shoeing is termed a necessary evil! Shoeing is done to prevent the foot wearing away faster than it grows affording protection and at the same time preserving the foot in its natural state and interfering as little as possible with its functions. Some facts: The first Egyptians and Persians are credited with the invention of horse shoes around 3000B.C. The earliest shoes were woven from grass and reeds and tied onto the hoof. The Egyptians also used animal skins such as leather made into a boot or sandal. The Romans were the first to use metal which was in the form of a flat plate with leather straps. Metal shoes fixed by nails were used in the 5th and 6th Century B.C. The word 'farrier' is from the Latin "ferrarius" meaning blacksmith or workers in metal.