According to Tea Wännman, chairman of Arvidsjaur Ryttarförening, the horses feel better from walking barefoot.
The risk of injury also decreases for both horse and human.
- It hurts much less to be trampled on if the horses do not have iron shoes, says Tea Wännman.
The equestrian association's decision has not gone unnoticed.
It has been reported to the county administrative board several times - but according to the association, their veterinarians have not had any remarks.
SLU senior lecturer: "You should not shoe horses unnecessarily"
Jenny Yngvesson is a senior lecturer in applied ethology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
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It's good if this becomes more common, you should not shoe horses unnecessarily.
But she emphasizes that the need for shoes for horses differs greatly between individuals and breeds.
Why do you think this evokes emotions?
- The horse world is very traditional and we do as we have always done.
It evokes emotions no matter what you do with horses, says Jenny Yngvesson.
Boots worth wearing
When the horses at Arvidsjaur Ryttarförening, for example, walk on gravel roads that wear more on the hooves, they do so with barefoot boots, a protection that can be compared to shoes for humans.
- The hoof has a design that evolution has carved out for millions of years.
The horse is made to walk on grass steppes and not carry riders, Jenny Yngvesson explains and continues:
- We deviate from what horses are adapted to.
And then you may need shoes or boots.