Unshod/Barefoot riders...

Lots of dressage horses are kept barefoot as they only work on a surface. You also see quite a few with just front shoes on.
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Les Sparks does endurance with barefoot horses, or did. Simon Earle trains racehorses which are unshod. Pete Ramey's missus had a working carriage horse that had never been shod. Um, can't think of others at the mo, but I'm rubbish at remembering famous names!
 
Les Sparks still does do endurance Fran! In fact there are quite a few barefoot horses on the endurance scene and barefoot horses don't seem to get looked down upon on the endurance scene (as opposed to many other types of equestrian sport). Les Sparks himself competes at many of the really long distance rides (over 100km), and I know of many barefoot horses (including my own) competing successfully at all levels - from novice through to advanced.

A friend of mine rode the 2 day Exmoor Experience at the famous Golden Horseshoe ride earlier this year, (for those of you who watch Countryfile, it was the ride that presenter Adam Henson took part in the year previously) and won a Gold award with here completely barefoot Arab mare.
 
My horse is thoroughbred, barefoot, and has very good quality hooves. He is trimmed by a 'regular' farrier who himself doesn't see any need in getting him shod.
 
endurance has a prize for barefoot horses

there a dreeage rider keeps her horses barefoot, unclipped and living out

ive also heard about that race trainer
 
My girls drive unshod on all sorts of terrain for many hours, they have no problems.
However, my girls are not famous - yet!
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