Looking back in history, shoes were shaped much differently than what we consider the “traditional” rim shoe. From the recovery of many medieval horseshoes it is evident that they were wider and offered good support to the sole. Though early shoe smithing and farriery is well documented, there is little reference to the foot related problems that we see today. It must be noted that the rim shoe was developed during the industrial revolution, not so much as a benefit to the horse, but as a cost benefit to owners and farriers through mass production. Advances in steel production made it easy to turn out rim shoe blanks to be formed and fitted by the farrier. The farrier no longer needed to employ a forge full of shoe smiths to keep him supplied with shoes.