A horseshoe 10 comprises a relatively rigid insert 14 operatively connected to a sole 12. The relatively rigid 14 insert may be made of metal and is generally U-shaped. The sole 12 may be overmoulded onto the insert 14 forming a frog for protecting the sole of a hoof, and through which loads can be transmitted to a walking surface. The sole 12 comprises a central portion having a generally W-shaped lateral cross-section (76, fig.5) comprising an apex (70, fig.5) and valleys (74, 76, fig.5). When a load is applied to the sole 12 of the shoe 10 from above the apex of the W-shaped portion the sole 12 is depressed, which spreads a radially outward force onto the branches of the metal insert 14, widening the shoe 10. This expansion corresponds substantially to the natural expansion of an un-shod hoof under load. The shoe 10 may additionally have a crease (22, fig.3) comprising a plurality of radially inwardly and radially outwardly displaced notches (24, 26, fig.3) for positioning nail heads at different radial and circumferential positions. The sole 12 may further comprise a glue/cushioning retaining lip 42.
