anyway i thought intactics suggestion was interesting so i did some research on what the oldest horsemanship advice is known to be, and the question of shoeing is relevant of course. here's a cool document
Approximately 1345 BCE, Kikkuli, horse-master to the Hittite [the Hittites were some of the earliest "oh my god they have horses and theyre killing everyone" peoples] king Suppililiuma, developed the first recorded plan for training and caring for horses. Many of Kikkuli's training methods are still considered sound and, in their time, they allowed the Hittites to become a mighty power rivaling Egypt.
in the instructions for caring for chariot horses Kikkuli mentions specifically a regimen of rotating exercise and conditioning involving long distance walking and running, which is key to cardiovascular conditioning but also hoof wear and toughening
as for Xenophon, this description of his treatise on horses is funniest when read from "The Hiftory and Art of Horfemanfhip" by Richard Beringer, c. 1720
IN the firft place, we will fhew how any one may be lead liable to impofition in buying an horfe. In a colt that has not yet been broken, it is plain that the Shape mud chiedy be conddered ; for, having never been backed, he can give but very uncertain figns by which to judge his temper. The fil'd part to be attended to is the Foot ; for as an horfe would be of no ufe though the upper parts were very beautiful, if the foundation were inefficient to fupport it; juft fo a war horfe would be good for no¬ thing, how much foever he excelled in all other points, if he had bad feet ; for that alone would difable him from ufmg his other advantages.
so in my view it is impossible an overgrown horse would be known as anything but a cull, an accident, or a case of neglect in any horse culture after the Hittites certainly but probably before as well, as their views of horse feet were apparently the same as our own.
