Why do horses need shoes?
The type of horseshoe needed can vary from breed to breed (Picture: Getty)  This summer will see the return of many major racing events, with the Epsom Derby taking place this weekend. Things got off to a rainy start at Epsom, with the traditional Ladies day hampered by showers and downpours. But race fans were more than happy to brave the weather, with 4,000 guests allowed back into the famous Surrey racetrack. The reason why horses wear shoes can vary depending on the horses health, activity levels, and the surroundings in which they are kept. The use of horseshoes can be dated back to Roman times (Picture: Getty)  The main reason is to protect their hooves, as they often come into regular contact with rough and uneven surfaces, particularly when bred for racing. Horseshoes are essential to ensuring horses do not damage their natural hooves, reducing the risk of injury on any surface they come into contact with. The first use of horseshoes can be dated back over 2000 years ago, as it appears the Romans were the first to fit pads to the bottom of horses feet. The concept of a nailed-on shoe seems to first appear around 500-600 AD, and was deemed necessary when considering the work demands and the ground on which the horses walked on. Horseshoes are typically made of steel or aluminum and are attached by nailing the shoe to the horses hoof. These metals are used because they are sturdy and maintain their shape, but the style of the horseshoe can vary depending on the breed of the horse. The image of hot metal being nailed to a horses hoof does make it look as though the experience of having a shoe attached would be a painful one. But it is actually a completely pain-free process for the animal, as the tough part of a horses hoof doesnt contain any nerve endings  think of it as a similar sensation to trimming your nails. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video  This year has already seen the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National take place in March and April respectively, but there are plenty more races to look forward to across the rest of the year. The Epsom Derby is taking place this weekend, starting on June 4 and continuing across June 5. Here are other major racing events to look forward to:  Royal Ascot, Ascot, Surrey: June 15-19  Eclipse Summer Festival, Sandown Park, Surrey: July 2-3  The King George Weekend, Ascot, Surrey: July 23-24  Glorious Goodwood, Goodwood, Sussex: July 27-31  Ebor Festival, York, Yorkshire: August 18-21  St. Leger Festival, Doncaster, Yorkshire: September 8-11  British Champions Day, Ascot, Surrey: October 16  MORE : Horse with a very long face gets stuck between trees  MORE : The best home entertainment systems to watch all the unmissable sports this summer  Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram  Share your views in the comments below