I saw your post on that other site Cowboy, and thanks for the invite over here.
Personally I run my appy gelding barefoot all the time. There has been alot of research into what is best for a horses hoof in the last 30 years or so, and there have been some awesome conclusions reached. There are several groups involved now in trying to get as much information out there as possible for horse owners, farriers, and Veterinarians. There isn't alot of teaching done in either of these fields regarding the inner structures of the hoof as a general rule, and this needs to change.
I could ramble on about it, but that would take forever. I could post some links if you guys want to check it out for yourselves.
I started down this road only recently, so I do not know everything. There are several different methods in use, and I do not know enough about any to say that one is better than another. But it has changed the way I look at my horses hooves, and his well-being. There is more to it than just a pedicure.