roman cavalry question

[Watchman]

The parts of Italy the Romans proper inhabited were kinda sucky for horse-raising weren't they ? (Same with most of the Greek peninsula for that matter.)

This would be the first time ever I hear of horseshoes improving the animals' load-bearing ability. All I've read of them thus far indicates they just reduce the wear on hooves when carrying loads for longer time, especially on harder surfaces, and partially protect the ceratine or whatever it now is where ground is damp and wet. (Horse hooves apparently start getting soft eventually when damp, just like fingernails do.)

[Sakkura]

All I've read of them thus far indicates they just reduce the wear on hooves when carrying loads for longer time, especially on harder surfaces, and partially protect the ceratine or whatever it now is where ground is damp and wet.

It's α-keratin