"You can go harder," Zoe suggests, referring to the hoof-pick, standing by the horse's nose and stroking it idly. "They don't feel as strongly there as you or I would. He walks on it all day, after all. Like somebody who never wears shoes get stronger soles."

Horseshoes didn't really count, after all, they didn't protect the whole hoof.

"Promise I ain't foolin', though. Born and work on an honest-to-god spaceship. Also, spent several years in a war, so yeah, pretty familiar with guns. Brought two with me, though gettin' new ammo for 'em has been tricky."