Barefoot or Shoes?

Are your horses regularly shod or do they go barefoot? Mine go barefoot. I'm lucky that way and I only light trail ride, so the horses really haven't had a need for shoes, nor have they really had any foot problems. I do find, however, that finding and keeping a good farrier that isn't burnt out is an ongoing endeavor. Often I've had to stand over watch and dictate what exactly I wanted done or there would be shortcuts taken. My farrier, Jeremiah is good and does a good job generally. He's a horseman and a good one. I have had angry, impatient farriers in the past, but I've now had Jeremiah a good few years now. Jess has fired a few farriers in her time. As well as that she has over thirty head of horses at her place now and has taken on a few convalescent old mares previously foundered that she's had to have special treatment for and as kept up have done quite well, hence the few farriers fired. Most the athletic horses are shod. Good hoof care is a must. I especially have to keep up in the spring with the mud. They tend to pick up stones and their feet must be picked out often to keep them free of painful stones. In spite of the mud I've never had a case of thrush. Summer dryness and stomping of flies brings on cracks, so it's important to mange fly control. I welcome any hoof advice or things you have learned to keeping good feet and sound horses.