How to Choose the Right Horseshoe: Steel vs. Aluminium vs. Glue-On

Choosing the best horse shoes for your horse isn't as simple as picking what's cheapest or most popular. The right choice depends on your horse's hoof quality, the work they do, and sometimes their individual quirks. What works brilliantly for a racehorse would be entirely wrong for a heavy trail horse, and vice versa.

Understanding the differences between steel, aluminium, and glue-on horseshoes will help you have an informed conversation with your farrier and make a decision on the best horse shoes available to support your horse's soundness and performance.

The Quick Answer

• Steel shoes are the most durable and affordable, ideal for general riding and heavy work
• Aluminium shoes are lightweight and reduce fatigue, best for performance horses
• Glue-on shoes protect compromised hooves and eliminate nail damage
• Your farrier's expertise and your horse's individual needs should guide the final decision

Steel Horseshoes: The Traditional Workhorse

Steel horse shoes have been the standard for good reason. They're strong, long-lasting, and can handle just about anything you throw at them.

The advantages

Steel is incredibly durable. If your horse works on hard or rocky ground, spends long hours under saddle, or does heavy work, steel shoes will hold up far longer than the alternatives. They maintain their shape well and can be reset multiple times, which makes them cost-effective over the long term.

Farriers also find steel easier to work with in many ways. It can be hot-fitted, meaning the shoe is heated and shaped precisely to your horse's hoof, then briefly pressed against the hoof to create a perfect fit. This process isn't possible with aluminium.

The drawbacks

Weight is the main disadvantage. Steel shoes are significantly heavier than aluminium, which can increase leg fatigue over time, particularly for horses doing fast or repetitive work. Some farriers also note that steel transmits more vibration up through the leg on impact, which may contribute to joint wear in some horses.

Steel is best suited for trail horses, working horses, polo ponies, and general riding horses who need reliable protection without the premium price tag.

Aluminium Horseshoes: Built for Performance

If you've ever watched a race, you've seen aluminium horseshoes in action. They're the best horse shoes for any discipline where speed, agility, and freedom of movement matter.

The advantages

Aluminium weighs about one-third of steel, which makes a noticeable difference to how your horse moves. Lighter shoes mean less energy expended lifting each leg, reduced fatigue during long competitions, and often smoother, more elevated movement.

Many riders and trainers report that horses simply travel better in aluminium. The material also absorbs more shock than steel, which can be gentler on joints and may benefit horses with sensitivity in their lower limbs.

For show hunters, jumpers, eventers, and dressage horses, aluminium has become increasingly popular because the lighter weight can enhance the quality of movement judges are looking for.

The drawbacks

Durability is the trade-off. Aluminium wears down faster than steel, so you may find your horse needs new shoes more frequently, particularly if they work on abrasive surfaces. The shoes also can't be hot-fitted in the same way as steel, which some farriers feel affects the precision of the fit.

There's also some evidence that prolonged use of aluminium can affect hoof wall quality in certain horses, potentially making the wall softer over time. If you notice changes in your horse's hoof condition after switching to aluminium, it's worth discussing with your farrier.

Cost is higher too, both for the shoes themselves and potentially for more frequent replacements.

Glue-On Horseshoes: When Nails Aren't an Option

Glue on horse shoes has come a long way since their early days. Once considered unreliable, modern adhesives have made them a genuine solution for horses with compromised hooves.

The advantages

The biggest benefit is obvious: no nails. For horses with thin, brittle, or damaged hoof walls that won't hold nails reliably, glue-ons can be the difference between staying in work and being sidelined. They distribute pressure more evenly across the hoof wall rather than concentrating stress at nail points.

Glue-ons are particularly valuable for horses recovering from laminitis, those with chronic hoof problems, or horses who repeatedly throw shoes because their walls simply won't hold. Some horses also seem more comfortable in glue-ons, possibly because the application doesn't involve the trauma of nailing.

When a glue-on shoe comes off, it's also less likely to damage the hoof wall compared to a nailed shoe being ripped off. Some systems even have built-in fail-safes that allow the shoe to release cleanly if the horse gets caught on something.

The drawbacks

Cost is significant. Expect to pay considerably more for glue-on application, sometimes double or triple the price of traditional shoeing. The shoes themselves are more expensive, and the process takes longer, which increases labour costs.

Applying them also requires specific expertise. Not all farriers are experienced with glue-ons, and the process must be done correctly for the bond to hold. The glue needs proper curing time, typically requiring the horse to stay in a clean, dry environment for at least twelve hours after application.

For most horses with healthy hooves, glue-ons aren't necessary. They're the best horse shoes as a therapeutic option rather than a first choice.

A Quick Comparison

Feature	Steel	Aluminium	Glue-On
Durability	Excellent	Moderate	Moderate
Weight	Heavy	Light	Varies
Cost	Lowest	Mid-range	Highest
Best for	Trail, work, general	Racing, showing, jumping	Damaged hooves, therapeutic
Hot fitting	Yes	No	No
Hoof wall required	Strong	Strong	Compromised OK

Making the Right Choice: Which are the Best Horse Shoes? 

Before your farrier arrives with their tools, it helps to think about what your horse actually needs.

Consider the terrain they work on, their hoof quality, any history of lameness or sensitivity, and what discipline they're used for.

There are pros and cons of shoeing regardless of which material you choose, and what matters most is matching the shoe to your horse's individual situation. A good farrier will assess your horse's conformation, hoof condition, and workload before making recommendations. Looking for farrier tools? Find them here. 

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Understanding why a particular shoe type is suggested helps you become a better advocate for your horse's long-term soundness.