With wild horses, natural selection favors individuals with healthy, tough feet. With domestic horses, people often ignore hoof quality when choosing which horses to breed and focus exclusively on color or other cosmetic traits. Hot shoeing usually means the farrier makes the shoes from scratch in a forge, or modifies keg shoes in a forge, or heats a shoe to fit it to the hoof. Cold shoeing is when the farrier shapes and applies the shoes without heating them. Some farriers think hot fitting is better because it melts the bottom edge of the freshly trimmed hoof, sealing it against moisture and harmful organisms.
Many farriers use a combination of hot and cold shoeing techniques.
If good horseshoeing principles are followed, both methods can yield excellent results. Shoe wear is a poor gauge of when to shoe your horse. Failing to keep a schedule with a competent farrier is a major cause of hoof problems. Shoes protect the hooves and help maintain a healthy shape and balance. But shoes also prevent hooves from wearing off as they grow.