Generally, riding horses are shod with steel horseshoes. Aluminium shoes are mainly used for racehorses due to their low weight. For competition purposes, endurance horses also tend to be shod with shoes made from special aluminium-magnesium alloys; these are very wear-resistant when compared to simple aluminium shoes. In addition to the weight advantage, the slightly softer nature of the alloy compared to steel provides better slip-resistance on hard ground.

Shoes made from synthetic material have superior shock absorbing and anti-slipping qualities. However they have yet to find widespread use in the field. Preventing their wider use is the comparatively low abrasion resistance, the limited extent to which they can be shaped to fit a hoof and the difficulties with their secure attachment and lastly the price of the shoe.