Hoof wall thickness and quality determine which nail size and which nail type are used. Correspondingly, the horseshoe must have matching holes. Thin or damaged hoof walls require fine nails and/or a type of nail with a finer shank (JC nails). Finer nails generally require light 8 mm shoes.

In case of doubt, if a horseshoe seems rather thin for the use to which the horse is being put, but the wall will not support nails any thicker, then one should opt for the thinner shoe. In order to reduce wear and thus to prolong the shoe’s period of use, one can strengthen the ground surface of the horseshoe with hard metal brazing (steeling / hard surfacing). The use of nails that are too coarse in order to be able to attach a thicker horseshoe could lead to damage to the hoof wall.