As a rule of thumb, heavy horses need thicker shoes. In some cases, stamped shoes should be favoured simply because of the superior wearing qualities. Lighter horses (e.g. Thoroughbreds) can be shod with thinner and lighter, generally fullered shoes. In some cases one may even be able to use aluminium rather than steel.

Horses in light to medium work or horses that mainly train on soft surfaces (dressage horses, racehorses), are shod with thin 8 mm (5/16 inch) horseshoes; this also permits the use of finer nails. Conversely, horses in heavy use, and driving horses that are often worked on hard ground need 10 mm (3/8, 7/16 inch) shoes with the corresponding stronger nails.