Shoes may be fitted either hot or cold. If fitted cold, exactness can only be attained by the same long process that is adopted by an engineer who has to fit together two pieces of metal. All shoes have to be altered to fit a foot properly, and they cannot easily be altered cold. That exactness of fit cannot be obtained by cold fitting is amply proved by the number of loose shoes that occur when it is practised, to say nothing of the injury to horses' feet from uneven pressure. An iron shoe is easily altered when hot, and this advantage requires the accompaniment of very grave disadvantages before it can be shown that it is wrong. Counterbalancing disadvantages do not exist, and therefore all argument is in favour of hot fitting, in addition to the weight of universality of practice. Hot fitting facilitates the exactness of fit, it decreases the time necessary for fitting, it does no harm to the hoof, and it undoubtedly results in greater security of the shoe. Opponents assert that hot fitting leads to excessive burning of horn, but this is only an abuse of the method, and does not occur in the hands of a good farrier. When a skilled workman has selected a suitable shoe he heats it in the fire, compares it with the foot, alters it on the anvil, and then applies it to the hoof for a few seconds. Wherever the shoe touches the horn it leaves a mark, and thus shows all irregularities. If the horn is at fault a touch with the rasp corrects it, if the shoe is at fault it is taken back to the anvil and altered. In this way exactness of fit is soon attained and the hoof uninjured. The abuse of hot fitting takes place when a hot shoe is retained on the foot until it beds itself into the horn. There is no excuse for this practice, which is a sign of slovenly work, and may be a source of injury to the horse.

Clips are thin projections drawn from the iron of the shoe at the toe or quarters for the purpose of giving stability to the shoe when on the foot. By many persons they are looked upon as essential for the prevention of shoes shifting on the foot. On some horses, from peculiarity of gait, shoes have a tendency to shift inwards. This may be prevented by a clip on the outside of the shoe. The tendency of a foot to slip forward on a shoe is rare, and yet clips are in Britain always used on the toe of the shoe. The fact is, the toe-clip assists the farrier to fit the shoe, and it gives steadiness to it whilst the first nail or two are being-driven. Clips should not be long and narrow, but rather wide and short. They should be thin, and drawn with an inclination corresponding to the portion of wall against which they are to rest. Too often a large piece of horn is dug out of the toe to make room for the clip. This is altogether unnecessary, as all that is required is to form a level surface on the horn with a rasp, so that the clip may lie evenly and not project. When the shoe is nailed on the foot a few taps with the hammer are required to leave the clip close, but the violent hammering too often seen is dangerous, and usually due to the clip having been badly drawn.

When two side clips are used and both excessively hammered, lameness results from the pressure on the wall.