Horseshoe horseshoe is a U-shaped item made of metal or of modern synthetic materials, nailed or glued to the hooves of horses and some other draught animals. Like a shoe on a human, it is used to protect the animal's feet from wear and tear. Professional horseshoers, called farriers, usually place horseshoes on the solar (outer) surface of the hoof by nailing through the insensitive hoof wall, which is analogous anatomically to the human toenail, though much larger and thicker.