Horseshoes are not hot when put onto the hoof. "Hot shoeing",also "hot setting" and "hot fitting," is where the farrier willtake a hot shoe and touch it to the horse's hoof for a very, verybrief moment, but he does not put it on that way. The purpose for"hot fitting" is to make a smooth surface for the future shoe. Thispractice has many advantages, including the prevention of the hoofdrying out or getting too moist. Horseshoes are cooled beforeapplied to a horse hoof,though.