Trouble Shoes bears some conceptual similarity to G1 Woebegone and some similarities to a real Clydesdale horse. According to Shoes' voice actor Jim Miller, Trouble Shoes is the largest pony designed for the television series; his size does not appear to surpass that of Steel Buns, and he shares his body design with "Hammerhead McColt" and Rockhoof. Trouble Shoes as a colt was designed by Kora Kosicka. Miller's performance as Trouble Shoes was influenced by Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh and Karl Childers from Sling Blade.