THE HISTORY OF HORSESHOES

        

    It's 1847 and you have to make a trip to the farrier (horseshoe maker), because your horse is in need of new horseshoes. On the way there, as you walk on the dusty dirt road, you start thinking about where these horseshoes came from, and how the farrier makes them. 

    Horseshoes first popped up around 400 BC, and were made of a variety of materials, such as rawhide, or plants. The invention of horseshoes is often credited to the Romans, who called them 'Hipposandals.' Horsemen in Asia would equip their equestrian companions with shoes made of plant materials or hide. These horseshoes were not just used to protect the horses but were also used to soothe and help the horses heal their injuries.

    In Northern Europe, where the climate was wet and cold, and it was hard for horses to get a grip on the terrain, horsemen started to nail metal horseshoes made of bronze to the horses' feet. Nailing horseshoes to the feet of horses does not hurt them, as their hooves are very dense, and do not have many pain receptors, which means that this process is relatively painless for the animal when it is performed correctly.  

    In the 13th and 14th centuries, widespread manufacturing of horseshoes took off in popularity, and by the time of the Crusades, due to the value of iron, horseshoes could be used to pay taxes instead of actual money. (Crazy, right?)

   During the industrial revolution, the production of horseshoes peaked. Many machines capable of producing these horseshoes emerged, and the mass production of horseshoes aided troops in the Civil War because it allowed for better performance on the battlefield. (Horseshoes really are much more than a lucky charm!)

    In the early 20th century, horseshoes cemented themselves as a commercial success, because of the growing popularity of horse sports.

    Nowadays, most horseshoes are made of steel, and aluminum, not iron, like they used to be made of, however aluminum seems to be the better option. According to American Equus, 

The study pointed out that horses wearing steel shoes (with weight 2.5 times heavier than aluminum) generally demonstrated greater flexion on the lower leg joints as well as an improved animation at the trot. On the other hand, horses wearing aluminum horseshoes demonstrated lower knee action and hoof flight.

    In conclusion, horseshoes are a vital part of history, and they have played a vital role in the development of Equine activities, and our history.

A Horseshoe that I found in my backyard.

Source: History of the Horseshoe (americanequus.com)