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 The Story on Horseshoes and Why They Are Needed
Horses need shoes to protect their feet. Most breeds of horses have hooves that are not strong enough to stand different environments. Working on a farm all day long can be taxing on a horses feet. Walking through mud, dust, water, and grass have different effects on the foot. Foot infections and parasites are a common problem for horses. When a horse cuts its foot, infection can quickly invade the body and kill the horse. This is not what farmers and horse breeders are looking for in a reliable horse. But where did horseshoes come from?
No one really knows for sure who invented the first horseshoe. But it is evident that many societies noticed that horses were dying off too quickly from disease and injured feet. The Romans devised a shoe that was leather and cloth. It hugged
the hoof and was tied down with leather straps that people used for their own sandals. Later on, with the use of iron, many cultures decided to make shoes that would last a long time and protect the horses feet from stones, sticks and other sharp objects that could harm the horse. During the crusades, horseshoes were made during battles to keep the horses feet from giving out. Ironsmiths were the heroes of many battles that might have been lost, if not for their smithing abilities. The iron horseshoe was invented sometime in the 1600s. But it wasnt until the 1800s when the iron horseshoe was patented and mass-produced.
Ironsmiths used to cast one shoe at a time in the 1600 and 1700s. However, this was laborious work and they could not keep up with the demand. Iron was also valuable and recycled after a horse died. The horseshoes were melted down and recast into new shoes. The same happened with the nails they used to keep the shoe on the horse. In some countries, many iron horseshoes were used as currency. By the mid-1800s automation was in its infancy. The first massed-produced horseshoes were sold in Boston. A patent soon followed. Gone were the days of waiting weeks for a pair of horseshoes. A horse was taken in for a fitting and by the next day, had some new shoes. This made horse labor more attractive because less time was needed to fit a horse for some shoes. This also saved a few horses from an early death because they had new shoes sooner, which prevented injury and death.
Even now, horses still wear horseshoes. Horseshoes will always be needed. These days since machinery is used to most farm labor that horses used to perform, many horses are used for racing or in circuses or zoos. Some people own horses to ride. But they still need a pair of reliable shoes that will protect their feet from the harsh conditions of the ground. If a horse does get a wound on its foot, the horse might be put down because it will develop an infection. This is unfortunate since lots of money goes in to horse buying.
Horseshoes have a few other uses besides protecting the feet of horses. It is considered good luck to hang a horseshoe over the front door of a house. Since iron was so valuable a long time ago, it was said that it brought luck and prosperity to those who possessed it. This superstition still exists today, although most people have horseshoe charm bracelets or smaller horseshoes to hang on the walls. Another use for horseshoes is pitching them. A metal spike is placed thirty or forty feet away. People take turns pitching horseshoes to see who can get the horseshoe around the spike. It is a very popular lawn game that has tuned into a national competition. There are many chapters of horseshoe throwers across the United States. The game is simple, challenging, and fun.
Horseshoes serve many purposes, even though the main purpose is still to protect the horses feet from objects that might injure it. Horses are beautiful creatures that need to be sheltered from disease and dangerous items that can cause serious injury or death. Buying a good set of horseshoes is an investment that will last a long time.
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