topic Re: Horseshoes? in The Round Table

Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 10:55:19 GMT

OK then, where's the horse experts?

Anyone know anything about temporary horseshoes? I'm talking about pre-19th century.

They were in two parts, pivoted (riveted) at the front so they could be opened/closed, they had thinner metal "grippers" at the sides to grip around the hoof and there was a bit sticking out at the back with a couple of holes in.

Now were those holes for a bolt (& nut?) or for a rivet to tighten and hold the shoe around the hoof?

The one I've been looking at had "projections" on the bottom side which would have been on the ground, presumably those might have been spikes (before they've been worn down?) to prevent slipping on muddy (or icy?) ground?

Were they intended for use on hard (or icy) ground when most horses were unshod or were they for use when a shod horse had shed a shoe?

Any ideas?

Re: Horseshoes?

fallen-archie — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 13:13:07 GMT

Sorry CD I haven’t got a clue? I am sure that Creeky will know,

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:37:06 GMT

Not the faintest idea but if you post a picture I can ask Freddie, our farrier, the next time he visits.

When modern horseshoes are fitted there are different nails that can be used - road nails stand proud of the base of the shoe and can have tungsten tips. The ‘bumps’ are to give horses a better grip on tarmac surfaces.

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 15:44:07 GMT

I wonder if the one you describe could have been for use when the horses hoof has been damaged and shoes can’t be nailed on until the hoof has regrown.

This type of shoe is still available but they are made of hard wearing plastic.

Re: Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 18:21:49 GMT

The one I've been looking at is reputed to be 17th century. It has quite a story if true.

However, it's certainly pretty old and the "studs" on the bottom are now square making me wonder if they were more spiked when first made.

It's quite clearly made to be temporarily fitted (clamped on) instead of being nailed on.

Re: Horseshoes?

fargvs — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 20:21:15 GMT

@cee-dee

Long time since working with (Farm) horses but what you describe are probably temporary shoes for working on hard ,slippery ground. They would have had a lip at front and sides and downwards facing 'lugs' at the rear of shoe with square holes into which were hammered 'cogs' (''Studs'') (flattened chisel like spikes) to give additional traction ... Dray horses in towns/cities may have had them fitted for cobbled or tarmaced roads.

Re: Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:10:11 GMT

There's no "lip" at the front, there are curved serrated (castellated?) sides which are curved around the side of the shoe and also curve "inwards" to grip around the hoof. There's no square holes. The downward facing projections are square and (obviously) rivetted in to the shoe.

The size doesn't seem to be as big as a cart-horse hoof even when "opened out".

I'll have to post a pic next week.

Re: Horseshoes?

fargvs — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 22:23:09 GMT

No more suggestions except that many regional Smithys had their own individual designs and adaptions for horseshoes.... a picture would help.

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Fri, 13 Sep 2019 22:29:09 GMT

Sounds very much like the modern plastic equivalent

Re: Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 08:25:49 GMT

Imagine that made of Iron and the shoe made in two halves, loose riveted at the "front" so that the two halves can pivot. Then, each half continued at the "back" and bent out with two holes for either a bolt or rivet to hold it all on when it's been closed around the hoof.

Re: Horseshoes?

astrologica — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 08:52:16 GMT

Poor horses.☹️ I can't imagine what their feet must feel like. I'm not a horsey

person, so I know nothing about them. Horses scare me a bit, but I love their beauty and grace. Why do they have to wear shoes anyway? I think Creeky is a horsey person? No doubt he will enlighten me?😀

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 09:27:44 GMT

The base of the horses foot constantly grows - imagine your toes curled under your foot so that you are walking on your toenails.

In the wild horses obviously aren’t shod but generally they move mostly on softer ground - the hooves wear down at roughly the same rate as the hoof grows.

Deno and Posh, our two older rescues, don’t wear shoes as they only occasionally walk on hard ground but the other two do go out, so to protect their feet they are shod.

If the hoof wears down too much then it exposes the tender part of the foot and can make a horse lame very quickly - it’s easy to imagine how painful it can be for them if you think of sanding off your toe nails then putting your whole weight on the exposed tender skin.

Shoes are also sometimes fitted for remedial purposes. The hoof can sometimes quite naturally get a vertical split in them or become misshapen - special shoes can be fitted to hold them together and help them heal.

Shoes also give horses better grip which makes it safer for the rider. Done by an experienced farrier fitting shoes does not cause the horse any discomfort.

Re: Horseshoes?

astrologica — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:24:45 GMT

Thank you Creeky, for that excellent explanation! I always felt sorry for horses, having nails hammered into their feet..but obviously they can't feel that!

That first sentence....I don't have to imagine that..I suffer from that condition..😫..and surgery is on the not too distant horizon.

Well done for looking after your horses so well, even though you won't want praise for it as it's the correct thing to do. Twice a week, I pick up my great granddaughter from nursery, and on the way there and back, I pass a patch of waste ground. There are always horses tethered there (belonging to the 'traveller' community) and it almost brings me to tears. They are fed, but that's about it. They look pitiful. My little one loves to see them, but she doesn't understand yet that they should be better looked after. I recently signed a petition to ban tethering, so I hope that does some good. Not holding my breath.

Re: Horseshoes?

**bustysbargains** — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 15:21:40 GMT

Personally I don't think banning tethering should happen as there are necessaties for it. If you bann completely then in the case of the travellers you would be denying their chose of how they wish to live. What could be done is bring in certain laws where standards of care should be reached and monitor it to make sure they are followed. We as house occupiers have to live within a law framework so should travellers.
I don't believe it is the tethering itself at fault it is the reasons behind it, how long for etc that needs addressing.

As for shoeing then creeky's explanation seems spot on.
A horse needs shoeing for most activities outside their norm. I.e. working, raceing, tracking on roads etc.

Re: Horseshoes?

**bustysbargains** — Sat, 14 Sep 2019 15:23:42 GMT

Trekking

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Sun, 15 Sep 2019 17:55:32 GMT

Horseshoes aren’t needed when you are just having the grass cut!

Re: Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:46:21 GMT

Re: Horseshoes?

astrologica — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 11:02:36 GMT

CeeDee...did you post pictures? I have only blank spaces....🤔

Re: Horseshoes?

cee-dee — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:02:13 GMT

Oh heck, pics are showing here though. Just checked on my other computer (Win 7) and not signed in and they're showing there too.

Re: Horseshoes?

upthecreekyetagain — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 14:10:38 GMT

Blank at this end 😞