Horseshoes are iron hoof-shaped objects nailed to the hooves of horses, mules and other livestock. Horse hooves are made of two layers. The layer that contacts the ground is a layer of hard keratin about 2-3 cm thick, and the layer above is living keratin. Horse hooves contact the ground and are quickly rubbed off by the ground and corroded by stagnant water. The main purpose of nailing horseshoes is to delay the wear of horseshoes. The use of horseshoes not only protects the horse's hooves, but also makes the horse's hooves grip the ground more firmly, which is very beneficial for riding and driving.
About horseshoe
The common horseshoe was made of iron, fairly light, with a nail hole punched through one side. The edge of the horseshoe was often contoured, with the two loose ends bent into a non-slip spike. Together with the nail head, it protruded as on medieval horseshoes, giving the hoof a firm footing on the ground. This type of horseshoe was used until the Middle Ages. But flatter and heavier horseshoes were also used from Roman times, and became the most common style in the Middle Ages thereafter. In Roman society, the peculiar "horse sandal" (hipposandal) was also common. It was a smooth iron disk bent into a loop at each end. It was obviously tied to the horse's hoof, no doubt to protect it. A few "horse sandals" had spikes to help the horse grip the ground. It was probably used on cobbled or other rough ground. From the "stiletto sandal" used for cattle to the use of a clasp shoe, it lasted for a long time with little change. However, horseshoes were not universally used, and a large number of livestock were not shod. The binding of horseshoes is to use nails to fix the horseshoes on the horny skin of the horse's hoof, that is, the "horseshoe" is cast into shape, and then placed under the horse's foot, and then hammered and nailed, this thick iron nail is nailed into the sole of the horse's foot, and the barb of the iron nail is used to fix it on the horse's ankle to prevent it from falling off. The modern method is to lock it with screws. This is permanent, so if the horseshoe is worn, it is generally difficult to remove it and make a new one. At most, a new layer of fixing is added underneath.
Material
The material of horseshoe is low carbon steel, which is what ordinary people call ordinary iron (metal). In the earliest times, it was made by hand by blacksmiths. With the progress and development of the times, the product has evolved from being used in pastoral areas to being used in equestrian competitions. The materials include aluminum alloy, etc.
Meaning of horseshoe
In many countries, it is common to nail horseshoes on the door of your home. Never remove the horseshoes. In this way, you will be lucky for as many years as the horseshoes you nail exist. And. It is best if your horseshoes are given by others, not bought by yourself. So why do horseshoes bring luck? Because, since ancient times, horseshoes are closely related to three things related to luck: horses, iron and crescent shapes. Horses are worshiped as magical animals. Since primitive society, iron has been considered a symbol of luck. When humans learned to make weapons with iron, they found that iron was very useful in attacking and fighting. So it is not difficult to understand why humans use iron as a weapon for self-defense. All over the world, iron is regarded as a lucky thing to fight against demons, ghosts and evil forces. Anything made of iron can be used as a weapon. It is said that the Irish once believed that misfortune would never happen to blacksmiths. In addition, horseshoes can be heated and reused, so many ancient philosophers regarded fire as a symbol of refinement and sublimation in spirit, just as the word means. However, among these symbolic meanings, the most powerful one is probably the crescent shape of the horseshoe. The horseshoe is like a crescent moon, which symbolizes the creators of life and great mother images, such as Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of fertility and reproduction. So nailing a horseshoe to the door is to use the powerful force of life to fight against the power of death.
