Why did man start shoeing horses?
For thousands of years in the wild, horses survived without shoes. Moreover, even domesticated animals ran without these “shoes” for a long time. We can say that from a historical point of view, horseshoeing began relatively recently. These animals were domesticated about 6 thousand years ago, but the first primitive horseshoes appeared only in the 1st millennium BC.
The first horseshoes were made of fabric, and they were not at all similar to modern ones. These were stockings that were worn on horses' legs. They began to be made from metal only in the 3rd century BC in Ancient Rome. But mass shoeing of horses in Europe began only in the Middle Ages, in the 10th century. If we talk about our ancestors, they introduced this practice in the 18th century. This happened thanks to Tsar Peter I, who carried out a blacksmith reform in Rus'.
Wild horses did not need horseshoes for two reasons. Firstly, they moved mainly on relatively soft ground. And secondly, they did not have to move weights on or behind them. In nature, hooves wear down slowly and the likelihood of injury is low.
But the life of a horse living with a person is completely different. Already in the Roman Empire, they had to move along hard paved roads, and even with a load. Under such conditions, the stratum corneum quickly wears off and very soon the animal begins to suffer painful injuries. So the horse is quickly incapacitated, no longer able to perform its functions. Moreover, in advanced cases, infections that penetrated the wounds could cause the death of the pet.
To protect horses from these misfortunes, people began to use horseshoes. Such protection not only prevents hoof injuries, but also helps in winter. Wild horses rarely encounter icy surfaces and feel very insecure in such conditions. Therefore, it is important for their domestic relatives to ensure good traction of their hooves on slippery roads, which is what horseshoes provide.
Over the past centuries, people have come up with many types of horseshoes for a variety of occasions. They are made not only from steel, but also from aluminum and even plastic. There are standard and sports (racing) options, winter, coal and even therapeutic orthopedic. Well, it is hardly possible to list all the forms of horseshoes that can be found today in different parts of the world.
And in many cultures, a horseshoe is a magical object that can bring good luck and help in various matters.