Before Tractors

BrianRBM · Nov 11, 2019

...these shoes were on horses for agricultural help. The large shoe is probably for a work horse but the smaller one has me baffled. I don't think they are for harness horses (may use aluminum) but may for the younger horses. But why does the smaller shoe have metal added to the toe and ends or was someone just messing with these. I got about a dozen of them at an auction and most have the added metal. I'm sure somebody here knows. Thanks.

wjytexas · Nov 11, 2019

Borium added for better wear. Left hind saddle or buggy horse probably. The toe is squared so if the horse overreached it would tear up it'b front legs.

Janicholson · Nov 11, 2019

Riding horses were routinely shod. In the winter, the presence of hard grit like caulks (raised spots on heel or toe or both) could make a broken leg from ice much less likely. Jim

jon f mn · Nov 11, 2019

After dad retired he took up farming with horses and his favorite teams were the two small teams of mustangs he got from Nebraska. They couldn't pull as much in a dead pull as his other horses, but they would out work them all day just because of better stamina. When he plowed he hooked 4 horses to a two bottom plow and the mustangs would do the same work as the larger horses in that case but for twice as long between rests.

Deere Mark · Nov 11, 2019

Because smooth steel provides very poor traction on a paved surface. Horseshoe Borium? Hard Facing Gas Welding Rod is used.

John in Mich · Nov 11, 2019

Interesting pictures and information for a non-horse person. My father and his brothers grew up using horses. My grandfather would not allow a tractor on the farm because of the early flip overs.
One story he used to tell was about the poor farmer who needed his one horse shod but could not afford the $30. So, the Ferrier said that for the 32 nails he would do the first one for a penny, the second one for double the first plus a penny, the third one for double the 2nd one plus a penny and so on doubling the previous nail plus a penny for the 32 nails. Good deal?

Wheat47 · Nov 11, 2019

Yes, the shoes are "hard faced" with dimples for tractions.
An Amish blacksmith explained that to me.
Some years ago I made a similar set for a feedlot cowboy.
I made the dimple about 3/8 in. or so high.
They were so his horse wouldn't slip on the ice.
He said they worked fine.

johndeere720GA · Nov 11, 2019

For the farrier, yes. For the farmer, no. Farrier didn't need to add an extra penny after the doubling, he was just being greedy.
$32,212,254.72 (total) for the straight doubling for 32 iterations. Or $64,424,509.42 (total) For the Doubling plus a penny per iteration.
Either way he would have likely owned the farm.

Paul from MI · Nov 11, 2019

So that's the reason our Amish horses are tearing up our asphalt roads. Real problem here in southern Michigan.

jeffcat · Nov 11, 2019

Yes those caulks screw into the shoes. Was usually for big horses but animals on sleighs would sometimes have them. That is pretty nifty using hardened weldrod. Also can beat up asphalt roads too. That is why my state outlawed stud tires. They SURE do work. Just don't hit the gas too hard. Can leave canal boat deep groves at stop lights by the spring.

Kansas4010 · Nov 12, 2019

How about this one.

72supr · Nov 12, 2019

Found this a few years ago.I was told these were called grass caulks.

Before Tractors

BrianRBM

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wjytexas

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Janicholson

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jon f mn

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Deere Mark

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John in Mich

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Wheat47

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johndeere720GA

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Paul from MI

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jeffcat

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Kansas4010

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72supr

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