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Horseshoe

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
A close-up of a horseshoe against a gray background.

What is a Horseshoe?

A horseshoe is a special piece of metal that helps protect a horse’s foot. It is placed on the bottom of the hoof to keep it safe and strong. Horseshoes are made from materials like steel and aluminium. Steel shoes are very strong and last a long time. Aluminium shoes are lighter and are often used when horses race.

Why Do Horses Need Shoes?

Horses sometimes need shoes to protect their feet from getting hurt. When horses live in wet places or don’t move around much, their hooves can get soft and hurt. Shoes help keep their feet safe, especially when they carry heavy riders or ride on tricky ground.

Who Puts on the Shoes?

A special worker called a farrier puts shoes on horses. Farriers take care of a horse’s feet and pick the right shoe for each horse. They make sure the shoes fit well and do not hurt the horse.

Fun Facts About Horseshoes

Horseshoes are also used in a fun game called horseshoes. People throw small metal shoes close to a stick to score points. Horseshoes are also thought to bring good luck. Many people hang horseshoes on doors to bring good luck to their homes.

Pictures

An ancient Gallo-Roman horseshoe known as a hipposandal, displayed at the Musee d'Ermont in France.
Historical horseshoes from the eleventh to the nineteenth century, showing how their size changed over time.
A protective boot for a horse's hoof, used instead of a horseshoe.
A special horseshoe invented by Chinese laborers to help horses walk on soft river soil in Sacramento, California.
A horseshoe hung on a door for good luck.

Keep exploring

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Horseshoe, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.