Can you help me?

[arobfeds21]

Hi all,

Found this today in Northern VA near the Potomac River. Clearly it is a horseshoe, but I'm curious as to how old it is? How would a horseshoe like this break? Any help is appreciated.

 

[smokeythecat]

Cleaning it up a bit would help. I find half horseshoes all the time. They always seem to break at the "top".

 

[arobfeds21]

Any tips for cleaning it? I've soaked it in hot water and have lightly scrubbed it and its not really changing the appearance.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Apple Cider Vinegar soak / 48-hours. But don't bother. Shoe is probably from the late 1800s, most likely from a plow horse. The end design and trough are identifiers. Google or Bing horseshoes and their use through time. Oxen shoes and Mule shoes are also common.

 

[villagenut]

sounds like electrolysis may be a bit much for you...although I think you could do it, try soaking it in Apple Cider Vinegar for a week or so and beat it with a hammer. You will see some improvement but dont expect anything too fantastic....not much to see.But I do keep my horseshoes, even the halves.

 

[smokeythecat]

I use one of two methods. First to give it a bath in "iron Out", sold at the big box hardware store to remove iron rust stains. "Zud" will also work. Use a plastic bucket, put the item and some of the cleaner in and add hot water. Do it outside, don't let animals or children or such near it, stuff is corrosive. Let it wait a few days, then take a 2 ounce tack hammer and after washing well, knock the loose rust off. You can manually remove most of the rust.

2nd method, called the shortcut, heat in a campfire and then douse it. Can be hazardous but the quick contracting a lot of times will let the rust flake off. Then use the tack hammer to finish it.

Both methods of course have to be done outside.

 

[BosnMate]

If a horse is left shod too long, the shoe will wear in two at the toe. Or, in real rocky country the shoe can wear in two in less than 6 weeks. Just depends. Also, I've seen old shoes recycled as coat and hat hooks, gun racks, trivets and made into gate hinges. Again, just depends. Hard to age date a horse shoe. I've made and nailed on hand made shoes, all sorts of corrective shoes, so what some people use to date shoes as really being old are used still today.

 

[sutphin]

OLD HOSS SHOE