🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Never seen a horseshoe like this

[Nathan W]

Is this ox or mule? And why is there a lip on the back? Just curious

 

[Trezurehunter]

If it is a horseshoe, it may have been altered for another use. That is my best guess, as I've never seen one like it either. (and I've dug a lot of horse / oxen shoes.

 

[UnderMiner]

Maybe the animal had a deformed hoof. Sometimes due to neglect the hoof will become misshapened, then a new owner will come along and try to fix it, but it takes time to fix. The owner still needs to use the animal so has it shod with a weird shaped horseshoe. That, or you piece isn't a horseshoe at all, but a horseshoe themed piece of decor, maybe a coat hook or a door knocker, many things are horseshoe themed.

 

[Nathan W]

Here's the nail holes cleared . Y'all make some good guesses for sure . There was another one so I got two of them, left one at work

 

[AU Seeker]

Definitely not an ox shoe, ox shoes are 2 pieces because oxen have cloven hooves.

 

[Almy]

It's true regular ox shoes are 2 separate pieces, one for each half of the split hoof. Ive found many of them. However, the shoe shown above does not look like it would fit a horse. Perhaps it is for an ox that has an injury or deformity that destabilized the hoof so it needed to be held together by the shoe.

 

[Sandog]

Good one. I like it when something new and different is found to make people say hmmmm.

 

[mjb Mike]

I found one very similar to that the single end was a little more curled up.Ill be watching to see if someone figures it out.

 

[mjb Mike]

Ill see if i can find it

 

[ArfieBoy]

Very interesting find. It is a bit of a puzzlement as to what it is actually for.

 

[Nathan W]

Make me wonder... maybe it's not a horseshoe at all , I did find another one just like it. Like someone said maybe a deformed hoof, what are the chances of two deformed hooves. Never know though

 

[creskol]

A gizmo from the era where nothing metal was wasted.

 

[ncsuwolf]

Im going with a set of custom horse snow skis.

 

[Nathan W]

Im going with a set of custom horse snow skis.

lol

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Donkey shoe with an ice brake or something to dig into the hill when handling heavy loads down mountain country? IDK

 

[Sandog]

Nathan, you might try to contact these folks to send a photo for possible ID.

American Farriers Journal

News, podcasts, videos, articles and more — all dedicated to horseshoeing!

www.americanfarriers.com

 

[Nathan W]

Nathan, you might try to contact these folks to send a photo for possible ID.

American Farriers Journal

News, podcasts, videos, articles and more — all dedicated to horseshoeing!

www.americanfarriers.com

Thanks I will do that

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Is this ox or mule? And

why is there a lip on the back? Just curious

I ran across a photo of this one on the internet that looks similiar.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Mule shoes are smaller, narrower, and longer than horse shoes. I’m leaning that direction. Many times they are not closed, but definitely extend rearward well beyond where they are nailed. A working shoe to distribute weight?

 

[BCSMark]

A lot of what a farrier does is corrective work. There are a thousand different shoes for different circumstances, meant to encourage a foot to grow or repair a certain way.
I’m a blacksmith by trade (not a farrier) and I went ahead though and asked a friend who is a farrier. His reply
“It could be a specially shoe for a horse that had a tenant issue or a club foot that they were trying to correct. But as finally as it’s punched and the shape of it, it may also be for a cart oxen”