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Horseshoes,  Anyone?

by Kathy Gudnason

Ever wonder why you see horseshoes hung over a doorframe?

St. Dunstan (10^th century) was a blacksmith before becoming an Archbishop.  While working in his shop one day he had a visit from the devil.  Now St. Dunstan knew who his customer was and went to work on that cloven hoof.  He made the devil promise never again enter a place where a horseshoe hangs.

Of course the horseshoe must always be hung with its points upwards or the devil will enter.  As everyone knows,  the devil travels in circles and upon entering the shoe his travels will be interrupted,  thus causing him to reverse direction.

Horseshoes hung over stable doors are to prevent evil spirits from entering and riding your horses during the night,  tiring them and making them useless for work the next day. Gee, I have a 2yr old that needs some work!

In the belief that a horseshoe could help prevent storms and shipwrecks,  even Lord Nelson had a horseshoe nailed to the mast of his ship, Victory. Horseshoes should be standard equipment on all car bumpers.

Other interesting beliefs about horseshoes include:

• If a man is impotent,  he should write a charm on an old horseshoe,  then have a blacksmith heat the shoe and dip it into a pail of water.  Every morning thereafter for a week,  he is to drink this water before breakfast.  At the end of the week his virility will return.

• To cure whooping cough in a child,  have them eat off a wooden plate branded with a horseshoe.

• If you are lucky enough to find a horseshoe on the road,  pick it up,  spit on it while making a wish and throw it over your left shoulder. Just don’t get run over doing it!

• To be double lucky,  horseshoes should have seven holes, four on one side and three on the other.

Horses themselves have also been the subject of many superstitions,  some being:

• If a horse comes out of the stable with its right foot first,  all will be well. Should it come out with it’s left foot,   watch out. And if they come out on their hind legs just get out of the way!

• To guard against the evil eye,  horse brasses were introduced. These were often shaped as crescent moons,  the sun,  or as hearts.

• To keep evil spirits away,  just braid ribbon in your horses’ tail. Mind you that might also take care of all your trail buddies too.

• Always check when leaving home that there are no white horses lurking about. If you have the misfortune of meeting one,  spit on the ground. I have no idea why,  just do it!

• They say to change the name of a horse is to change its luck.

Horses have always found their way into medicine too. Placing horsehair around the neck will cure goiter.  Better yet,  add them to a sandwich,  and they’ll cure worms in your children.  In a pinch they can be used like dental floss. But never leave horsehair in water,  be it in a trough,  as it will turn into eels.

And last but not least ...

In some parts of Europe and Britain,  belief exists in a special class of horse handlers known as "whisperers." They use a special word to tame and train horses, whispering it in their charges ears. This word is a closely guarded secret. Want to bet the word is "dogfood."  What do you think?

Kathy Gudnason is a  freelance writer and pedigree researcher. Many thanks for her humorous contribution on horseshoe lore.  She can be reached at Box 478,  Winnipeg Beach, MB R0C 3G0,  CANADA  Email: Primelines@hotmail.com or Impact@ecn.mb.ca  Phone:  (204) 389-3611