When did they invent horseshoes?
Since the early history of domestication of the horse, it was noted that working animals were exposed to many conditions that created breakage or excessive hoof wear. Ancient people recognized the need for the walls (and sometimes the sole) of domestic horses’ hooves to have additional protection over and above any natural hardness. Because iron was a valuable commodity, and any worn out items were generally melted down and reused, it is difficult to locate clear archaeological evidence of the earliest horseshoes. [3] From archaeological finds in Great Britain, it appears that the Romans appear to have attempted to protect their horses’ feet with a strap-on, solid-bottomed “hipposandal” that has a slight resemblance to the modern hoof boot,[4] and earlier people may have used rawhide boots or other wrappings to protect horse’s feet. The nailed shoe was a relatively late invention. According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911), “Though the ancients were sufficiently i
