60/672/1

This horseshoe is intended to prevent ‘brushing’ – when the horse strikes the inside of one leg with another. One wing ends in a ‘caulk’ (a protrusion at the toe or heel of a shoe which provides additional traction), while the other tapers to a wedge. Both wings are fullered, and the shoe has six nail holes. It is part of a large collection of traditional craft products acquired from the British Council in 1960. Its origin is not known.

1 horseshoe: metal

MERL miscellaneous note, B. L. 22 March 1961 – ‘The British Council collection. // This collection of material which is covered by the accession numbers 60/430 to 60/791 contains examples of craft products made in the British Isles. The major part of the collection was prepared immediately after the Second World War for a travelling exhibition which was sent to Australia and New Zealand. // The collection was purchased for a nominal sum by the Museum in two portions, the one in the summer of 1960 and the other in February 1961. // For further details see the individual catalogue cards and the catalogue prepared for the temporary exhibition of the collection.’, MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Three examples of brushing shoes. // 1. One wing has a flange which increases in height to the rear. On the flange wing are four nail holes; the opposite grooved wing has three. It is 6 in. long and 5 in. wide. // 2. This example also has a flange, but this is much lower than that shown in (1) above. A grooved section extends from the end of the flange across the leading edge and down the opposite wing. In this groove are all six nail holes. It is 6 in. long and 5 in. wide. // 3. The third shoe also has a flange of similar dimensions to (2) above. The opposite wing only is grooved and contains four nail holes. At the leading portion of the flange are two larger square nail holes. Length 5 3/4 in. x 5 1/4 in. breadth. // The origin of these shoes is not stated.’, British Council Ref. No. Not known.