Comments on: The great horseshoe controversy

The great horseshoe controversy

445supermag — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 19:41:32 -0800

The stranger asked to see the shoe; The farmer brought it into view; But when the old man raised his head, He laughed outright and quickly said: "No wonder skies upon you frown, You've nailed the horse-shoe upside down; Just turn it round, and soon you'll see How you and Fortune will agree. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out). Some think this controversy has precedes superstitious Pennsylvanian farmers. And lets not get started with hex signs.

By: poorlydrawnplato

poorlydrawnplato — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:04:44 -0800

Cool post.

By: roboto

roboto — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:07:06 -0800

When I see an upsidedown horseshoe I always feel a need to fix it. Did anyone have fastnachts for Fastnacht Day?

By: unrepentanthippie

unrepentanthippie — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:13:04 -0800

They have to be points up. It matters. (The luck will run out.)

By: Ynoxas

Ynoxas — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:28:58 -0800

I don't think I've ever given it any thought before, but I've seen it more often points up. A notable usage is the Horseshoe Casino.

By: jrossi4r

jrossi4r — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:39:53 -0800

Got my fastnachts hot from the oven this year and all my horshoes are hung points up. We're Dutchie like that.

By: gubo

gubo — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:42:51 -0800

"U" as in luck, is how I remember it.

By: slogger

slogger — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:49:09 -0800

Colonel Potter told Radar that the horseshoe must point up or the luck runs out, so that's how I always do it.

By: Tarn

Tarn — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 20:53:54 -0800

Lord Rutherford had a horseshoe over his door. People said to him, "How can you, an eminent physicist, possibly believe that a horseshoe will bring you good luck?" He replied, "Of course I don't believe it; but I'm told it works even if you don't believe it."

By: b1tr0t

b1tr0t — Sun, 05 Mar 2006 21:09:41 -0800

I wonder if the horseshoe as good luck charm meme was started by blacksmiths marketing their product, or by horsemen? Like any new technology, there must have been early adopters who clearly understood the benefits of equipping their horses with horseshoes. There would also have been horseshoe-luddites that preferred to keep thier equine feet naked. Clearly, the horseshoe brings the most good luck when four of them are attached to the bottom of a horse...

By: mrmojoflying

mrmojoflying — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 05:21:26 -0800

I wonder if the horseshoe as good luck charm meme was started by blacksmiths marketing their product, or by horsemen? Heh...my mother's parents were old-school Pennsylvania Deutsch farmers. The only type of horseshoe they would hang would be the ones that have worn out beyond their value. Those people are thrifty folk.

By: MonkeyToes

MonkeyToes — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 06:45:24 -0800

Farriers -- or horseshoers -- hang horseshoes upside down so that the luck runs out onto their anvils.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 07:53:28 -0800

Farriering is a rough gig.

By: blink_left

blink_left — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 13:46:51 -0800

I was told to mount them prong up, then tilt it a bit. This is so the shoe filling with luck would spill a bit before full, so as to not be greedy and take all the luck.

By: roboto

roboto — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 03:06:07 -0800

Farriering is a rough gig. And how! Smart enough to learn the myriad tricks of metallurgy and veterinarian podiatry, strong enough to do the heavy lifting, and human enough to communicate with a distressed horse. Cool people! I didn't get any fastnachts in me belly this year, but I celebrated in my own way, just the same. I did enjoy pork, sauerkraut, apples, & potatoes for New Years Day though.