The great horseshoe controversy

March 5, 2006 7:41 PM

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.
posted by 445supermag (13 comments total)

Cool post.
posted by poorlydrawnplato at 8:04 PM on March 5, 2006

When I see an upsidedown horseshoe I always feel a need to fix it. Did anyone have fastnachts for Fastnacht Day?
posted by roboto at 8:07 PM on March 5, 2006

They have to be points up.
It matters. (The luck will run out.)
posted by unrepentanthippie at 8:13 PM on March 5, 2006

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.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:28 PM on March 5, 2006

Got my fastnachts hot from the oven this year and all my horshoes are hung points up. We're Dutchie like that.
posted by jrossi4r at 8:39 PM on March 5, 2006

"U" as in luck, is how I remember it.
posted by gubo at 8:42 PM on March 5, 2006

Colonel Potter told Radar that the horseshoe must point up or the luck runs out, so that's how I always do it.
posted by slogger at 8:49 PM on March 5, 2006

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."
posted by Tarn at 8:53 PM on March 5, 2006

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.
posted by mrmojoflying at 5:21 AM on March 6, 2006

Farriers -- or horseshoers -- hang horseshoes upside down so that the luck runs out onto their anvils.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:45 AM on March 6, 2006

Farriering is a rough gig.
posted by shoepal at 7:53 AM on March 6, 2006

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.
posted by blink_left at 1:46 PM on March 6, 2006

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.
posted by roboto at 3:06 AM on March 7, 2006