Expert: Irulan Serena - 5/1/2006

Question
Hello again Irulan.  Many thanks for helping me with the last two questions, I now have a third.
In Roman times did they shoe their horses?  I know blacksmiths go way back but don't know if they go that far back.  I'm thinking of military cavalry.  Look forward to hearing from you.
Stella Strugnell

Answer
Hi Stella,

The existence of horshoes are found as early as the second century, before the Christian Era, when iron plates or rings for shoes were nailed on horses' feet in Western Asia and Eastern Europe.

During the first century, the Romans made leather and metal shoes called "hipposandals" so to answer your question, yes, Romans did shoe thier horses with metal or leather circular metal [usually iron] plates, not the horsehe known today but a reasonable facsimilie.

It is unknown who invented the first horseshoe. Early Asian horsemen used horse booties made from leather and plants so these are the precursos to the ones we know today.