The History of Aluminum Horse Shoes

When humanity began domesticating the horse, changes between the horse's natural environment and the environment of domestication necessitated finding ways to protect horses's feet. The earliest horseshoes were made from hides or woven plant-derived material. This evolved into metal horseshoes made from iron, steel, and aluminum. For broad-based use, the aluminum horseshoe is a relative newcomer to the use of horseshoes.

  1. Facts

    • The history of aluminum horseshoes, of course, began with the history of horseshoes themselves and in particular with the history of metal horseshoes. While until recently the use of the metal horseshoe was regarded as having begun only around the sixth or seventh century A.D., an archaeological find of Roman Villa metal horseshoes has been dated to 294 CE. In Europe, the use of the metal horseshoe had become widespread by about 1,000 AD. Iron is still the preferred metal horseshoe for many types of domesticated horse, because of the protection provided through the rigidity of the material. Aluminum horseshoes are, however, increasing in popularity for some applications.

    Evolution of the Use of the Aluminum Horseshoe

    • Horse handlers first used aluminum horseshoes for racehorses. While standard bred harness racing horses's handlers more often shoe the horse using steel swaged shoes, thoroughbred racehorses's handlers shoe horses using aluminum "racing plates." From almost exclusive use for thoroughbred racing horses, aluminum horseshoes exhibited certain characteristics that made their use attractive to other categories of equestrian applications.

    Attractive Characteristics of the Aluminum Horseshoe

    • Aluminum shoes dissipate vibration, reducing damage to the hoof wall that the horseshoe itself can cause. Also, aluminum horseshoes being lighter weight than iron or even steel, can allow use of a wider-based horseshoe enabling the horse to support more weight on the ground in each shod hoof ("flotation"). Aluminum also allows for good hoof protection with less weight added to the horse's hoof than an iron horseshoe or even a steel horseshoe. Certain specific aluminum horseshoes also work better with the growth of the horse's foot, helping to foster a consistency throughout the interval between shoeings in the way the horse moves. This final factor is referred to as "wear."

    The Next Evolution After Racing Plates

    • The first evolution of the use of aluminum horseshoes beyond the world of thoroughbred racing would seem a natural and somewhat obvious one, assuming one takes steeple chasing and other sorts of jump racing into account. The first use of aluminum horseshoes outside of horse racing was for horses used in hunting and jumping. Some European competition jumping teams were using aluminum horseshoes by the late 1960s.

    From Hunters and Jumpers To Quarter Horses

    • Quarter horses, especially those intended for performance in the show ring, provided another evolution in the use of aluminum horseshoes. By 1996, aluminum horseshoes had become popular among trainers for use on these horses when used in horse shows.

    The Aluminum Horseshoe Now

    • While the needs of each individual horse differ, the variety of advantages the aluminum horse shoe can offer has made it an increasingly popular choice. Most professional trainers, by the late 1990s, had begun using aluminum horseshoes for at least some horses.