Temporary horseshoe

Temporary horseshoes, also known as hipposandals, were used by the Romans for temporary protection of horses' hooves. This iron example comes from Blackburn Mill near Cockburnspath in Berwickshire.

Hipposandal from Blackburn Mill

Since horses were not normally ridden over hard ground, most went unshod. The Romans sometimes fitted temporary horseshoes - which were folded rather than nailed around the hoof - when rough and hard ground had to be crossed.

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