Horseshoe (American)

Horseshoes arrived in North America with European settlers and took on a vigorous life in the New World, particularly in farming communities where horses were essential to survival and prosperity. The horseshoe's luck associations rest on several foundations: iron was believed to repel evil spirits and faeries in European tradition; the crescent shape echoed the protective power of the moon; and the horseshoe's association with the working horse connected it to themes of strength, endurance, and hard work rewarded.

In American tradition, the debate over horseshoe orientation is earnest and regional. The 'heels up' position — horseshoe hung like a U shape — is said to collect luck in the bowl of the shoe, preventing it from spilling out. This position is predominant in the American South and among many folk magic practitioners. The 'heels down' position — an upside-down U — is said to shower luck down on anyone who passes beneath it, and is the preferred orientation in many parts of Britain and among some American families.

In the American Southwest, horseshoes feature prominently in cowboy and ranch culture, often hung not only above doors but on fence posts, in barns, and over livestock pens. Finding a horseshoe on the road was considered especially lucky, and the finder would pound it above their door before removing it from the location — never carrying it away from its find spot without first marking the location with a nail.