Copper Shoes For The Bride's Horse

[goodhors]

Recently learned about this tradition from Farrier friends. It seems that in the past a Farrier would make and put copper shoes on his daughter’s horse for her wedding! It was a good luck wish for her future.

Husband and our daughter are both Farriers, decided to do this for a granddaughter of an long-time customer family. Husband has known the woman since she was a child, everyone in the family rides and shows. Now my daughter is their Farrier since his retirement. We are invited to the wedding, know her old mare is part of the wedding party. So husband and DD decided to shoe the old mare as her wedding gift, get horse “looking her best!” They spent a couple evenings getting the copper bars made and shaped, then put the shoes on today for a Saturday wedding.

Things went well, shoes are very shiny! There are two extra copper shoes in case horse should lose one before Saturday. Horse is getting her “beauty treatment” Thursday, stalled then until the wedding, which will take place in the indoor arena.

It looks to be pretty exciting, never have been to a barn arena wedding! Will be dressing warmly! Horse will probably be a bit high, with stalling, thinking she needs to be showing her best English Park Horse movement for all to see!! She was a darned good one, National Winner in her past. Ha ha I will be watching those flashing shoes as she goes up the aisle.

A new-to-me tradition. But once husband mentioned the copper shoes online he heard about other Farriers doing the copper shoes for their brides, daughters, horse family girls’ weddings!

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[clanter]

never heard of this, but be sure to turn off any fence charger anywhere near where this horse may be as it surely would be well grounded with those copper plates

[redandwhite]

what a cute idea! I’d die to see photos, if they would allow that

[endlessclimb]

… or any other metal shoes, really. Or anyone who ever walked barefoot.

I’m sure horsie will be ok.

What a fun tradition.

[MunchingonHay]

That is awesome!

And if the two extra shoes are not needed a pretty wedding/anniversary gift can be made with them.

What a great tradition and keepsake.

[walktrot]

A great idea! I expect word will spread and more horses will be in shiny copper shoes for weddings.

Decades ago when I got into the horse world, the Social section of local newspapers had engagement and wedding photos of local couples. Mom sent me one in the mail one day, A very happy couple beaming huge smiles. They were cheek to cheek on either side of her horse’s head. Mom’s comment: He doesn’t know he’s number 3.

[mmeqcenter]

To be fair, copper is much more conductive than steel. But so is aluminium, and I don’t think anyone turns off electric fences when their horses have aluminium shoes.

Agreed, fun tradition! They’re super pretty

[goodhors]

DD plans to return in two weeks to remove the copper shoes. The Bride will then make them into some sort of keepsake of the wedding and the horse, who is 30 years old. Her first horse I believe.

Husband said copper shoes won’t last long because they are so soft a metal. Two weeks should be long enough to “personalize” the shoes with horse’s wear pattern going around the pasture each day. Shoes will be a great memory.

I just thought the copper shoes were an interesting tradition. We got married in Feb, when it was COLD and the snow was DEEP. No horses involved because of that.

Her Fiancé is a cow guy. They contemplated having having his favorite old show cow attend, along with the horse, but decided against it. Cows hate changes, can be creative thinkers! While old Molly is very tame, been showed a lot, no one thought it was a good idea!! Better to leave Molly at home eating hay with her cow friends.

[2DogsFarm]

What a lovely tradition to revive!
& A meaningful keepsake for the new couple
The shoes are beautiful & will be more so having been worn.
Kudos to your DH & DD for making it happen