The horseshoe was such a popular invention that it inspired European folktales.
In one story, an invisible farrier named Weland Smith replaced horses' lost shoes when the owners' backs were conveniently turned. Eligius, a real-life goldsmith, remedied a horse's ails after removing its leg, shoeing the hoof, and replacing the limb. While the inventors of the first nailed shoe may always remain a mystery, horseshoeing became a mainstream practice in Europe around 1000 AD.
On festive occasions a "lucky" silver shoe was lightly hammered onto a horse's hoof just before a parade, and the retriever won a prize.
Once people discovered the utilitarian value of the horse, they simultaneously realized the necessity to protect the horse's feet-that is, if they hoped to maximize his use.
Although horses in the wild seem to do quite well without shoes over a wide variety of terrain, they move at a slow pace.
I let it soak for 24 hours and then gave it a scrub with an old toothbrush (a stiff brush would have been better).
I replaced the vinegar and let it soak for another 24 hours.
Sometime after the first century, shod hooves traversed the roadways set down by ancient Romans.