A horseshoe over the door is one of the oldest good luck charms in Europe and North America. Like most folklore, it comes with different rules depending on whom you ask. Here is what the traditions say, and how to hang one so it actually stays up.
Where the tradition comes from
Several stories are told. Iron was long believed to repel evil spirits and fairies, and a horseshoe combined iron with the strength of the horse. Blacksmiths, who worked with fire and iron, were themselves considered lucky. A well-known English legend tells of Saint Dunstan, a 10th-century Archbishop of Canterbury said to have been a blacksmith, who nailed a horseshoe to the devil’s hoof and only removed it when the devil promised never to enter a house with a horseshoe over the door. The crescent shape is also linked to the moon and fertility in some traditions.
These are legends, not history, but they explain why horseshoes ended up above so many doors.
Ends up or ends down?
This is the big debate.
- Ends up (like a U): the most common belief in the US and Britain. The horseshoe is a cup that holds luck; turned the other way, the luck runs out.
- Ends down: in some traditions, especially among blacksmiths and in parts of Europe, the horseshoe pours luck onto everyone who walks under it, or protects the house by “catching” evil.
There is no right answer. Choose the version you like, or the one your family has always used.
Where to hang it
Traditionally, above the front door, either outside or inside. Some people put one over the barn or stable door, in the kitchen, or over the bedroom door. A used horseshoe that has been worn by a horse is often considered luckier than a new one.
How to hang it securely
A real steel horseshoe weighs about a pound or more, and you do not want it to fall on someone’s head.
- Clean and dry it. Remove rust with a wire brush and protect it with clear lacquer or paint if it will be outside.
- Use the existing nail holes. Traditionally horseshoes are hung with nails, often seven, as on a real shoe; screws are more secure.
- Fix it into wood, or use proper wall anchors in drywall or masonry. A stud finder helps, see the starter tool kit.
- Check it is level and firm.
A decorative touch
Horseshoes also make rustic hooks, coat racks and garden art. A painted horseshoe above the front door adds character to the entrance, see how to create a welcoming entryway.
