Early Roman 'horseshoes' dug up from Vindolanda fort ditch

BBC ^ | August 4, 2018 | unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

The hipposandals (date between 140AD and 180AD), which were found by a volunteer, are largely well preserved but one of them has a hairline fracture [copyright Vindolanda]

[SunkenCiv]

In an attempt to head some frequent stupidity off at the pass, during the Roman presence in Britain, the Scots were still cowering in Ireland, peeing their kilts in fear. So thorough was that fear that they didn't move to Caledonia for more than a century after the Roman legions left Britain. Hadrian's Wall was built to minimize the manpower needed to keep the thieving Picts from crossing the frontier. It's a good model for our border with Mexico, come to think of it.

[SunkenCiv]

Whoops.

[Pontiac]

These hipposandals must have been tied to the horse’s hooves in some way.

[SunkenCiv]

Probably leather. One countermeasure against cavalry was to spread broken pottery to prevent charges. I’d never heard of these hipposandals before, but my uneducated guess is that these were kept around in answer to that practice. In the 11th c, in Sicily, Hardraada was working for the Byzanitine emperor, and was faced with such a situation before a fight with the saracens. He cut down palm fronds, bound them around the hooves and lower legs of his horse, and ordered his men to do the same. They made a successful charge and slaughtered their enemies.

[Larry Lucido]

hipposandals

Birkenstocks?

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[ClearCase_guy]

What does Rosie O’Donnell wear on her feet?
Hipposandals.

[Flag_This]

The Romans had horse shoes, but would never invent stirrups.

[knarf]

[Avalon Memories]

It's hard to imagine how those would be used without actually hurting the horse. A horse needs flexibility in its pastern as they lift the foot and then strike the ground. That contraption would seem to act more like a splint, preventing the necessary flexion in the pastern and ankle.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Been there twice. Really cool.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

As a former farrier I find this interesting.

[SunkenCiv]

That is true, and always seemed peculiar. :^o

[SunkenCiv]

In Roman times they had farriers, including a famous one, the farrier cross the Mersey.

[SunkenCiv]

Wow, I'm a little jealous now.

[SunkenCiv]

Sometimes, and they also used Birkenpillories.

[SunkenCiv]

Okay, I'm gettin' nutty, time for bed.

[SunkenCiv]

Hey, stop being mean to hippos!

[SunkenCiv]

Probably once someone gets a little grant money, we'll see it demo'd on a modern horse -- in case it hasn't already been done.