I woke this morning asking myself why horses need shoes. I mean, gorillas don’t need slippers; cats don’t require high heels and hamsters aren’t often seen sporting trainers, are they? So why does a horse need shoeing?
In the wild, horse hooves harden naturally. They travel for up to 50 miles a day foraging for food and so their feet become smooth and strong. Of course they can be lamed very easily by treading on stones or sharp rocks. Domestic horses stand or sit for long periods of time, meaning they don’t get enough exercise to strengthen their feet. But then they are worked hard and intensely meaning they can strain their feet easily.
Domestic horses often have jobs to do – being ridden, carrying loads or pulling wagons and carts – all of which put extra pressure on their feet and hooves.

In comes the Farrier. In the UK, a Farrier is a recognised professional. He or she is trained to treat and fit horses hooves. This is a skilled role. One nail in the wrong place can injure or even lame an animal. Apparently a thoroughbred horse can have very thin hooves and can therefore need shoeing all the more carefully and skilfully.

The Farrier cleans the hoof of any debris and then fits the, often specially cast, shoe for the horse. The material used for shoes can vary – it can be aluminium or other heavier metals. Some newer kinds of shoe containing copper even have antibacterial properties.

So why was God talking to me about horseshoes today? That is a good question, but it is actually quite simple. God wants us to have soft hearts but hard feet. He wants us to go into hard territory, difficult terrain with ease. He wants us to be able to pull the weight He gives us, or carry the load He sets upon us.
He performs the role of Farrier, making sure that we lack no good thing; giving us cleansing and renewing moments and reshoe-ing us, ready for the next stage of the journey.

For years, many people have believed that an old horseshoe will bring you luck (as long as it is held in a U shape in order to keep all the luck in.) Horseshoes were nailed to the front of boats to prevent them entering storms. They were placed over the doors of homes and businesses as a talisman to keep harm away.

Of course, I don’t subscribe to this belief, but I do think there is something beautiful about a shoe that has a story. Worn down by a journey or a load to bear, but still strong enough to hold together and tell the tale.

But then that is down to the frequent checking of the Farrier. He knows when new shoes are needed. Just like God knows when we need to be rested and re-shoed. He also owns us. We are not meant to run wild, but we are meant to run free.

Father, thank you for knowing where I am journeying. Thank you for the load I carry and that it has been placed there by You. Teach me to walk well and to be faithful to the tasks You have placed on me. Thank you that I can trust You to know when I need resting and cleansing; shoeing and re-sending out. Help me to rely on Your knowledge in this and not my own. Thank you that my feet are fitted with custom-made shoes that are the right size and weight for me and for the journey I am on.

Amen