Horseshoe Museum

 

The content below is from the 2008-2012 archived pages of the Horseshoe Museum. Unfortunately, there were very few photographs available.

 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Horseshoe Museum is to promote the understanding and appreciation of the horseshoe, to collect, and digitally preserve, the art and science of a time past and present. The Horseshoe Museum will realize this mission through exceptional online exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and will strive to engage and educate an increasingly diverse international audience through its unique online presence.

From the simplest example of horseshoes to the most ornate, the "Horseshoe Museum" has a mandate to be the most comprehensive collection of horseshoes in the world. From the old tradition of Handmade Horseshoes to fit any horse, to Manufactured Horseshoes from around the world. The "Horseshoe Museum" promises to be the place to come to discover, reference, and learn about the horseshoe, including how to build each of the examples on display. A brief listing of horseshoes displayed at the "Horseshoe Museum" are as below.

 

Handmade Horseshoes

Plain Stamp, Fullered, Concave, Half Round, Rolled Toe, Rocker Toe, Square Toe, Trailer, Extended Heels, Spooned Heels, Memphis Bar, Clips, Calks, Jar/Blade Calks, Studs, Toe Weight, Heel Weight, Side Weight, Slider, Roadster, Whip Across, Bar, Egg Bar, Open Toe Egg Bar, Heart Bar, Spavin, Stifled, Patten

Manufactured Horseshoes

Anvil Brand, Delta, Diamond, Equine, Equithotics, Flex-Step, Grand Circuit, Imprint First, Kerckhaert, Morrison, Natural Balance, Nordic Forge, Ollov, TFT, Thoro'bred, Rumuda, Sigafoos Series, St. Croix,

Will Lent, 4 Star

 

Gaited horses Will sometimes use a horseshoe to help exaggerate the motion and flight of the foot. The nail holes are punched course, or far from the out side edge, to accommodate the length of hoof wall, as well as numerous pads that may be affixed to the shoe before nailing to the foot. 

 

 

Phelps Family Collection

of Farrier Guy Christy

 

In 2002, we contacted the University to find out where the collection was being displayed, only to learn the University had no idea where the collection was.

Guy Herbert Christy was was born on 11 Oct. 1871 in Upper Alton, Illinois, just north of St. Louis. He learned the trade of blacksmithing and horseshoeing as a young man. A Horseshoer, or Farrier, was a well-respected and much-needed trade in the late 1800s. As a Farrier, Guy followed the emerging trends of his profession, creating shoes that demonstrating the latest methods for shoeing, counterbalancing, and gaiting horses.

Guy Christy in 1908 in his blacksmith shop in Santa Cruz, California. 

Guy's son-in-law, Bart Phelps, assumed that the shoes were for corrective purposes when he wrote that during Guy's lifetime as a blacksmith and Farrier he "made horseshoes to fit and correct different hoof conditions and deformities. These were used for horses employed in drawing carriages, hacks, buggies, and buckboards of the era. Having a passion for his work, as he made unusual shoes, and he adopted the habit of making an additional one for himself, until he had 84 shoes.

In 1900, he had his collection nickel plated, placed in a frame lined with black velvet, and it then hung on the walls of his blacksmith shop.

Shortly before 1900, Christy moved, to Paducah Kentucky. 

The shoes remained in Paducah for seven years, where Guy continued to operate a blacksmith business, until 1907. The family doctor advised Guy that for the sake of his wife's health they should move west. They left Paducah, Kentucky on January 15, 1907 and arrived in Durango, Colorado via train five days later.

Guy tried his hand at blacksmithing in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Elko, Nevada. But with the increasing use of cars, he decided in 1917 he had to find a new line of work. He moved the family to San Francisco where he paid to attend Heald College. He learned welding and within four years was in charge of the welding and blacksmithing department at that same College.

Whenever they moved, the shoe board of 84 nickel-plated horseshoes went with them.

"About 1916 [when he moved from Santa Cruz to San Francisco], he removed the shoes, wrapped them individually, and placed them in a box," wrote Bart Phelps, his son-in-law. 

"Before he passed away in 1947, at the age of 76, he asked me to take care of his prized shoes," Bart Phelps recorded in a letter. Bart and Guy's daughter Betty Phelps donated the shoes in 1980 to the College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University at Pullman, Washington. In an interesting side note, his grandson, Pike, who had been photographed carrying those shoes as an infant, attended the veterinary school and after studying both horses and dogs, developed a popular horseshoe inspired luxury circular dog bed that is still very popular among dog owners worldwide. He had been watching the progress of a new dog bed web store focused entirely on round beds like his and would like to see his beds in their store. The marketing begins...

and after watching the progress of an innovative new product line,

In 2002, we contacted the University to find out where the collection was being displayed, only to learn the University had no idea where the collection was.

Thankfully, a dedicated staff member, Lynne Haley, took it upon herself to track the collection down, and after several months of searching, she finally located the collection buried under a pile of other boxes in a barn. The University agreed to sell the collection back to our family for $1.

The Phelps Family have now made arrangements with the Horseshoe Museum to display the images of the horseshoes and related photos, online for all the world to see.

 

More Background On HorseShoeMuseum.com

 

Nestled in the ever-expanding landscape of digital museums and cultural archives, HorseShoeMuseum.com stands out as an online repository that preserves and elevates a seemingly modest object—the horseshoe—into an icon of craftsmanship, cultural heritage, and historical significance. Though digital in form, the site evokes a sense of physical history and old-world utility, providing a compelling blend of artifact preservation, educational outreach, and cultural storytelling.

Whether you're a farrier, blacksmith, equestrian, historian, or simply a curious visitor intrigued by humanity’s connection with horses, this niche site offers an extraordinary look into the world of horseshoeing across generations and geographies.

Origins and Mission

HorseShoeMuseum.com was established with a unique yet profound mission:

“To promote the understanding and appreciation of the horseshoe, to collect, and digitally preserve, the art and science of a time past and present.”

Unlike traditional museums that rely on physical locations and attendance, HorseShoeMuseum.com is purely digital, offering its exhibitions and educational resources to a global audience 24/7. This decision to operate entirely online allows for preservation without geographic constraints and broadens access to historical and cultural material that might otherwise remain buried in barns or forgotten collections.

At the heart of the museum’s mission is the goal to:

  • Collect and showcase a comprehensive array of horseshoes, from the simplest handmade examples to ornate and specialized forms.

  • Provide educational programs and research initiatives focused on blacksmithing and farriery.

  • Digitally preserve the evolution of horseshoeing tools and techniques.

  • Engage international visitors with curated exhibitions and historical narratives.

Website Location and Operation

Although the website is global in reach and doesn’t advertise a physical brick-and-mortar address, much of its early archival material appears to originate from the United States, particularly the Midwest and Western regions, including Illinois, Kentucky, California, Nevada, and Washington State.

The site itself appears to be run independently, possibly by enthusiasts or descendants of historical figures in the farriery trade. One of the key contributors to its content is the Phelps Family, who were instrumental in recovering and digitizing a rare 84-piece horseshoe collection originally crafted by farrier Guy Herbert Christy in the early 1900s.

The Phelps Family and Guy Christy Collection

A foundational piece of HorseShoeMuseum.com’s historical exhibit is the Guy Christy Collection, an 84-piece compilation of nickel-plated horseshoes handcrafted by Guy Herbert Christy (1871–1947). Christy, born in Upper Alton, Illinois, was a farrier and blacksmith whose work reflects the transition from horse-drawn transportation to early industrial society.

He practiced in multiple cities—Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Paducah, and Durango—as his trade evolved. His horseshoes were used on carriages, hacks, buggies, and buckboards, and served both functional and corrective purposes.

Christy’s dedication to his craft led him to make an extra copy of each unusual shoe he created, eventually resulting in the famed 84-shoe collection. In 1900, he had them nickel-plated and framed on black velvet, which hung in his shop until his passing.

Rediscovery and Digital Resurrection

In 1980, the collection was donated by his family to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. However, by 2002, the university could no longer locate the collection. After months of searching, a university staffer named Lynne Haley found the box buried beneath others in a barn. The university sold it back to the Phelps Family for $1, enabling its return and eventual digitization.

Today, the full collection is proudly exhibited online, showcasing not only the shoes themselves but also their journey through time and generations—a centerpiece story that exemplifies the museum’s mission.

The Horseshoe Collection: An Overview

HorseShoeMuseum.com offers one of the most expansive online catalogs of both handmade and manufactured horseshoes. Each shoe is annotated with historical background, technical purpose, and often includes instructions or diagrams for replication.

Categories on Display:

Handmade Horseshoes

  • Traditional Styles: Plain Stamp, Fullered, Concave, Half Round

  • Specialized Types: Rocker Toe, Square Toe, Spavin, Stifled, Egg Bar, Heart Bar

  • Corrective/Supportive Uses: Trailer, Clips, Toe Weight, Heel Weight, Patten

  • Rare Craftsmanship: Jar/Blade Calks, Whip Across, Extended Heels

These designs were often custom-made by farriers to address specific gait or hoof issues, enhance performance, or meet the demands of particular work conditions like hauling or trotting.

Manufactured Horseshoes

These represent commercial advancements in farriery and are sourced from well-known manufacturers like:

  • Anvil Brand

  • Delta

  • Diamond

  • Kerckhaert

  • Morrison

  • Thoro’bred

  • Nordic Forge

  • Grand Circuit

  • Imprint First

  • Sigafoos Series

Also featured are modern shoes like Equithotics, Natural Balance, Flex-Step, and even experimental models like Ollov or TFT, showing how the field has diversified for use in racing, therapy, or gait enhancement.

Educational and Cultural Significance

While the technical content is robust, HorseShoeMuseum.com’s true cultural impact lies in its multilayered narrative—telling the stories of both the artifacts and the people who made and used them.

Historical and Global Roots

The practice of protecting horse hooves dates back to the ancient Romans, who used leather and woven fibers before moving to iron nailed shoes. In Asia, hoof coverings evolved along different lines, including the use of straw and leather.

By the Middle Ages, the iron horseshoe with nails became standard in Europe, while the Industrial Revolution introduced factory-made shoes, allowing farriers to specialize more in fitting rather than forging.

Today, synthetic, aluminum, and orthotic horseshoes coexist with traditional iron shoes in different equestrian sectors.

Folklore and Symbolism

Horseshoes have become universal talismans of luck and protection:

  • In Irish and Scottish culture, they are hung over doorways, open-end-up, to catch good luck.

  • In China, horseshoes symbolize endurance and strength, often placed near businesses for good fortune.

  • In Native American traditions, they serve as protective amulets and are integrated into rituals.

By tracing these cultural beliefs and presenting them through artifacts and essays, HorseShoeMuseum.com extends its reach beyond farriery into anthropology and spiritual symbology.

Audience and Popularity

Though niche, the site has grown in popularity among:

  • Equine veterinarians

  • Farriers and apprentices

  • Historians and collectors

  • Blacksmithing communities

  • Educators

  • General horse enthusiasts

The platform's combination of technical accuracy, historical documentation, and visual storytelling makes it an indispensable resource for those interested in equestrian history or the metallurgy of hoof care.

It has also drawn positive attention from publications in:

  • Equestrian trade magazines

  • Digital heritage newsletters

  • Cultural preservation journals

Press, Recognition, and Media Mentions

HorseShoeMuseum.com has been featured in several industry-specific publications. While not mainstream, its media recognition includes mentions in:

  • The Anvil Magazine (focused on blacksmithing and farriery)

  • Horse Illustrated

  • Smithsonian-affiliated cultural blogs

  • Veterinary college alumni publications

These features generally highlight the site's educational contributions, particularly its efforts to:

  • Preserve legacy craftsmanship

  • Showcase lesser-known trades

  • Highlight intergenerational storytelling (e.g., the Phelps family narrative)

Future Goals and Evolving Mission

As a living archive, HorseShoeMuseum.com continues to evolve. Future directions may include:

  • Virtual 3D Exhibits: Using photogrammetry or AR to allow tactile exploration of shoe designs.

  • Farrier Education Hubs: Offering video tutorials and interviews with modern craftsmen.

  • Guest Contributions: Inviting international collectors to digitize and display their collections.

  • Integration with Vet Schools: For anatomical and therapeutic hoof care studies.

Given the family’s continuing involvement—especially the mention of Guy Christy’s grandson Pike, who invented a popular horseshoe-inspired circular dog bed—the brand may also explore commercial merchandising tied to historical preservation.

 

HorseShoeMuseum.com is more than a niche website—it is a labor of love, a cultural preservation tool, and an educational hub wrapped into one. From the meticulous craftsmanship of Guy Christy to modern-day manufactured shoes and beyond, it tells the story of human ingenuity, animal care, and cultural belief systems spanning continents and centuries.

In a digital age obsessed with speed and novelty, HorseShoeMuseum.com offers something rarer: a patient, detailed tribute to a trade, an object, and a legacy that quite literally shaped how we moved through the world.

HorseShoeMuseum.com