Historical information
These horse shoes (one a stock horse and one a draft horse) were probably used in the mid 1900's. They have been roughly made suggesting that a professional blacksmith was not instrumental in their manufacture. On smaller or remote cattle stations either the lead stock man or owner would "fire up" the kiln to provide the adjustments required to the horse shoe to ensure a "tight" fit. The larger cattle stations had a "professional" blacksmith to cover all their "working" horses. Larger properties eg.large Northern territory cattle stations use helicopters for "cattle control".
Significance
These horse shoes are very significant to the Kiewa Valley because of the early introduction of cattle stations in what initially was regarded as a semi remote location. The maintenance of horses hooves is an important requirement, especially during the period when cattle were grazed on the Bogong High Plains. The mustering and and moving cattle from the valley pastures to the high country was a demanding and dangerous exercise requiring "sure footed" stock horses. A scientific study started in 1947 to study the impact of grazing cattle on the natural Alpine and sub Alpine vegetation found grazing cattle had an adverse affect on the natural Alpine and sub alpine vegetation, and grazing on the plains was stopped by the Victorian Government in 2005.This "camp draft" in the High Plains could take up to six weeks.
Physical description
Both these horse shoes have been "roughly" made but are specifically made for the type of horse which wore them. The smaller of the two is for the stock horse/riding horse and the lager one is for the larger draft horse. Each horse type has a specific role to play in the the type of activity it was used for. The small horse shoe has six "nail" holes for attachment to the horse hoof by special nails. The larger shoe has seven "nail" holes. Both have the three quarter moon shape which fits the curvature of the horses hooves.
