Horseshoe

Horseshoes (or simply shoes ) were a type of metal footwear designed specifically to counteract the wear and tear on the hooves of domesticated horses, who experienced it at an accelerated rate because of carrying the weight of riders and other equipment.

Description
Horseshoes were typically made of an iron or steel bar and hammered into a "U" shape. They were attached to horses by nailing them into their hooves, a process that was known as "shoeing."

Abilities
Horses equipped with these were capable of traveling farther, faster, and for much longer.

When a horse's shoe became loosened, it made a clattering sound as it walked or ran. If the shoe came off completely, they were said to "throw a shoe" or "lose a shoe", and the horse was forced to slow and limp until it was replaced.

Availability
Places in the Realms where horseshoes were known to be manufactured were as follows:
 * In the mid–14 century DR, Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold blacksmith molds for making horseshoes for draft horses, riding horses, warhorses, and ponies.
 * In the village of Conyberry, the local smithy produced rather shoddy horseshoes.
 * In the town of Essembra, one could acquire horseshoes from Durn's Forge.
 * In the village of Ghars, Cormyr, horseshoes were one of many agricultural tools that Aunsible Durn's smithy manufactured. Durn could also shoe horses whilst riders waited.
 * In the city of Ravens Bluff, the Iron Bull Smithy manufactured some of the finest horseshoes in the area.
 * In the Unapproachable East, horseshoes were among the simple iron items that the people of the Great Dale made themselves rather than imported.
 * One could find horseshoes for sale in the city of Waterdeep.
 * In the city of Zhentil Keep, one could acquire horseshoes from Luanna's Forge.
 * In the land of Zakhara, one could purchase horseshoes from many of its bazaars for around 2 gold pieces to 7 silver pieces depending upon how good they were at bargaining.

History
Jasper was riding his horse Jenkus on the night of Eleint 18, the, when they were chased by a rogue hydra. But Jenkus lost a shoe and slowed, and Jasper fell off. Jenkus limped away while Jasper was left to face the hydra.

Notable Horseshoes

 * Horseshoes of the asperii, a variety of enchanted horseshoes that gave their wearer the power of flight, much like that of an asperii.
 * Horseshoes of speed
 * Horseshoes of the zephyr
 * Imaskari horseshoes: A pair of obsidian horseshoes from the Imaskar Empire. Any horse they were placed on would become pitch black and invisible at night. However, if harmed while in this state the horse's body would shatter as if made of glass. In 1360 DR, these horseshoes they were contained within the Star Houses of the city of Solon. At that time they were worth around five gold pieces.

Groups

 * The blacksmiths of the Waterdhavian guild known as the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths & Metalforgers both made horseshoes and fitted them onto horses. In the 14 century DR, they typically charged a single gold piece per shoe.

Individuals

 * Durnan the Red, a smithy in the Battledale's town of Essembra.
 * Haeleth, a smithy in the community of Bargewright Inn, was specialized in shoeing all manner of beasts.
 * Luanna Lightheart, a smithy in the city of Zhentil Keep, both made shoes and shoed horses.
 * Korin Ironnugget, a smithy in the town of Snowmantle, frequently shoed horses.
 * Olaf, a smithy in Bloodstone who primarily worked on horseshoes and plows.
 * Rodric, a smithy in the village of Parnast, was skilled in shoeing horses.

Races & Sentient Creatures

 * Armanite farriers were known to produce outstanding, sometimes even enchanted, horseshoes.
 * Some centaurs, particularly those that often traveled over paved or rocky ground, were known to wear horseshoes, including enchanted horseshoes, with horseshoes of speed making heavy armor more practical for them. They typically needed to reshoe their horseshoes once every 4–6 weeks. They could always tell if a horseshoe fell off and if a shoeing job was improperly done.

Regions & Settlements

 * In the Western Heartlands, the gnome village of Anga Vled had a pair of horse doctors that were skilled in shoeing horses.

Rumors & Legends

 * One legend claimed that halflings were the ones who invented horseshoes. This legend was likely false, as halflings typically used goats rather than horses.
 * Horseshoes were often associated with good luck and many superstitions surrounded this. It was thought by some to be very lucky to find a horseshoe in the road, especially if it had been cast off from the hind legs of a grey mare. Some thought them to be protective amulets, with farmers hanging them in barns or stables and sailors nailing them to the masts of ships.

Trivia

 * Blacksmiths generally knew how to craft horseshoes. But craftsmen that were specialized in making horseshoes were known as "farriers."
 * Horseshoes acted as a material component for the spell speedmount.
 * Horseshoes were the namesake for many locations in the Realms. These included the Horseshoe Temple Oasis in the Quoya Desert, the Gilded Horseshoe in Longsaddle, and Horseshoe Canyon in Narfell.
 * Thoughtful travelers who stopped at the Leopard Stupa while traveling the Leopard Shan were known to leave excess supplies. These commonly included horseshoes.

Appearances

 * Adventures
 * Doom of Daggerdale • ''Curse of Strahd
 * Novels
 * Murder in Cormyr