How to hang horse shoes

[powerjacob]

I've seen horse shoes hung in or on houses for good luck. But which way should the "U" of the shoe hang? I've seen them up and down. Some say up for good luck and others say down. What's the straight dope have to say?

[Mahaloth]

I remember an old Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally tells the Beaver to hang it up(like the letter U) so the luck doesn't fall out.

I've always followed that method.

[Leaffan]

U

if it's

n

the luck runs out. (As Mahaloth has just stated.

[Joey P]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I remember an old Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally tells the Beaver to hang it up(like the letter U) so the luck doesn't fall out.

I've always followed that method.

That's the same thing I heard. Like a U so the luck doesn't fall out.

[vetbridge]

We all agree.

[Rodd Hill]

This "points up" or "u" orientation seems to be of fairly recent date, at least as far as Britain/Canada is concerned:

I have seen many, many greeting cards, brass and silver stickpins, etc. from the 1880s-1920s period that have the "points down," or what we may refer to as the "omega" orientation. (I have also noticed that black cats seemed to be a portent of good luck in this same general timeframe.

Canada WWI 32nd Battalion cap badge

circa 1900 novelty good luck clock

souvenir beaded horseshoe, c. 1900

1920s native chief gold pin

1910s postcard

1915 postcard

Victorian gold and silver lady's brooch

[Q.E.D.]

Originally Posted by Mahaloth

I remember an old Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally tells the Beaver to hang it up(like the letter U) so the luck doesn't fall out.

Col. Potter had a nearly identical line in an episode of M*A*S*H.

[Squink]

Originally Posted by Rodd Hill

Canada WWI 32nd Battalion cap badge

circa 1900 novelty good luck clock

souvenir beaded horseshoe, c. 1900

1920s native chief gold pin

1910s postcard

1915 postcard

Victorian gold and silver lady's brooch

Wow! Those are some nice pictures.
Do you collect horse shoe images?

[Rodd Hill]

No, just an ephemera/old-timey stuff geek.

The only thing I own out of that lot is the 32nd Battalion cap badge.

[Telemark]

From our friends at Wikipedia:

Traditions do differ on this point, though. In some cultures, the horseshoe is hung points down (so the luck pours onto you); in others, it is hung points up (so the luck doesn't fall out); still in others it doesn't matter so long as the horseshoe has been used (not new), was found (not purchased), and can be touched. In all traditions, luck is contained in the shoe and can pour out through the ends.

[Colophon]

I was told that if you hang it points-down then the luck runs out... but if you hang it points-up then the devil can sit in it. You pays yer money and you takes yer choice...

Personally I'd mount it sideways, on the landward end of a horse.

[Celyn]

Originally Posted by Rodd Hill

This "points up" or "u" orientation seems to be of fairly recent date, at least as far as Britain/Canada is concerned:

I have seen many, many greeting cards, brass and silver stickpins, etc. from the 1880s-1920s period that have the "points down," or what we may refer to as the "omega" orientation. (I have also noticed that black cats seemed to be a portent of good luck in this same general timeframe............

Ah, but black cats ARE a good luck thing (in Britain anyway). (Yes, I did find it confusing if I looked at American-type comics as a child.

And the horseshoe should always be pointing up, in my own little universe anyway.

[AskNott]

In an ancient issue of Playboy, a father visited his son's fraternity house, and he saw a woman's stiletto-heeled shoe above the doorway. He told his son, "When I was here, we had a horseshoe hanging there for good luck!"

The son replied, "That is a whore's shoe, Dad!"

[Harmonious Discord]

I knew someone that did a lot with horses in competitions. She said the horse shoe pointed up for luck, but there was some case where circumstances dictated the horse shoe to be hung downward. I have no idea what it was anymore, and I'll never likely see her again to ask.

WAG It could have been something like a found shoe had to point up for luck, but if a horse threw it, you had to hang it up side down to avoid bad luck. This is very likely NOT what she siad, but gives the correct type of context in which it was stated.

[jackelope]

This is authoritative enough for me.

[neuroman]

Originally Posted by jackelope

This is authoritative enough for me.

So, clearly the horseshoe should be pointed down.

:: G&D R ::

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by Colophon

I was told that if you hang it points-down then the luck runs out... but if you hang it points-up then the devil can sit in it. You pays yer money and you takes yer choice...

Personally I'd mount it sideways, on the landward end of a horse.

My grandmother, an old English countrywoman born in 1886, had one when I was little. It was points down. She said if you put it the other way up, it made a swing for a witch to sit in!

[Colophon]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

My grandmother, an old English countrywoman born in 1886, had one when I was little. It was points down. She said if you put it the other way up, it made a swing for a witch to sit in!

Interesting - I heard the devil-swing thing from my grandmother too. Must be an old English superstition...

[Alessan]

Come on, guys. Horseshoes have nothing to do with "luck".





It's all about having some cold steel over your doorway in case the elves come to steal your children

[Harmonious Discord]

I have to wonder if it might be useful in keeping the Pooka out from the horse pen, when hung over the gate.

[Mahaloth]

Originally Posted by Alessan

Come on, guys. Horseshoes have nothing to do with "luck".

It's all about having some cold steel over your doorway in case the elves come to steal your children

Oh let's not be silly now.