How To Hang A Horseshoe

The age-old iron horseshoe has become a worldwide symbol of good luck and fortune, with people throughout history and in modern times displaying them on their homes, barns, churches, and more. But how did this come to be? Used as a talisman for warding off evil, the horseshoe shape has cultural connections with the moon, prongs of animal horns, the form of the serpent, and many others. Some cultures associate the horseshoe with weddings, marriage, and fertility, while others say its power comes from the iron material itself, which many claimed had magical properties for protection. No matter the history or folklore that paved the way, the horseshoe's modern-day association with good luck is undeniable, and many homeowners are looking for the proper traditional way to utilize these charms.

So, then, the big question becomes: Is there a right way to hang a horseshoe to maximize its luck? Is there a wrong way, that people will judge you for if they see it? To determine the proper positioning and location to display a horseshoe, look to history and legend to successfully make use of this old-world superstition used to protect your home and bring luck. You might just get a fun history lesson in the process!

Some of the oldest uses of a horseshoe-shaped symbol as a talisman to protect a dwelling originated in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures, where it is hung with the prongs facing downward to form an arched shape. Many think that the arch was adopted as a symbol of protection based on a connection with the Passover story, where the Israelites smeared blood on the doorposts and lintels of their homes, forming a protective arch to save their firstborn children from the angel of death. The downward facing position is said to collect and spill shared luck onto those who pass through the doorway, as well as act as a guardian against witches, evil spirits, and other misfortune from entering the home. 

However, some cultures claim this prongs-down placement is actually unlucky, since the shape causes all of the luck to run out. Commonly, in Western European cultures — such as in Germanic and Celtic tradition – many people swear by hanging their horseshoes with the prongs facing upwards. Origins of this shape are debated, but often attributed to the form of a serpent, which was worshiped as an idol of protection, or the dual prongs of animal horns used as talismans in West African cultures. This upward-facing orientation is said to collect luck in its bucket-like shape and preserve it for the members of the home. 

Whether you are looking to protect your home from misfortune and share luck with others, or create a stockpile of luck for your family, the horseshoe's orientation is really a personal and cultural preference. However, what the majority of superstitions agree on is that's it's not the position, but the proper placement on your house that makes the emblem effective.

Legend and folklore indicates that the best place to hang a horseshoe is over an exterior entrance to your home. This idea is thought to have originated with the Saxon belief that since witches couldn't practice their magic outdoors, the horseshoe amulet would keep them safely out of the house and therefore powerless. A horseshoe over (or on) an exterior entry door is thought to create the protective barrier that keeps misfortune of all types out of the house and is a powerful good luck symbol for your front door. If a horseshoe is installed inside the house, it is said to lose its protective qualities.

The other factor to consider when hanging a horseshoe is the nails you use to hang it. Folklore says that if you find a horseshoe with the old nails still in it, the more nails, the luckier it will be. Other people make the anecdotal claim that as long as you are using old, rather than new nails (which can supposedly let the luck spill out), that the horseshoe's powers will be strong. Finally, a third camp of superstitions suggests that using a lucky number of nails such as seven or three ensures the best fortune.

Regardless of which legends and cultural beliefs speak to you personally, the key to displaying your lucky horseshoe is to hang it near an exterior entrance to your home. Choose whichever position, prongs-up or prongs-down, suits your preferences. Original nails in the quantity of your lucky number are preferred, just for superstitions' sake!