There is evidence to suggest that horseshoes were developed as a military invention. In fact, the use of horseshoes in warfare played a significant role in the spread of horseshoeing throughout Europe.
During the Roman Empire, horses were essential for military campaigns, and protecting their hooves became crucial for their performance and survival on the battlefield. From historical texts we know that Roman soldiers were among the first to protect the limbs of their horses for warfare.
“The Roman soldiers rendered them useless chiefly by the following contrivance: at the instant the engagement began, they strewed the field of battle with caltrops, and the horses that drew the chariots, running full speed on them, were infallibly destroyed. A caltrop is a machine composed of four spikes or points arranged so that in whatever manner it is thrown on the ground, it rests on three and presents the fourth upright.” Excerpt from ” De Re Militari” by Vegetius
The use of horseshoes in warfare allowed horses to move more safely over rough terrain in protecting armor, making them more effective in battle. It also reduced the risk of injury and lameness, which could have been catastrophic on the battlefield. It allowed for horses to be used for longer periods, as their hooves were less likely to become injured, or damaged in war conditions.
By the Middle Ages, nailed iron horseshoeing had become a widespread practice, particularly among armies and knights. Overall, the development of horseshoeing as a military invention played a significant role in the spread of horseshoeing throughout Europe and its adoption as a standard practice for the care of horses during military conflicts.
The Military Institutions of the Romans (De Re Militari) By Flavius Vegetius , translated from the Latin by Lieutenant John Clarke, Text written in 390 A.D. British translation published in 1767.
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The application of nailed iron horseshoes in warfare appears by the Middle Ages
Caltrop
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caltrop
