Cow iron

As a cow iron , or ox iron , the horseshoe for artifacts is called. The older blacksmiths grouped all horseshoes under Hun irons .

The cow iron was previously used on ruminants to shoe the outer claws . The iron has been used specifically for this group of animals. The purpose of a horseshoe is to avoid excessive wear and tear on the animal's hooves. The cow iron resulted from the poverty of the farmers who had no money for horses to use cows and oxen as draft and work animals. Oxen and cows were harnessed to the wagons and their hooves were shod to protect them from excessive wear and tear. The hoof horn was previously cut into shape. Various horseshoe shapes were in use. Since the horseshoe was made very wide and only free in the middle, it was called an ox plate . There were also very narrow shapes that resembled a slender horse shoe.

In the coats of arms around Amt Menden , many places have the cow iron in their coat of arms. As a coat of arms, it is a common figure and regionally limited.