Metal U-shaped plates nailed to the bottoms of horses' hooves to protect them, or a game where players toss metal rings at stakes.
From 'horse' + 'shoe.' Originally a practical item from around the 500s, the game version developed later when people would compete tossing horseshoes at posts for entertainment.
Horseshoes are lucky charms because people believed the metal protected horses from evil spirits—so wearing a horseshoe was like carrying a supernatural insurance policy.
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