Horseshoe Wreath

DesertRose
by DesertRose
5 Materials
$10
1 Hour
Easy
My inspiration for this post is this great land we live in and the great people that make it home. To me the West is still a great backbone to this country where families have lived for 4 or 5 generations on ranches and farms. They raised their families, taught their children good work ethics, cared for the livestock and all creation, and treated man and beast with respect. Friends and families stay close and help each other their whole lives. They are not so mobile as most of the country, but that does not mean they are limited in technology or knowledge. Common sense is well in use and contentment is a way of life.
This ranch holds many happy childhood hours of families at play and work. I recently was given a shoe of a mare I loved as a child into young adulthood. Every horse lover has that one horse they never forget. Horses are still a big part of the West to care for livestock. They are also now being used for special needs persons like autistic or post traumatic stress disorder persons. Horses are shown and auctioned in large arenas for their cutting skills, livestock herding skills, and much much more. You see them in every parade.
This was my mare's shoe. She only wore "0" in the front and "00" on the back, which is small for a cowpony. I have never forgotten her and the happy years we spent together working and playing.
You can see by size near this flip phone how finely trimmed she was. She was the kind of horse that would seem real only in a book, the horse every rancher and teen girl dreams to own. This horse shoe brought back all those happy memories of love, care, approval, acceptance, and joy with the people I loved most in this world.
I had some left over plastic horse shoes, a welcome sign, and a bucking horse I bought months ago with an Amazon gift card.
I painted the parts and used Gorilla glue to piece them together. The half hour job turned into 24 hours as I let each section set well to get a firm binding between parts.
I layed them out, removed the excess paint "skins" or chips, and decided how to layer them all. Then I placed some light weight tools on the whole wreath to set over night and let the Gorilla glue do its job.
Here it is on my front door. My mare carried me through many years from childhood into young adulthood. The memories of the love and care of friends and family have carried me all through life, no matter what the storms of life.
For a closer view, here is how it looks as you come in the door. It makes me feel loved and accepted each time I see it. This is how I want my guests to feel.
To get it to lie flat against the door, I used a garbage tie through two top holes. Sorry I tilted the camera when I took the photo. It is hanging straight and flat now.
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3 of 33 comments
  • Jody thomas Jody thomas on Aug 22, 2018

    Love this idea

  • Malina Malina on Sep 09, 2018

    I love your story as I lost my best friend and horse . I had him since he was 2& had to be put down at 25. He taught me so much. I couldn't get a shoe of his. But wish I did. Thanks so much for he story!!!


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