Vintage horse shoes for rustic decoration

There are many myths and legends surrounding horse shoes and most people believe that they should be hung outside your house to ward off evil spirits — but be careful to hang it the right way up (with the ends facing upwards) otherwise all your family’s good luck will drain out of it. Horseshoes are seen as a symbol of good luck in everyday life. For your wedding day, if the bride carries a horseshoe with ribbons tied on it during the ceremony, it collects all the good luck from the day. After the wedding, the horseshoe can then be placed above the doorway of the couple's new home.

Modern horse shoes for weddings can be bought online but they are shiny and bright without age. I have a number of very old ones for sale, rust and all which would look great outside the house or in the garden. A plaque like this one with an old horse shoe ,horse brass and slate 'bee happy' motif makes an eye-catching wall hanging

or a group hung together on an old wall look really rustic.

If you want to clean rust off them the easiest way is to soak them for a few hours in citric acid and hot water then brush with a wire brush.

They could also be painted and used as pot stands or just pretty display.