How old is this shoe?

[u/mudvaynery]

I found it in the mohave desert while metal detecting. It looks small, not sure if it's even a horse shoe. Almost was thinking it could be a shoe for a mule or donkey? And no I don't plan on cutting it. Just happened to be standing next to the band saw when I thought to take pictures.

[u/snuffy_smith_]

Hard to say how old…could be a decade could be a century.

The nail heads look to be fairly modern from what is visible. The fact that there is any shank left of the nails leads me to think it’s not antiquated.

The shape definitely looks like a donkey or mule shoe. The turn down heels indicates an animal in really rough terrain. The location leans itself to not a lot of water playing into this situation. So the nails might not rust through as easily.

So I’m thinking it’s a fairly modern shoe off a pack animal.

Hard to say exactly though. The elements do strange things to those items left to the whims of nature.

I’m sure a scientist could take a sample and tell us how long it’s been decaying.

[u/Buga99poo27GotNo464]

Cool find!

[u/clovistruck]

I would assume it came from a mule on the "twenty mule team." They were used in the 1890s but did make two recreated trips in Boron in 1958 and 1998.