THE owner of Beechworth Gold, Vanessa Atkins, says she would be keen for the original golden horseshoes used in the parade to be worn again next year.
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Ms Atkins’ father originally commissioned the shoes nearly 20 years ago.
Made of pure, solid nine-carat gold, the shoes have been kept safe at the jewellery business for some years.
“They were shod to the same horse every year, until that horse could no longer take part in the festival,” Ms Atkins said.
“They were used on another horse but he was a little bit rowdy.
“He'd stomp his feet and we'd lose chunks of gold from the shoes.”
Having kept them safe in the shop for the last three festivals, Ms Atkins said she would be delighted for them to be reappear at next year's parade.
“We'd be quite happy for them to be used again – we thought maybe people had forgotten we had them,” she said.
“It used to be the start of the parade, there was a policeman who would dress in period costume and stand with us when we brought the shoes out and the farrier put them on.”