Saratoga Hidden Horseshoe 

Jennifer Claeson has spent the last four summers hiding 300 used horseshoes around Saratoga Springs as a scavenger hunt. Claeson is an outdoor enthusiast; she founded Saratoga Hidden Horseshoe in 2023 to give people an excuse to get off their phones and around different areas of the town.

Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes is modeled after the Glass Float Project in Block Island, Rhode Island. Eben Horton is a local glass blower in Block Island, since 2011 he has been hiding glass bulbs resembling Japanese fish net floats around Block Island.  

Claeson was visiting a friend on Block Island in 2021 where she discovered the project and was inspired to start a similar project in Saratoga Springs.

Claeson’s husband, Andy Claeson, is a racing syndicate which gives Claeson access to the back stretch to acquire the horseshoes. 

Claeson hides the horseshoes around Congress Park, Waterfront Park, Beekman Avenue, Spring Run Trail, and Railroad Run. She hides the horseshoes from May through September, but not all the horseshoes are found every summer. There are still horseshoes scattered across the spa city from their first year in 2023. 

“What I love about the project is it’s getting people out in nature. It’s getting people off their phones; walking, exploring parts of the city that they have never seen,’ said Claeson. 

The scavenger hunt has an air of competitiveness within the community.

“It’s the thrill of the hunt, and you may never find one, and you may just go for your first hunt and find one,” Claeson said. 

One local wrote on Facebook, “I was so excited to find one tonight! Since moving to Saratoga finding a hidden horseshoe has been a dream of mine. I have been searching a lot lately as I’m moving away in just a few days and thought I’d never get a chance again! – Olivia”

Each horseshoe has a QR code that allows the person who found it to send in a picture and a comment about their adventure. Follow Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with the latest finds. 

Each year, 30 of the 300 horseshoes are decorated by local artists. For two out of the four years so far, the artists have been paid through a grant provided by Saratoga Arts. Claeson hopes that the grant will continue to support local artists. 

Claeson is looking for help from the community to aid in cleaning the horseshoes, the most time-consuming part about the project. The National Honor’s Society of Saratoga Springs High School previously helped her with cleaning the horseshoes, but since that partnership fell through last year, Claeson has been cleaning all 300 horseshoes by herself.

Claeson is also perpetually looking for sponsorship opportunities with local Saratoga Brands. Previously Roohan Realty, Crossford Chase, and Pannell’s Resturant have previously sponsored the project, which helps Claeson pay for expensed required to keep the project going.

Anyone interested helping Claeson clean the horseshoes or for sponsorship opportunities, email saratogahiddenhorseshoes@gmail.com.