GB2235119A

GB2235119A - Protective devices for the legs of horses

Info

Publication number: GB2235119A
Application number: GB9018619A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Challis-Hircock
Original assignee: CHALLIS HIRCOCK PETER
Current assignee: CHALLIS HIRCOCK PETER
Priority date: 1989-08-25
Filing date: 1990-08-24
Publication date: 1991-02-27
Also published as: GB9018619D0

Abstract

A pastern protector is provided for use with an over-reaching boot. The pastern protector includes a first or upper portion which can be wrapped around the horses leg to protect the pastern and a second or lower portion which can fit within the over-reaching boot so as to act as a lining for the boot.

Description

PROTECTIVE DEVICES FOR THE LEGS OF HORSES Field of the Invention This invention relates to protective devices for fitment to the legs of horses.

Background of the Invention Figures 1 and 2 show the bone structure and other components of the lower portion of the front leg of a horse.

This includes a cannon bone or pastern 10, a first phalanx 11, a second phalanx 12, a third phalanx 13 and a navicular bone 14.

There are a number of over-reaching boots at present in use which afford reasonable or adequate protection for the heel and adjacent portions of the leg structure, such as the phalanxes, but they do not provide adequate protection for the pastern.

A typical form of over-reaching boot at present in use is shown in Figure 3, this boot being formed as a one-piece rubber moulding. Another form of boot at present in use comprises a plurality of petals which are assembled together around the lower portion of the horses leg. Both these boots are adequate insofar that they protect the heel of the horse but, as mentioned above, the area of protection is very limited and accidents can still occur even when the boots are worn.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide means for protecting the pastern of the front leg of a horse.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a protective device which can be used with the boots described above to improve their effectiveness.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided the combination of an over-reaching boot and a pastern protector which includes a first portion which can be wrapped around a front leg of a horse to protect the pastern and a second portion which can fit within the over-reaching boot to act as a lining for the upper portion of the overreaching boot.

By arranging for said second portion to fit within the over-reaching boot, not only does said second portion reduce the possibility of chafing being caused by the over-reaching boot but it also reduces the possibility of the over-reaching boot turning around the horse's foot. If, therefore, part of the over-reaching boot is made of increased thickness, the pastern protector can serve to assist in locating said increased thickness part at the position in which it will be of most benefit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pastern protector for a horse, which protector includes a layer of a flexible, resiliently deformable rubber or rubber-like material, a lining for the layer of rubber or rubber-like material, which lining extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material so that, in use, that part of the lining which extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material can serve as a lining for the upper portion of an over-reaching boot, and means for fastening the layer of rubber or rubber-like material in position when wrapped around the front leg of a horse so as to protect the pastern.

The lining is preferably formed as a plurality of sections which are secured to the layer of rubber or rubberlike material in such manner that, when the layer of rubber or rubber-like material is wrapped around the horse's leg, that part of the lining which extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material can flare outwardly to conform to the shape of that part of the horse's leg around which it extends.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figures 1 and 2 show, as mentioned above, the lower portion of the leg of a horse, Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically an existing form of over-reaching boot, and Figure 4 illustrates a pastern protector in accordance with the present invention.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment The bone structure of a front leg of a horse is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and includes, as mentioned above, a pastern 10, a first phalanx 11, a second phalanx 12, a third phalanx 13 and a navicular bone 14. When an over-reaching boot is fitted on the leg, it will normally provide protection for the heel 16 and those bones below the level indicated by the line 15 in Figure 2. In particular, it will not provide any protection for the pastern 10.

The typical over-reaching boot shown in Figure 3 is formed as a moulding of a relatively soft and elastic rubber and includes a main body portion 17 which is outwardly flared or of generally bell shape so that it conforms to the shape of the horse's foot and will stay in position once fitted on the foot. A number of ribs 18 stand proud of the surface of the body portion 17 and serve to increase the degree of protection afforded by the boot. An increased thickness flange or rib 19 is provided around the lower edge of the boot and a similar, but less pronounced, flange or rib 20 is provided around the upper edge of the boot.

Turning next to Figure 4, this shows the pastern protector of the present invention. The protector includes an elongated parallel-sided strip 21 of rubber or a rubber-like material to which four neoprene sections 22 are attached, each neoprene section 22 including a first portion which is bonded to the strip 21 and a second portion 22a which is outwardly flared and projects downwardly, in use, below the strip 21.

Fasteners 23 are provided at each end of the strip 21 so that, when the strip 21 has been wrapped around the leg of a horse, so as to provide protection for the pastern, the two ends of the strip 21 can be secured releasably together to hold the protector in position.

The releasable fasteners may be afforded be interengaging formations of the material sold under the Registered Trade Mark "VELCRO" and may be of such size as to accommodate variations in the dimensions of the legs of the horses to which the protector is to be fitted. It is envisaged, however, that a range of sizes of protector will be provided for fitment to horses of different sizes and that the length of the strip 21 and the number of sections 22, or the widths of the sections 22, will be varied accordingly.

In manufacturing the protector, the sections 22 will be cut from neoprene sheet and the strip 21 will be cut from a layer of rubber or rubber-like material. The first portions of the sections 22 will first be secured by adhesive to the strip 21 in parallel, side-by-side relationship, and will then be sewn to the strip 21. The fasteners 23 will also be sewn in position to the strip 21.

When the pastern protector of Figure 4 is attached to the leg of a horse, it will be fitted in position above the line 15 of Figure 2 so that the second portions 22a of the sections 22 flare outwardly as they extend over the surface of the horse's leg. An over-reaching boot will then be placed in position over the second portions 22a of the sections 22 which will thus act as a lining for the upper portion of the over-reaching boot.

The horse's leg is thus protected effectively in a manner such as to reduce the possibility of chafing. If, in particular, the over-reaching boot is a petal boot, the lining will also act to reduce the "clacking" noise generated by interaction of the petals.

Claims

Claims:

1. The combination of an over-reaching boot and a pastern protector which includes a first portion which can be wrapped around a front leg of a horse to protect the pastern and a second portion which can fit within the over-reaching boot to act as a lining for the upper portion of the over-reaching boot.

2. The combination according to Claim 1, in which said second portion of the pastern protector comprises a plurality of separate sections bonded to the first portion.

3. The combination of an over-reaching boot and a pastern protector, said pastern protector being constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

4. A pastern protector for a horse, which protector includes a layer of rubber or rubber-like material, a lining for the rubber or rubber-like material, which lining extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material so that, in use, that part of the lining which extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material can serve as a lining for the upper portion of an over-reaching boot, and means for fastening the layer of rubber or rubber-like material in position when wrapped around the front leg of a horse so as to protect the pastern.

5. A pastern protector according to Claim 4, in which the lining is formed as a plurality of sections which are secured to the layer of rubber or rubber-like material in such manner that, when the layer of rubber or rubber-like material is wrapped around the horse's leg, that part of the lining which extends beyond the layer of rubber or rubber-like material can flare outwardly to conform to the shape of that part of the horse's leg around which it extends.

6. A pastern protector according to Claim 5, in which the fastening means comprises pads of interengaging bristle-like elements.

7. A pastern protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.