AU2010200735A1

AU2010200735A1 - Equine Concussion Pad

Info

Publication number: AU2010200735A1
Application number: AU2010200735A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Macdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-26
Filing date: 2010-02-26
Publication date: 2010-09-09

Description

P100/009 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: EQUINE CONCUSSION PAD The following describes the invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Our Ref: 102004 EQUINE CONCUSSION PAD The present invention relates to accoutrements for horses and, more particularly, to injury protection for racehorses. 5 BACKGROUND The problem of concussion to the soft heel portion of a horse's hooves as a result of galloping over firm or hard turf is well known. Shock absorbing pads have been 10 developed for trotting horses but these pads are not satisfactory for the different manner in which a galloping horse's feet strike the ground when at full stretch. Pads are known which cover the whole of the underside of the hoof but these may not provide proper traction over 15 the ground surface, especially in firm but moist conditions of the turf. Another disadvantage of such pads is that sand and grit can become trapped between the pad and the hoof, leading to irritation and possible injury. Other pads known essentially are of a single layer in 20 the shape of a horseshoe and interposed between the horseshoe and hoof, but, being open at the rear end, these do not provide significant protection to the heel of the hoof. It is an object of the present invention to address or 25 at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes 1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the 5 exclusive sense of "consisting only of". 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled 10 in the art in any country. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided an equine concussion pad for the hoof of a galloping horse; said concussion pad comprising a resilient 15 structure for affixing at the hoof of a horse; said resilient structure including a first section extending substantially over the toe and quarter of said hoof, and a second section extending substantially over the heel of said hoof. 20 Preferably, said first section forms a relatively thin resilient layer interposed between said toe and said quarter, and a horse shoe affixed to said hoof. Preferably, said second section forms a relatively thicker resilient layer; said second section being thicker than 25 said first section by approximately the thickness of said horseshoe.

Preferably, the thickness of said relatively thin resilient layer is between 3 and 5mm. Preferably, the thickness of said relatively thicker resilient layer is between 9 and 13mm. 5 Preferably, said horseshoe is a truncated horseshoe. Preferably, said horseshoe is a three quarter horseshoe. Preferably, said first section forms an arcuate loop extending forwardly from said second section; an outer edge defining said arcuate loop coincident with the outer edge 10 of the hoof wall; said arcuate loop substantially coextensive with said truncated horse shoe, so as to leave an open area over and about the frog of said hoof. Preferably, two integral stiffening elements extend forwardly from said second section; said stiffening 15 elements extending along a portion of an inner edge of said arcuate loop of said first section; said stiffening elements restricting flexing between said first section and said second section. Preferably, said resilient material is a silicon 20 composition. Preferably, said concussion pad is provided in at least three sizes. In a further broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of reducing impact leading to concussion at the 25 heel of the hoof of a galloping horse; said method including the steps of; (a) selecting a suitably sized equine concussion pad from a range of available equine concussion pads, (b) placing said equine concussion pad over the 5 underside of said hoof, (c) fixing a truncated horseshoe over a first section of said equine concussion pad so as to secure said first section between said horse shoe and said underside of said hoof, 10 (d) trimming any excess material from said equine concussion pad so as to make said concussion pad coextensive with said underside of said hoof. Preferably, said first section forms a relatively thinner layer between said horseshoe and said underside of said 15 hoof. Preferably, a second section of said pad extending rearward from said first section, forms a relatively thicker layer than said first section; an underside of said second section substantially flush with an underside of said 20 horseshoe. Preferably, the thickness of said relatively thinner layer is between 3 and 5mm. Preferably, the thickness of said relatively thicker layer is between 9 and 13mm. 25 Preferably, said first section is substantially coextensive with said truncated horseshoe.

- 60 Preferably, said second section extends over said heel of said hoof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be 5 described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the underside of a horse's hoof, the concussion pad according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and a truncated 10 horseshoe for assembly to the hoof with the concussion pad. Figure 2 is a sectioned view of the concussion pad of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view of the concussion pad of figure 1 as seen from underneath. 15 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 3, a concussion pad 10 is 20 formed of a resilient material for attachment to the underside 12 of the hoof 14 of a horse (not shown), Preferably, though not necessarily, the material is a silicon composition. The pad 10 is comprised of a forward, relatively 25 thinner first section 16 extending substantially over the toe and quarter portions of the underside 12 of the hoof. A - I relatively thicker second section 18, extends rearward from first section 16 and substantially covers the rearward portion of the frog and heel of the hoof 14. Preferably, the thickness of the forward first section 16 is between 3 5 and 5mm, with the thickness of the second section 18 between 9 and 12mm. Preferably, the difference in thickness between the first section 16 and second section 18 is approximately equal to the thickness of a horseshoe 20, to be used in conjunction with the concussion pad 10. 10 Preferably, first section 16 is in the form of an arcuate loop extending forwardly from the second section 18; the outer edge 17 defining the loop, coincident with the outer edge of the hoof wall 22. The inner edge 19 of the loop thus defines an aperture 24. Preferably also, the 15 arcuate loop of first section 16, is substantially coextensive with the area covered by the horseshoe 20, when the pad 10 and shoe 20 are applied to the hoof 14. The aperture 24 thus leaves open the area over and about the frog of the hoof. 20 Two integral stiffening elements 26A and 26B extend forwardly from leading face 28 of second section 18, lying along the inner edge 19 of the aperture 24. These stiffening elements 26A and 26B serve to restrict the flexing of the second section 18 relative to first section 25 16 when inertial forces act on the pad from the galloping action of the horse.

The concussion pad 10 may be provided in a range of sizes and preferably in at least three sizes to accommodate a range of horses' hooves. For use, a pad of a size at least sufficient to cover 5 the whole of the underside 12 of the horse's hoof 14, is placed against the hoof, with the outer edge 17 of the first section 16 as closely coincident with the outer edge of the hoof wall 22 as possible. A suitably truncated horseshoe 20, for example a 3/4 shoe is then placed over 10 the first section 16 and nailed to the hoof 14, thus securing the first section 16 interposed between the hoof and the horseshoe. Any overlapping excess of pad 20 extending beyond the periphery of the hoof is then trimmed away and the pad is ready for use. 15 In Use In use, the pad 20 significantly reduces the jarring impact on the horse's heel as this strikes the turf when galloping. The thickness of the first section 16, while sufficient to provide a secure anchor for the pad 10 as a 20 whole, is not such as to interfere with the normal function of the horseshoe 20. The aperture 24 also ensures a normal interaction between the horseshoe, the ground surface and the underside of the hoof. 25 The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An equine concussion pad for the hoof of a galloping horse; said concussion pad comprising a resilient structure for affixing at the hoof of a horse; said 5 resilient structure including a first section extending substantially over the toe and quarter of said hoof, and a second section extending substantially over the heel of said hoof.

2. The pad of claim 1 wherein said first section forms 10 a relatively thin resilient layer interposed between said toe and said quarter, and a horse shoe affixed to said hoof.

3. The pad of claim 1 or 2 wherein said second section forms a relatively thicker resilient layer; said 15 second section being thicker than said first section by approximately the thickness of said horseshoe.

4. The pad of claim 2 wherein the thickness of said relatively thin resilient layer is between 3 and 5mm. 20

5. The pad of claim 3 wherein the thickness of said relatively thicker resilient layer is between 9 and 13mm.

6. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said horseshoe is a truncated horseshoe. 25

7. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said horseshoe is a three quarter horseshoe. - 11

8. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said first section forms an arcuate loop extending forwardly from said second section; an outer edge defining said arcuate loop coincident with the outer 5 edge of the hoof wall; said arcuate loop substantially coextensive with said truncated horse shoe, so as to leave an open area over and about the frog of said hoof.

9. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein two 10 integral stiffening elements extend forwardly from said second section; said stiffening elements extending along a portion of an inner edge of said arcuate loop of said first section; said stiffening elements restricting flexing between said first 15 section and said second section.

10. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said resilient material is a silicon composition.

11. The pad of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein said concussion pad is provided in at least three 20 sizes.

12. A method of reducing impact leading to concussion at the heel of the hoof of a galloping horse; said method including the steps of; (e) selecting a suitably sized equine concussion pad 25 from a range of available equine concussion pads, (f) placing said equine concussion pad over the underside of said hoof, (g) fixing a truncated horseshoe over a first section of said equine concussion pad so as to 5 secure said first section between said horse shoe and said underside of said hoof, (h) trimming any excess material from said equine concussion pad so as to make said concussion pad coextensive with said underside of said hoof. 10

13, The method of claim 12, wherein said first section forms a relatively thinner layer between said horseshoe and said underside of said hoof.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein a second section of said pad extending rearward from said first 15 section, forms a relatively thicker layer than said first section; an underside of said second section substantially flush with an underside of said horseshoe.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the thickness of 20 said relatively thinner layer is between 3 and 5mm.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the thickness of said relatively thicker layer is between 9 and 13mm.

17. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein said first section is substantially coextensive with 25 said truncated horseshoe.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said second section extends over said heel of said hoof.

19. An equine concussion pad as herein described and with reference to figures 2 and 3.