GB2166655A

GB2166655A - Leg brace for horse

Info

Publication number: GB2166655A
Application number: GB08427962A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Penelope Margaret Sturgis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-11-05
Filing date: 1984-11-05
Publication date: 1986-05-14
Also published as: GB8427962D0

Abstract

A shock-absorbing leg brace for horses comprises: a) an upper bracelet (1) provided with fastening means (3, 4); and being made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg above the knee; b) a lower bracelet (5) of similar construction to said upper bracelet, but cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock; c) at least two elastic straps (10) extending between said upper and lower bracelets so as to run substantially parallel with the tendons of the leg, and preferably d) a supplementary bracelet (14) positioned between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of said elastic straps. The leg brace is particularly intended to strengthen and support strained or otherwise damaged tendons in the forelegs of race-horses. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A leg brace The invention relates to a shock-absorbing leg brace or gaiter, particularly intended to strengthen and support strained or otherwise damaged tendons in the forelegs of race-horses.

The flexible tendons in the forelegs of horses are relatively weak and susceptible to damage. This is true for all types of horses, particularly flat-racers and steeplechasers, and damage can occur at work or in training and especially when racing, since it is when jumping or galloping that the tendons undergo the severest strain. This can cause long periods of injury and may even result in permanent lameness.

According to the present invention there is provided a shock-absorbing leg brace for horses comprising: a) an upper bracelet provided with fastening means and being made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg above the knee; b) a lower bracelet of similar construction to said upper bracelet, but cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock; c) at least two elastic straps extending between said upper and lower bracelets so as to run substantially parallel with the tendons of the leg, and preferably d) a supplementary bracelet positioned between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of said elastic straps.

The object of the invention is to supplement the relative weakness of the flexible tendons in the forelegs of horses, particularly of race-horses, by means of an arrangement of elastic shockabsorbing straps running parallel to the tendons and held in place by two adjustable bracelets; the upper bracelet preferably being postioned above the metacarpi magnus at the knee and the lower bracelet at the pastern (between the.fetlock and the hoof). The fixture is preferably completed by a supplementary bracelet, preferably positioned adjacent to the upper end of the tendons, to prevent the elastic straps from slipping sideways during movement of the leg. The brace is primarily intended to strengthen or support already damaged tendons, but may also be useful in helping to prevent the straining of tendons.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the brace of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows the brace in position on the forelegs of a horse.

The upper bracelet 1 should be made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg of the horse above the knee and is preferably made of leather.

The sides of the bracelet may be lightly padded 2 to prevent discomfort being caused to the animal. It will be understood that the dimensions of the brace may be varied to suit the size of the animal in question. However, the upper bracelet may be typically 30-50 mm in width and have a variable circumference within limits of 300-370 mm. Any suitable fastening means may be employed and in the preferred embodiment the bracelet fastens by means of two straps 3 which fit into two buckles 4 sewn on to the outside of the bracelet.

The lower bracelet 5 is of similar construction to the upper bracelet, but should be cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock. Typically, it will have a sloping cut 6 necessary because of the angle of about 138" of the pastern and will be cut-out 7 in the upper side at the back to fit around the back of the fetlock. The lower bracelet is again preferably made of leather, is about 30-50 mm in width, has a variable circumference within the limits of 180-250 mm and is fastened in a similar way to the upper bracelet, preferably by means of straps 8 and buckles 9.

The elastic straps 10 should preferably be of variable length and made from a material whose strength has been calculated as suitable for their purpose. The elastic straps extend between the upper bracelet 1 and the lower bracelet 5 and are typically about 2535 mm in width and from 300-380 mm in length. In practice it is generally found that two parallel elastic straps are most suitable, although in theory a larger number of straps may be used. The elastic straps may be sewn directly on to the bracelets and are preferably attached to the lower bracelet at the sides 11 parallel to the leg tendons and are most preferably joined to the upper bracelet by means of an intermediate strip of leather 12 adjustable by a buckle 13 sewn on to the upper end of each elastic strap 10.Tension on the straps 10 may be adjusted before, or more usually after, the brace has been positioned on the foreleg.

A supplementary bracelet 14 is also provided between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of the elastic straps This bracelet is typically about 4-8 mm in width, is preferably made of leather and fastens by means of a buckle 15. The supplementary bracelet may suitably run between two thin leather loops 16 sewn directly on to the elastic straps.

The invention is particularly intended for use on the forelegs of race-horses, although it may also be used with ponies, donkeys and similar animals.

1. A shock-absorbing leg brace for horses comprising: a) an upper bracelet provided with fastening means and being made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg above the knee; b) a lower bracelet of similar construction to said upper bracelet, but cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock; and c) at least two elastic straps extending between said upper and lower bracelets so as to run substantially parallel with the tendons of the leg.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A leg brace The invention relates to a shock-absorbing leg brace or gaiter, particularly intended to strengthen and support strained or otherwise damaged tendons in the forelegs of race-horses. The flexible tendons in the forelegs of horses are relatively weak and susceptible to damage. This is true for all types of horses, particularly flat-racers and steeplechasers, and damage can occur at work or in training and especially when racing, since it is when jumping or galloping that the tendons undergo the severest strain. This can cause long periods of injury and may even result in permanent lameness. According to the present invention there is provided a shock-absorbing leg brace for horses comprising: a) an upper bracelet provided with fastening means and being made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg above the knee; b) a lower bracelet of similar construction to said upper bracelet, but cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock; c) at least two elastic straps extending between said upper and lower bracelets so as to run substantially parallel with the tendons of the leg, and preferably d) a supplementary bracelet positioned between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of said elastic straps. The object of the invention is to supplement the relative weakness of the flexible tendons in the forelegs of horses, particularly of race-horses, by means of an arrangement of elastic shockabsorbing straps running parallel to the tendons and held in place by two adjustable bracelets; the upper bracelet preferably being postioned above the metacarpi magnus at the knee and the lower bracelet at the pastern (between the.fetlock and the hoof). The fixture is preferably completed by a supplementary bracelet, preferably positioned adjacent to the upper end of the tendons, to prevent the elastic straps from slipping sideways during movement of the leg. The brace is primarily intended to strengthen or support already damaged tendons, but may also be useful in helping to prevent the straining of tendons. The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the brace of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the brace in position on the forelegs of a horse. The upper bracelet 1 should be made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg of the horse above the knee and is preferably made of leather. The sides of the bracelet may be lightly padded 2 to prevent discomfort being caused to the animal. It will be understood that the dimensions of the brace may be varied to suit the size of the animal in question. However, the upper bracelet may be typically 30-50 mm in width and have a variable circumference within limits of 300-370 mm. Any suitable fastening means may be employed and in the preferred embodiment the bracelet fastens by means of two straps 3 which fit into two buckles 4 sewn on to the outside of the bracelet. The lower bracelet 5 is of similar construction to the upper bracelet, but should be cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock. Typically, it will have a sloping cut 6 necessary because of the angle of about 138" of the pastern and will be cut-out 7 in the upper side at the back to fit around the back of the fetlock. The lower bracelet is again preferably made of leather, is about 30-50 mm in width, has a variable circumference within the limits of 180-250 mm and is fastened in a similar way to the upper bracelet, preferably by means of straps 8 and buckles 9. The elastic straps 10 should preferably be of variable length and made from a material whose strength has been calculated as suitable for their purpose. The elastic straps extend between the upper bracelet 1 and the lower bracelet 5 and are typically about 2535 mm in width and from 300-380 mm in length. In practice it is generally found that two parallel elastic straps are most suitable, although in theory a larger number of straps may be used. The elastic straps may be sewn directly on to the bracelets and are preferably attached to the lower bracelet at the sides 11 parallel to the leg tendons and are most preferably joined to the upper bracelet by means of an intermediate strip of leather 12 adjustable by a buckle 13 sewn on to the upper end of each elastic strap 10.Tension on the straps 10 may be adjusted before, or more usually after, the brace has been positioned on the foreleg. A supplementary bracelet 14 is also provided between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of the elastic straps This bracelet is typically about 4-8 mm in width, is preferably made of leather and fastens by means of a buckle 15. The supplementary bracelet may suitably run between two thin leather loops 16 sewn directly on to the elastic straps. The invention is particularly intended for use on the forelegs of race-horses, although it may also be used with ponies, donkeys and similar animals. CLAIMS

1. A shock-absorbing leg brace for horses comprising: a) an upper bracelet provided with fastening means and being made of a material sufficiently supple to enable it to be precisely adjusted and fastened around the leg above the knee; b) a lower bracelet of similar construction to said upper bracelet, but cut so as to enable it to be fastened around the pastern below the back of the fetlock; and

c) at least two elastic straps extending between said upper and lower bracelets so as to run substantially parallel with the tendons of the leg.

2. A brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic straps are of adjustable length to provide the required tension between the upper and the lower bracelets.

3. A brace as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there is also provided a supplementary bracelet positioned between said upper and lower bracelets so as to restrict the sideways movement of said elastic straps.