GB2392603A - Horseshoe - Google Patents

Abstract

A horseshoe formed from plastics material having a first surface 11 for contact with the sole of a hoof and a second surface for contact with the ground, the first surface having a raised section 12. The horseshoe can be glued to both the side wall and the sole of the hoof. Preferably, the horseshoe has a number of upstands 10 positioned around the outer edge of the first surface, to locate the shoe precisely on the hoof. The horseshoe may have a flexible treaded material moulded into the second surface of the horseshoe.

Description

, ' OVERMOULDED PLASTIC HORSESHOE

This invention relates to a lightweight, all-plastic, glue-on horseshoe.

Traditional horseshoes constructed in metal e.g. steel, aluminium, etc are nailed to the outer part of the hoof. More recently, nail-on plastic or metal/plastic horseshoes have been developed. All these nail-on types of shoe eventually lead to problems with the horses' hooves, particularly with racehorses which need to be re-shod frequently. The hoof' becomes weaker as the number of nail holes increases and it becomes increasingly difficult for the furrier to nail a shoe securely in place without causing damage to the sensitive structure of the hoof, resulting in lameness. The hoof finally starts to break up, causing shoes to be cast, with the risk that the horse may stand on the cast shoe and receive puncture injuries from either the nails or the clip of the shoe. A cast shoe may also injure a jockey or other horses.

Aluminium shoes encased in plastic have been designed for glue-on attachment to the hoof: However, this type has had limited success because the shoes can only be glued to the outer wall of the hoof and not to the sole. This is because the rigidity imposed by the metal substructure does not permit the natural expansion and contraction of the hoof.

The present invention removes the constraints of both nail-on and metal/plastic glue-on shoes. I'hc present invention proposes an allplastic overmoulded shoe which is glued to both the outer wall and the ground surface of the hoof sole. This design increases the adhesive surface area by at least 60% relative to the area of the outer wall of' the hoof'. The proposed all-plastic shoe is extremely light in weight permitting much greater material to be fitted to the hoof'. The shoe is therefore more comfortable and offers greater protection to the hoof than conventional shoes. The all-plastic structure allows more movement in the hoof'capsule similar to a natural unshod hoof.

A specific application of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

I'igure I shows the surface of the shoe which is attached to the hoof Figure 2 shows the surface which makes contact with the ground.

l ( Referring to Figure I the plastic shoe incorporates integral triangular upstands I O which act as stops when fitting the shoe. These can easily be trimmed as required in order to locate the shoe precisely on the hoof after the adhesive has been applied to the surface 1 1.

A raised section 12 ensures that a specified thickness of adhesive is maintained in order to provide an optimum strength of bond. 'I'he preferred adhesive has been specifically developed for this type of use.

Referring to Figure 2 a flexible treaded material 13 is moulded into the lower surface of the shoe, which contacts the ground, in order to provide cushioning and grip.

Claims (4)

1 An all-plastic horseshoe which can be glued to both the outer wall and the surface of the hoof sole incorporating a raised section on the surface of the shoe which is attached to the hoof.

2 A horseshoe as claimed in Claim I including; integral upstands around the

outer edge of the surface of the shoe which is attached to the hoof.

3 A horseshoe as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2 including llexible treaded material moulded into the surface of the shoe which contacts the ground.

4 A horseshoe substantially as herein described and illustrated hl the accompanying drawings.