GB2460649A - Device for the prevention of crib-biting - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for the prevention of crib-biting or wind-sucking in horses comprises a plurality of rows of spines3, 4fixed to a base. The device is intended to be fitted to a stable door6, when fixed, the spines3face inwardly with one row of spines4, at the top of the door being vertical. The horizontal distance between the spines is sufficient to allow for the width of a finger, so that the stable door can be shut without damage to the fingers/hand. The device may be fixed in position by means of nails or screws5. The device may comprise of flexible rows of spines.

Description

I

EQUINE TRAINING AID

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A DEVICE FOR THE

PREVENTION OF WINDSUCKING' OR CRIB BITING' BY EQUINES.

THERE IS A TRAIT OR HABIT IN SOME EQUINES

(USUALLY HORSES) THAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS WIND SUCKING' OR CRIB BITING'. THIS ENTAILS THE EQUINE

ARCHING ITS NECK OR DISLOCATING ITS JAW BY BITING

DOWN ONTO A HARD FLAT SURFACE-SUCH AS A STABLE

DOOR-IN ORDER TO BREATH DIRECTLY THROUGH ITS

MOUTH. THIS IS UNNATURAL FOR HORSES AS THEY SHOULD ONLY INHALE THROUGH THEIR NOSTRILS. EQUINES WITH

THIS HABIT ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO INFECTIONS AND

PRONE TO THROAT AND RESPIRATORY AILMENTS,

SUBSEQUENTLY THEY CAN BE HARD TO GET TO PEAK

FITNESS AND CAN STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN FITNESS. ALSO

OFTEN THE OWNER WILL EXPERIENCE A DECREASE IN THE

VALUE OF THE EQUINE OR NOTICE A RELUCTANCE OF SOME

TRAINERS TO HAVE SUCH AN EQUINE IN THEIR TRAINING

YARDS.

CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF PREVENTION ALL

REVOLVE AROUND THE EQUINE BEING SENSITIVE AROUND

ITS MUZZLE AND GUMS. GLUE, GLASS, BARBED WIRE, FOUL

TASTING TAR AND CERTAIN TYPES OF RESTRAINING

HARNESSES, STRAPS OR COLLARS ARE ALL USED.

GLUE, GLASS AND BARBED WIRE PLACED ALONG

THE TOP OF THE STABLE DOOR CAN BE DANGEROUS TO THE

EQUINE AND THE STABLE STAFF. OFTEN STABLE DOORS ARE

NOT FITTED WITH HANDLES AND ARE OPENED SIMPLY BY

PLACING A HAND ON TOP OF THE STABLE DOOR AND

PULLING. ALSO THEY CAN BE DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO

REMOVE SHOULD THE EQUINE BE REPLACED BY ANOTHER

WITHOUT THE TRAIT.

HARNESSES, STRAPS, COLLARS OR BRIDLES THAT RESTRICT THE EQUINES ABILITY TO WIND SUCK' OR CRIB BITE' CAN BE TIME CONSUMING AND DIFFICULT TO PUT ON

ESPECIALLY IF THE EQUINE ASSOCIATES ITS FITTING WITH

BEING UNABLE TO PRACTISE ITS HABIT.

FOUL TASTING TAR NEEDS TO BE RE-COATED

FREQUENTLY IN DRY CONDITIONS AS DUST WILL SETTLE ON

IT AND NEUTRALISE THE BAD TASTE AND IT IS VERY

DIFFICULT TO REMOVE SHOULD THE EQUINE BE REPLACED.

ALSO ABSENT MINDED STABLE STAFF CAN FIND IT VERY

DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM SKIN AND CLOTHES.

BECAUSE OF THE SENSiTiVITY AROUND THE EQUINE MUZZLE AND GUMS, TO OVERCOME THESE PROBLEMS THE

PRESENT INVENTION PROPOSES A LINE OF NON SHARP AND

EASILY CLEANED SPINES COVERING THE LENGTH AND

BREADTH OF THE STABLE DOOR. IT WOULD BE LIGHTWEIGHT,FLEXIBLE EASY TO ATTACH AND DETACH AND WOULD BE BRIGHTLY COLOURED AND EASILY NOTICEABLE.

THE SPINES WOULD BE SPACED SO THAT THE FINGERS OF A

HAND COULD FIT IN BETWEEN TO ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE

PULLED OPEN OR PUSHED CLOSED SAFELY.

THE INVENTION WILL NOW BE DESCRIBED SOLELY

BY WAY OF EXAMPLE AND WITH REFERENCE TO THE

ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS IN WHICH: FIGURE 1 SHOWS THE SPINES FROM AN END VIEW TO DISPLAY THE FRONT TO BACK COVERING OF THE SPINES.

THIS WILL DEMONSTRATE THE DIFFICULTY THE EQUINE WILL

HAVE iN FINDiNG A BiTE HOLD.

FIGURE 2 SHOWS HOW THE SPINES WOULD LOOK ROM THE FRONT ANGLE, THIS DEMONSTRATES THE EASY

JTACHMENT METHOD AND THE SPACING BETWEEN SPINES

OR EASYAND SAFE DOOR USAGE.

FIGURE 1 DEPICTS THE ONE LINE OF VERTICAL PINES (4) AND OTHER ROWS OF INWARD FACING SPINES (3) ROTRUDING OFF THE TOP OF THE DOOR (2) INTO THE TABLE. THE OUTSIDE (1) OF THE STABLE DOOR IN FREE OF ROTRUDING SPINES. FIXING HOLES (5) FOR SCREWS OR IAILS ARE ALSO SHOWN.

FIGURE 2 DEPICTS A FRONTAL VIEW OF THE STABLE OOR WITH THE CLOSEST SPINES (4) BEING VERTICAL AND (ITH ENOUGH SPACE (7) FOR FINGERS TO GRIP THE DOOR.

HE OTHER SPINES (3) ARE POINTING AWAY AND INTO THE TABLE. ALSO SHOWN ARE THE FIXING HOLES (5) FOR CREWS OR NAILS.

KEY TO DRAWINGS

I OUTSIDE OF STABLE DOOR

2 INSIDE OF TABLE DOOR (NOT VISIBLE IN FIGURE 2) 3 ROWS OF INWARD FACING SPINES (NOT VISIBLE IN FIGURE 2) 4 FRONT ROW OF VERTICLE SPINES

FIXING HOLES FOR SCREWS OR NAILS

6 END OF DOOR S... * I S...

7 SPINES SPACED FOR FINGER ACCESS (NOT VISIBLE IN FIGURE 1) * I. * S * I.. S