A fastener system comprising a strap incorporating a plurality of teeth and comprising a buckle incorporating a plurality of slots. The strap can be engaged by the buckle such that the strap resists disengagement by a separating force applied generally equally across the width of the strap and the buckle, but will disengage upon application of an asymmetrical force applied proximate either just to the top edge or just to the bottom edge of the buckle and strap. The fastener system can be associated with a cuff or other article so as to releasably maintain two opposing side edges of the cuff in proximity to each other.

A fastener system comprising a strap incorporating a plurality of teeth and comprising a buckle incorporating a plurality of slots. The strap can be engaged by the buckle such that the strap resists disengagement by a separating force applied generally equally across the width of the strap and the buckle, but will disengage upon application of an asymmetrical force applied proximate either just to the top edge or just to the bottom edge of the buckle and strap. The fastener system can be associated with a cuff or other article so as to releasably maintain two opposing side edges of the cuff in proximity to each other.

A hood (100) for a head of a horse includes: a main part intended to be placed on the head, two ears (104a, 104b) integral with the main part and in each of which is housed one of the ears of the horse, an auditory device (300) including a reception module (302) including elements for receiving signals, a transformation module (304) including elements for transforming the signals received into sounds audible to the horse, and a pair of loudspeakers (306) connected to the transformation module (304), each of the loudspeakers (306) being housed and fixed inside an ear (104a, 104b) of the hood (100).

A hood (100) for a head of a horse includes: a main part intended to be placed on the head, two ears (104a, 104b) integral with the main part and in each of which is housed one of the ears of the horse, an auditory device (300) including a reception module (302) including elements for receiving signals, a transformation module (304) including elements for transforming the signals received into sounds audible to the horse, and a pair of loudspeakers (306) connected to the transformation module (304), each of the loudspeakers (306) being housed and fixed inside an ear (104a, 104b) of the hood (100).

An apparatus for inhibiting melatonin synthesis in a horse comprises a blinker having an internal surface of which at least a part is diffusing. A source of light is positioned for direction into the horse's eye by the diffusing-surface. The light source and diffusing surface are configured such that the light directed into the horse's eye is blue.

A hoof boot has a base, a heel captivator, and a pivoting mechanism that disposes the heel captivator to pivot relative to the base, preferably in a manner that allows the heel captivator at least three degrees of freedom of movement relative to the base. The heel captivator is preferably low in the rearmost portion, which provides clearance for the pastern bones of the equine lower leg to descend upon weight bearing during movement at various gaits. To reduce the possibility for bruising and chaffing of soft tissue around the pastern bones, and to help eliminate accumulation of debris, preferred heel captivators have an open mesh architecture. Heel captivators can alternatively or additionally be designed with fabric covered neoprene or other liners. Boots are preferably tightened using mechanically advantages laces.

A hoof boot has a base, a heel captivator, and a pivoting mechanism that disposes the heel captivator to pivot relative to the base, preferably in a manner that allows the heel captivator at least three degrees of freedom of movement relative to the base. The heel captivator is preferably low in the rearmost portion, which provides clearance for the pastern bones of the equine lower leg to descend upon weight bearing during movement at various gaits. To reduce the possibility for bruising and chaffing of soft tissue around the pastern bones, and to help eliminate accumulation of debris, preferred heel captivators have an open mesh architecture. Heel captivators can alternatively or additionally be designed with fabric covered neoprene or other liners. Boots are preferably tightened using mechanically advantages laces.

A protective article for a horse includes a protective member and a replaceable securing member. The protective member includes a body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around and secured to a horse's body part, and further includes a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other end. The replaceable securing member is adapted to be selectively engaged with the engagement members in a manner that urges the engagement members towards one another. The replaceable securing member includes a first securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first engagement member, and a second securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second engagement member, the first securing assembly securing to the first engagement member independently of the second securing assembly.

A protective article for a horse includes a protective member and a replaceable securing member. The protective member includes a body portion extending between a pair of opposing ends and dimensioned to be wrapped around and secured to a horse's body part, and further includes a first engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent one end, and a second engagement member coupled to the body portion adjacent the other end. The replaceable securing member is adapted to be selectively engaged with the engagement members in a manner that urges the engagement members towards one another. The replaceable securing member includes a first securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the first engagement member, and a second securing assembly adapted to be manually reversibly secured to the second engagement member, the first securing assembly securing to the first engagement member independently of the second securing assembly.

A hood (100) for a head of a horse includes: a main part intended to be placed on the head, two ears (104a, 104b) integral with the main part and in each of which is housed one of the ears of the horse, an auditory device (300) including a reception module (302) including elements for receiving signals, a transformation module (304) including elements for transforming the signals received into sounds audible to the horse, and a pair of loudspeakers (306) connected to the transformation module (304), each of the loudspeakers (306) being housed and fixed inside an ear (104a, 104b) of the hood (100).