A hoof tap device is provided. Each hoof tap device has a tap bridge from which a plurality of tap posts transversely extend. Each hoof tap device may be dimensioned and adapted so that a plurality of the hoof tap devices may be spaced apart along and just inward of the hoof wall of a horse hoof so that at least a portion of each back edge protrudes therefrom, enabling traction, preventing excessive wear, and improving the movement of the hoof by allowing it to flex and expand naturally during use.

A hoof tap device is provided. Each hoof tap device has a tap bridge from which a plurality of tap posts transversely extend. Each hoof tap device may be dimensioned and adapted so that a plurality of the hoof tap devices may be spaced apart along and just inward of the hoof wall of a horse hoof so that at least a portion of each back edge protrudes therefrom, enabling traction, preventing excessive wear, and improving the movement of the hoof by allowing it to flex and expand naturally during use.

There is shown and described a shoeing for horses, in particular for racehorses being used in competition, constructed from a core made of fiber-reinforced plastic material which is surrounded by a functional layer made of plastic.

According to the invention it is provided that the core is formed substantially from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material (i.e. a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic) and the functional layer is formed substantially from a thermoplastic polycarbonate material or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonate material (i.e. a thermoplastic or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic).

Furthermore there is shown and described a thermoplastic injection molding method for producing the shoeing.

There is shown and described a shoeing for horses, in particular for racehorses being used in competition, constructed from a core made of fiber-reinforced plastic material which is surrounded by a functional layer made of plastic.

According to the invention it is provided that the core is formed substantially from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material (i.e. a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic) and the functional layer is formed substantially from a thermoplastic polycarbonate material or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonate material (i.e. a thermoplastic or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic).

Furthermore there is shown and described a thermoplastic injection molding method for producing the shoeing.

A novel horse hoof boot is provided with a method of forming the same. The boot includes two separate elements, the first configured in part to support the horse's hoof inside the boundary of the hoof wall and the second wrapping around the outside of the hoof to provide stability. The method enables custom forming of a boot to a particular horse's hoof by forming a three-dimensional rigid hoof model which guides formation of the boot components.

An equine shoe including a platform and cuffs or lateral walls. The lateral wall of the platform has proximal and distal cut outs. The proximal and distal cutouts of the lateral wall allows for expansion and contraction of a horse hoof through phases a horses gait. The shoe allows for variable customization to cater to all types of horse hoof width and sizes. The lateral walls can either be a uniform material with the shoe platform or the lateral walls can be separate parts of the shoe to allow custom fixture to the horse hoof. The separate lateral walls can then be heat welded to the platform to create a uniform shoe. Alternatively a cuff can be glue to the horse hoof and be received by a corresponding shoe.

An equine shoe including a platform and cuffs or lateral walls. The lateral wall of the platform has proximal and distal cut outs. The proximal and distal cutouts of the lateral wall allows for expansion and contraction of a horse hoof through phases a horses gait. The shoe allows for variable customization to cater to all types of horse hoof width and sizes. The lateral walls can either be a uniform material with the shoe platform or the lateral walls can be separate parts of the shoe to allow custom fixture to the horse hoof. The separate lateral walls can then be heat welded to the platform to create a uniform shoe. Alternatively a cuff can be glue to the horse hoof and be received by a corresponding shoe.

A novel horse hoof boot is provided with a method of forming the same. The boot includes two separate elements, the first configured in part to support the horse's hoof inside the boundary of the hoof wall and the second wrapping around the outside of the hoof to provide stability. The method enables custom forming of a boot to a particular horse's hoof by forming a three-dimensional rigid hoof model which guides formation of the boot components.

A novel horse hoof boot is provided with a method of forming the same. The boot includes two separate elements, the first configured in part to support the horse's hoof inside the boundary of the hoof wall and the second wrapping around the outside of the hoof to provide stability. The method enables custom forming of a boot to a particular horse's hoof by forming a three-dimensional rigid hoof model which guides formation of the boot components.

A horseshoe (10) comprising a relatively rigid insert (14) operatively connected to a sole (12), the relatively rigid (14) insert typically being made of metal and being generally U-shaped with a front, central portion and a pair of spaced-apart branches extending from opposite ends of the central portion. The sole (12), in certain embodiments, is overmoulded onto the insert (14) and forms a frog for protecting the sole of a hoof and through which loads can be transmitted to a walking surface. The sole (12) comprises central portion having a generally W-shaped lateral cross-section (76) comprising an apex (70) and a valley (74, 76) interposed between the apex (70) and each of the branches. Thus, when a load (82) is applied to the sole (12) of the shoe (10) from above, the apex (70) of the W-cross-sectioned portion (76) of the sole (12) is depressed, and this deflection spreads the sole (12) such that it exerts a radially outward force onto the branches of the metal insert (14), thus widening the shoe (10). This expansion corresponds substantially to the natural expansion of an un-shod hoof under load. The shoe (10) may additionally have a crease (12) comprising a plurality of radially inwardly and radially outwardly displaced notches for positioning nail heads at different radial and circumferential positions. The sole (12) may further comprise a glue/cushioning retaining lip (42).