A cushioned horseshoe for use with a hoofed animal including a hoof contacting shoe with a top surface in contact with the hoof and a bottom surface comprising an integrally formed raised portion; and a plurality of nail holes extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the hoof contacting shoe to receive nails; and a ground contacting shoe including a top surface comprising a recessed portion for receiving the raised portion of the hoof contacting shoe, a bottom surface for contact with a ground surface, and a through slot extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the ground contacting shoe. Between the ground contacting shoe and the hoof contacting shoe is a pad between the bottom surface of the hoof contacting shoe and the top surface of the ground contact shoe, bonded to the bottom surface and the top surface with a rubber-tearing bond.

A rocker attachment for an equine boot with an adjustable shaped structure that attaches to the underside of a sole of an equine boot and allows the boot to rock forwardbreak-overwhen tilted, as by movement of the equine leg, thus allowing the equine to find a naturally comfortable position.

A rocker attachment for an equine boot with an adjustable shaped structure that attaches to the underside of a sole of an equine boot and allows the boot to rock forwardbreak-overwhen tilted, as by movement of the equine leg, thus allowing the equine to find a naturally comfortable position.

An equine accomodative hoof support (rocker shoe) system consisting of a tapered base that allows, in some embodiments, the equine hoof to roll forward or to the side, without unnecessary bending, thus allowing it to find a comfortable natural position to relieve stress on a sore, injured, or diseased hoof. The ability of the base to rock allows the equine to adjust its stance to find the most comfortable position, not unlike standing in a bed of sand. The system can replace expensive hoof treatment by a farrier and can easily be utilized directly by an equine practitioner or equine owner. The system provides an efficient, user friendly self-adjusting approach to sole supportive realignment of the P3 (third phalanx) as the hoof grows out.

A pad-like support device's springy (dampening, elastic) function allows a horse hoof during impact to function similar to a hoofs function during impact when the horse is unshod. A further advantage is that the risk of pressing in is essentially eliminated. A further advantage of the present invention is that the flexible zones reduce the pull on the shoe and the seam (nails) when rocks and uneven ground press the middle part in the upward direction. A still further advantage is that an effective dampening of the frog's ground impact is achieved thereby reducing the load (stress) on the horse's hoof, ligaments and joints. It is a further advantage of the present invention that it improves circulation. Because the frog's support essentially follows the frog's every movement, friction (abrasion) occurring between the pad and the frog on existing pads is minimized.

A pad-like support device's springy (dampening, elastic) function allows a horse hoof during impact to function similar to a hoofs function during impact when the horse is unshod. A further advantage is that the risk of pressing in is essentially eliminated. A further advantage of the present invention is that the flexible zones reduce the pull on the shoe and the seam (nails) when rocks and uneven ground press the middle part in the upward direction. A still further advantage is that an effective dampening of the frog's ground impact is achieved thereby reducing the load (stress) on the horse's hoof, ligaments and joints. It is a further advantage of the present invention that it improves circulation. Because the frog's support essentially follows the frog's every movement, friction (abrasion) occurring between the pad and the frog on existing pads is minimized.

A horseshoe for attaching a non-metallic horseshoe to a horse's hoof using an adhesive is described. In one example, the horseshoe includes a first layer composed of an elastomeric material, which forms a body of the horseshoe. The first layer may extend longitudinally from a ground-facing surface of the horseshoe to a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. A second layer is embedded at least partially in and on the first layer. The second layer forms at least a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. The second layer may include an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, and/or an aluminum powder. Also described is a method of making the elastomeric horseshoe.

A horseshoe for attaching a non-metallic horseshoe to a horse's hoof using an adhesive is described. In one example, the horseshoe includes a first layer composed of an elastomeric material, which forms a body of the horseshoe. The first layer may extend longitudinally from a ground-facing surface of the horseshoe to a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. A second layer is embedded at least partially in and on the first layer. The second layer forms at least a portion of the hoof-facing surface of the horseshoe. The second layer may include an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) material, a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, and/or an aluminum powder. Also described is a method of making the elastomeric horseshoe.

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).

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).