A U-shaped shoeing for horses comprises a running surface and a hoof contact surface has reinforcing layers embedded in a plastic matrix. The reinforcing layers longitudinally extend and follow the U-shaped curvature of the shoeing. Reinforcing layers extend transversally to their longitudinal extension from the running surface towards the hoof contact surface. Reinforcing layers are arranged on the hoof contact surface side, parallel to the hoof contact surface, parallel to the hoof contact surface, or parallel to the hoof contact surface and penetrate in the matrix as far as below the hoof contact surface or form the hoof contact surface. The reinforcing layers may be in the form of textile tube structures produced from fiber strands containing a multiplicity of fibers. The invention also relates to a production method for such a shoeing.

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.

A horseshoe for flexible and/or mouldable engagement with a hoof is provided. Also provided is a horseshoe attachment for engagement with a horseshoe. The horseshoe and the attachment will have respective bodies comprising a bridge connecting two legs. The horseshoe and the horseshoe attachment may each be of unitary construction. The horseshoe and the horseshoe attachment may each be formed of polyurethane, or a material comprising polyurethane. Methods of shoeing a hoof using the horseshoe and/or attaching the horseshoe attachment to a horseshoe are also provided.

A therapeutic horseshoe may be a unitary body having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface may be curved, such that the horseshoe is thicker in the middle and heel portions thereof and thinner at the inner and outer sides and, in some embodiments, the toe portions thereof, which allows a horse with navicular syndrome to easily roll the hoof laterally and medially, and, in some embodiments, breakover the hoof sooner in the gait, to obtain comfort and pain relief, promoting increased blood flow and healing. At least one tab may be removably attached at various locations to the lower surface for customizing points of pressure to the hoof as well as customizing restriction of lateral and/or medial rolling of the hoof. A method of using a therapeutic horseshoe is also disclosed.

A therapeutic horseshoe may be a unitary body having opposed upper and lower surfaces. The lower surface may be curved, such that the horseshoe is thicker in the middle and heel portions thereof and thinner at the inner and outer sides and, in some embodiments, the toe portions thereof, which allows a horse with navicular syndrome to easily roll the hoof laterally and medially, and, in some embodiments, breakover the hoof sooner in the gait, to obtain comfort and pain relief, promoting increased blood flow and healing. At least one tab may be removably attached at various locations to the lower surface for customizing points of pressure to the hoof as well as customizing restriction of lateral and/or medial rolling of the hoof. A method of using a therapeutic horseshoe is also disclosed.

A horseshoe having a front end and a back end includes a U-shaped rigid body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the rigid body being closed adjacent the front end and open adjacent the back end, the rigid body defining two arms spaced from one another at the back end, a pair of cuffs disposed on the upper surface of the rigid body, each of the pair of cuffs having an inner surface configured and arranged to contact a hoof of an animal, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, each of the pair of cuffs being coupled to a respective one of the two arms of the rigid body adjacent the back end, a pair of side supports coupled to the outer surface of each of the pair of cuffs, each of the pair of side supports defining a window, and a platform disposed on the upper surface of the rigid body at locations where the pair of cuffs are not present.

A horseshoe having a front end and a back end includes a U-shaped rigid body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the rigid body being closed adjacent the front end and open adjacent the back end, the rigid body defining two arms spaced from one another at the back end, a pair of cuffs disposed on the upper surface of the rigid body, each of the pair of cuffs having an inner surface configured and arranged to contact a hoof of an animal, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, each of the pair of cuffs being coupled to a respective one of the two arms of the rigid body adjacent the back end, a pair of side supports coupled to the outer surface of each of the pair of cuffs, each of the pair of side supports defining a window, and a platform disposed on the upper surface of the rigid body at locations where the pair of cuffs are not present.

A horseshoe for horses, in particular for racehorses when taking part in competitions. The horseshoe is produced from thermoplastic polymer material or from fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material. The thermoplastic polymer material is selected from thermoplastic polycarbonates or fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonates. The horseshoe may be constructed from a core of fiber-reinforced plastic material, which is sheathed in a functional layer made of plastic. The core may also be formed from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material, such as a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, and the functional layer may be formed from a thermoplastic polycarbonate material or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonate material, such as a thermoplastic or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. The horseshoe may be produced by thermoplastic injection molding methods.

A horseshoe for horses, in particular for racehorses when taking part in competitions. The horseshoe is produced from thermoplastic polymer material or from fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material. The thermoplastic polymer material is selected from thermoplastic polycarbonates or fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonates. The horseshoe may be constructed from a core of fiber-reinforced plastic material, which is sheathed in a functional layer made of plastic. The core may also be formed from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer material, such as a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic, and the functional layer may be formed from a thermoplastic polycarbonate material or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonate material, such as a thermoplastic or a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic. The horseshoe may be produced by thermoplastic injection molding methods.