Abstract: A horseshoe that is dividable into two halves to permit lateral and medial movements of when affixed to a hoof of a horse. The shoe has a bridge flanked on either side by a first leg and a second leg, respectively. Each of a support surface facing the hoof and a ground-facing surface has a groove in a center of the bridge, and both grooves extend between an inner to outer circumference of the shoe. The shoe is initially a single unitary piece having the grooves on both sides of a center of the bridge. The second groove is configured to be cut or sawed through to permit the shoe to follow lateral and medial changes in the hoof and to stimulate blood circulation in the horse.

Abstract: A horseshoe with a stabilizer-feature and splaying has a U shaped metallic unitary body with left-right wings and an integral compliant leaf-spring disposed proximate to or in the horseshoe toe area. The leaf-spring may be crescent-shaped or chord-shaped and resiliently deforms upwards, exerting sideways-pressure causing splaying of the left-right wings. The leaf-spring may have a groove on either side to assist preparation before horseshoe installation. The crescent-shaped leaf-spring forms a cavity with the hoof underside in use, which cavity is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., silicone, obviating accumulation of dirt/debris. Stabilizers comprising a plurality of rows of beads formed integrally with the horseshoe bottom form a negative camber on the horseshoe-underside. The stabilizer rows may be staggered and assist in the stability of the horse during racing, especially at track-curves. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded and can be mass-produced.

Abstract: A horseshoe with splaying and flexibility features has a U shaped compliant metallic unitary body having left and right wings and a central integral toe area which forms a compliant leaf-spring disposed proximate to or as part of the toe area. The leaf-spring may be crescent shaped and resiliently deforms exerting pressure sideways thus causing splaying of the wings. The leaf-spring may have a groove on either side to assist farrier-preparation during horseshoe sizing. The leaf-spring forms a cavity in use, which is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., silicone, to prevent accumulation of dirt/debris in the cavity. Optional contiguous serrations on the left and right wings provide relative vertical flexibility of the left and right wings. The splaying and flexibility enhance horse-hoof comfort and hoof-structure regeneration. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded or produced by mechanical joining. Preferably, the horseshoe comprises hardened spring steel.

Abstract: A horseshoe with splaying and flexibility features has a U shaped compliant metallic unitary body having left and right wings and a central toe area integral with the body, and a compliant leaf-spring formation disposed proximate to or as part of the toe area. The leaf spring is arch shaped and resiliently deforms and exerts horizontal pressure sideways on the left and right wings thus splaying the left and right wings. The arch shape forms a cavity which is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., polyurethane, to prevent accumulation of debris in the cavity. Contiguous serrations on the left and right wings provide relative vertical flexibility of the left and right wings. The splaying and flexibility enhance horse-hoof comfort and hoof-structure re-generation. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded or produced by mechanical joining. Hardened stainless steel or Titanium, or other material may be used for the horseshoe.

Abstract: A horseshoe with splaying and flexibility features has a U shaped compliant metallic unitary body having left and right wings and a central integral toe area which forms a compliant leaf-spring disposed proximate to or as part of the toe area. The leaf-spring may be crescent shaped and resiliently deforms exerting pressure sideways thus causing splaying of the wings. The leaf-spring may have a groove on either side to assist farrier-preparation during horseshoe sizing. The leaf-spring forms a cavity in use, which is optionally filled with a resilient material, e.g., silicone, to prevent accumulation of dirt/debris in the cavity. Optional contiguous serrations on the left and right wings provide relative vertical flexibility of the left and right wings. The splaying and flexibility enhance horse-hoof comfort and hoof-structure regeneration. The horseshoe may be cast/forged, blanked, or welded or produced by mechanical joining. Preferably, the horseshoe comprises hardened spring steel.

Abstract: A method for analyzing biomechanical conformation of the lower leg and hoof of animals, for example a horse, from images (photographs, radiographs, etc) is described. In particular, there is provided a method to analyze images that may include certain scale markers. A user may be guided to pick certain key points in the images, from which a special set of biomechanical parameters may be computed. Using these parameters, the conformation of the hoof and leg can be analyzed in various ways, including comparison to a database of other animals, tracking changes over time, or by means of quantitative scoring rules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a horseshoe arrangement (2) of the kind that comprises a first part (21), which lies proximal to a horse's hoof, and a second part (22) which lies proximal to the ground, wherewith said first part (21) has a horseshoe shape and consists of hard material, such as metal material, and said second part (22) has a corresponding horseshoe shape and consists of a resilient material, such as a plastic material. The two parts (21, 22) are mutually co-ordinated so that each nail-accommodating hole (21a, 22a) will extend through said two parts (21, 22). Each hole (21a) of the first part (21) has a cross-sectional size that exceeds the cross-sectional size of the hoof-penetrating portion (3a) of a nail (3). Each hole (21a) of the horseshoe-shaped part (21) has at its hoof-distal periphery a plurality of hole-encircling surface sections (21b, 21c) which are coordinated pair-wise and adapted for sliding co-action with nail-associated support surfaces (3b, 3c) proximal to horse's hoof.

Abstract: A horseshoe having adjustable flexibility 100 provides a body formed of left and right body portions 200, 300. In a preferred embodiment, forward ends of the body portions are connected by one of three or more alternative center pieces, each resulting in greater or lesser flexibility of the overall horseshoe. A rigid center piece 400 provides very little flexibility; a composite center piece 500 provides a greater degree of flexibility; and a flexible center piece 600 provides the greatest flexibility. The three may be easily interchanged. The horseshoe having adjustable flexibility 100 allows control over the degree to which a horse's hoof splays on impact, and other factors. A plurality of anti-splay flanges 700 allow control over the degree to which the hoof is allowed to splay or flex outwardly, by adjusting the rigidity of the connection to the horse's hoof. An elastic cross-member 800 may be attached between the rear end portions of the left and right body portions.

Abstract: A horseshoe arrangement comprising individually replaceable wearing parts which makes it possible to increase the life of the parts of a horseshoe which are worn-out. Consequently, the horseshoe arrangement comprises separate nail-receiving devices which are mounted in holes of a basis profile as well as wearing soles and locking devices. The individual parts may be replaced according to requirement when these are worn-out without replacing the remaining parts, if these are not yet completely worn-out.

Abstract: A horseshoe includes a generally U-shaped body member having a planar upper surface and a pair of free ends. An upstanding projection is mounted on the upper surface at each free end for fitting in corresponding pockets in the horse's hoof. A band may also span the free ends of the horseshoe to restrain the outward spreading thereof.