Abstract: A method for cold manufacturing horseshoes utilizes a laser cutter, a hydraulic press, and a sanding belt to cut horseshoes from a sheet of material without heating up the sheet of material. Information, including dimensions of the horseshoe as well as position and size of a plurality of nail holes, is fed into a control computer for the laser cutter. The laser cutter cuts an outline of the horseshoe from the sheet of material, as directed by the control computer. The laser cutter also creates nail outlines, providing a guide for the second step involving the hydraulic press. Once the nail outlines are created an appropriately sized punch is selected for the hydraulic press. The hydraulic press uses the punch to bore through the outlines, creating beveled nail holes. The horseshoe is then moved to a sanding belt, where a rear surface and edge of the horseshoe is sanded smooth.

Abstract: A horseshoe having two legs connected by a bridge is disclosed. The bridge includes physical markers provided directly opposite one another in both a support surface and a ground surface. The physical markers function as a guide for cutting through the bridge of the horseshoe.

Abstract: An improved horseshoe suitable for use on an reining arena surface allows a horse to selectively and subsequently undertake sliding action in a first mode and maneuverability actions in a second mode. A substantially U-shaped body has a top surface for contacting and affixing to the hoof of a horse, and a ground-engaging bottom surface that includes an arrangement of contours which are shaped and arranged to provide less friction in the forward direction to effect the sliding action in the first mode, and more friction in a different direction in a second different mode to aid maneuverability actions.

Abstract: A therapeutic extension horseshoe is formed in a substantially u-shape from a resilient, flexile moldable material. A pliable, metal rod-like reinforcer is shaped to include an anterior segment from which opposing side segments continuously extend to caudal ends separated as an open heel. Ungulate and contact surfaces are formed to include an extension to one of said opposing side segments, which extension acts as an additional load bearing surface portion to facilitate a modification of a posture of a horse shod therewith. At least one wear insert is arranged in the extended load bearing surface portion to minimize surface wear to the moldable material. Depending on its orientation, the therapeutic extension horseshoe may be used to provide a lateral extension or a medial extension.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a shoe for an animal is disclosed. The hoof of an animal may be aligned to a pre-determined position. The animal may then be examined against a criteria. It is then determined whether the bone structure of the animal satisfies the criteria. The hoof may be re-aligned to a different pre-determined position if the criteria is not satisfied. A shoe is then manufactured for the animal according to position data corresponding to a satisfactory position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a shoe for an animal is disclosed. The hoof of an animal may be aligned to a pre-determined position. The animal may then be examined against a criteria. It is then determined whether the bone structure of the animal satisfies the criteria. The hoof may be re-aligned to a different pre-determined position if the criteria is not satisfied. A shoe is then manufactured for the animal according to position data corresponding to a satisfactory position.

Abstract: A method of making a composite horseshoe to a bespoke design to fit a specified hoof of a specified horse includes the step of providing a template horseshoe adapted to fit the specific hoof of the specified horse. A mould is constructed of the template horseshoe, and the mould is filled with a plastic material mixed with wear resistant particles to replicate the template horseshoe.

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: A light weight horseshoe made of Type 55 Nitinol is bio-compatible and non-corrosive. It can be shaped at room temperature to fit the horse's hoof, and is extremely durable for long life and infrequent shoe changes, which helps avoid shoe nail damage to the hoof. It has low thermal conductivity to protect the horse's hoof from heat and a high specific damping capacity to protect the horse's hooves and legs from shock and vibration and also make it a quiet shoe. The horseshoe material has low initial yield strength, so it conforms to the microtopography of hard surfaces, which improves the grip of the horseshoe on such surfaces, but when strained its yield strength increases greatly so it becomes effectively unbreakable in use.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing multiple conductor cable having improved transmission parameters. The apparatus includes a rotatable alignment die having a plurality of apertures. At least one strand of the multiple conductor cable is caused to traverse an aperture of the rotatable alignment die. A rotation motor causes the strand to rotate about its elongate axis, and a translation motor causes the strand, or the cable, to traverse along its elongate axis. The multiple conductors are brought into a predetermined mutual mechanical alignment that is calculated to produce a cable having at least one improved transmission parameter. The cable can additionally include a support member adapted to maintain the conductors in the mutual mechanical alignment. A binder is applied to the cable to maintain the conductors in the predetermined mutual alignment.

Abstract: A stock from which circumferential lengths can be cut to be used as horseshoes, the stock comprising a helical coil of plastics materials wound about an axis such that the cross section of the coil in a plane containing the axis is constant in shape for any such plane and substantially corresponds to the cross section of a horseshoe in the same plane.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a horseshoe provided with at least one clip wherein a rod part with a predetermined length is formed by cutting it from a straight rod. The length of the rod part depends on the desired size of the horseshoe. Part of a first longitudinal side of the rod part is blanked out by a cutting tool such that at least one cam-shaped part remains on the first longitudinal side. Each cam-shaped part is subsequently plastically deformed in a direction which is mainly perpendicular to a top side of the rod part such that a clip which extends substantially perpendicular to the top side is formed. The rod part is bent such that an actual horseshoe is formed. The invention includes the horseshoe obtained by the method.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a horseshoe is described, which is characterized in that firstly individual hoof dimensions are directly measured on the hoof and taken into account during manufacture in such a way that by an automatic control system a horseshoe is worked from a solid material and is ready for fitting to the hoof without any reworking or adaptation deformation being necessary.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming horse shoes comprises a hydraulic press (10) with means to operate said press. A horse shoe former (12) is securable to the outer end of the cylinder of the ram and cylinder (11) of the press (10). The former (12) has two similarly shaped plates (13) secured, in mirror-image fashion, to the outer end of the cylinder of the ram and cylinder (11) of the press (10). The plates (13) have forming peripheries (13A) which are angled and engage a complementary shape formed of angled surfaces of two bottom face-to-bottom face blanks (22). An anvil (14) is located under the former (12) and against which the blanks (22) are deformed into substantial U-shapes by extension of the ram. Length-extendable means in the form of ram and cylinder arrangements (23, 24) are provided on opposite lateral sides of the anvil (14) and, on extension, cause the outer ends of the deformed blanks to be bent around said former plates (13).

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation and fabrication of sintered titanium horseshoes whereby titanium powder is processed so that its characteristics are such that it is ideally suited for horseshoes.The sintered powder titanium horseshoes have many advantages over the present state of the art some of their advantages being that they are light weight, have high strength, are flexible, have excellent wearing characteristics, are abrasion resistant and are easily formed and shaped into the desired configuration.

Abstract: A horseshoe is manufactured from a length of rolled steel section whose outer edge (with respect to the finished horseshoe) is inwardly inclined. After shaping the section into the horseshoe configuration, the section is subjected to a fullering (grooving) operation in such a way that said outer edge is displaced into substantially vertical disposition.