Abstract: A horseshoe comprised principally of semihard polyurethane capable of being reversibly heated to about 275.degree. F. for hot-attachment with a gap-filling adhesive in accordance with the process of the author's prior patent. The shoe has an angular cross section with one leg of the angle bonded to the sidewall of the hoof and the other leg to the bottom of the hoof. The upper leg is of sufficient rigidity to make the L-beam cross section of the shoe strong enough to withstand bending moments without the addition of metal strengthening members. The hot shoe is pliably fit to the contour of the individual hoof as it is being bonded; precise fitting is not required because the adhesive is gap-filling. Lateral relative motion between the shoe and the hoof is prevented by an anchoring mechanism into the sulci of the frog. Case hardened steel plates in the toe and heel regions of the shoe provide superior wear resistance.

Abstract: A process for gluing a horseshoe having a rim extending upward around the sidewall of the hoof. In an earlier process, both the hoof and the part to be attached, if any, were preheated to about 275.degree. F. and then bonded with a hard paste-type urethane adhesive. Principal new features are grooving of the sidewall to increase bond strength and lowering the sidewall preheat temperature to 220.degree. F. in order to eliminate the discomfort sometimes experienced at 275.degree. F. by horses with thin sidewalls.

Abstract: A new process for attaching a non-metallic shoe to a horse's hoof and for repairing a crack in the hoof. The process involves preheating the hoof and the part to be attached, if any, to about 275 degrees F. and then bonding with a hard paste-type urethane adhesive. The adhesive undergoes a phase change from paste to liquid at the hot surface and thereby produces a highly wetting liquid film that leads to a bond many times stronger than would have otherwise occurred.