Abstract: A horseshoe that has vertical metallic retaining-clips to deter dislodging of the horseshoe after installation uses a safety feature: a protective safety cap to cover the open end of each retaining-clip. The safety cap comprises a sheath that is tightly fastened to the corresponding retaining clip. The safety cap has an extended inside axial length that is longer than the vertical height of its corresponding retaining-clip whereby, if a dislodged or uninstalled horseshoe having the retaining-clips is stepped on by a horse-hoof, the extended axial length of the cap folds on itself and prevents the vertical retaining-clip from causing a penetrating injury to the hoof-underside. The safety cap could be closed at its top or open fully/partly and comprises plastic material that is flexible but tough. Preferably the safety cap is fastened to the corresponding retaining clip by riveting. Alternatively, the safety cap may be glued to the retaining clip.

Abstract: A horseshoe that has vertical metallic retaining-clips to deter dislodging of the horseshoe after installation uses a safety feature: a protective safety cap to cover the open end of each retaining-clip. The safety cap comprises a sheath that is tightly fastened to the corresponding retaining clip. The safety cap has an extended inside axial length that is longer than the vertical height of its corresponding retaining-clip whereby, if a dislodged or uninstalled horseshoe having the retaining-clips is stepped on by a horse-hoof, the extended axial length of the cap folds on itself and prevents the vertical retaining-clip from causing a penetrating injury to the hoof-underside. The safety cap could be closed at its top or open fully/partly and comprises plastic material that is flexible but tough. Preferably the safety cap is fastened to the corresponding retaining clip by riveting. Alternatively, the safety cap may be glued to the retaining clip.

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 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 of fabricating a tubular tow hitch receiver from a metallic tubular member having known wall thickness and inner tube dimensions, uses forging at one end of the tubular member resulting in a peripheral crown formation extending axially and having a radial thickness at least equal to the tubular wall thickness. The tubular member is flared at its opening to form a single substantially conical surface at an acute angle (e.g., from 3-15 degrees,) with respect to the tubular axis, resulting in a flared opening which is larger than the tube inner dimensions. By the flaring and forging operation, a concave cavity inside the flared opening is obviated, thus avoiding potential water retention and corrosion. The crown formation and the flaring-operations may be combined into a single forging operation. The tubular member may have a square cross section and be made of material conforming to ASTM, A-500 grade B 1020 material.